JP3659904B2 - Nozzle device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a nozzle device, and more particularly to a nozzle device that sucks and removes residual liquid in a container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional nozzle device that performs liquid suction or the like, the nozzle is configured as a pipe or a chip made of metal or resin. A pump that performs suction or the like is connected to the nozzle, and a transport mechanism is connected.
[0003]
When a reagent-treated liquid is aspirated from a container such as a well on a test tube or microplate, a nozzle is inserted into the container, and the nozzle tip is positioned near the bottom of the container and remains in that state. Liquid is aspirated. JP-A-7-83939 discloses a related technique.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above conventional example, since the residual liquid is sucked by a simple pipe-shaped nozzle, it may be difficult to completely suck the liquid from the container, and there is a problem that the residual liquid is likely to be generated. is there. Of course, it is possible to use a technique such as moving the tip of the nozzle in the horizontal direction and sucking the remaining liquid in the corner of the container, but in that case, complicated control is required. . In addition, when a surplus liquid is sucked in a state in which a substance after reagent treatment remains attached to the inner wall of the well, a method for effectively sucking the remaining liquid is required. Furthermore, there is a demand for a technique for sucking only the remaining liquid from the inside of the container in which beads or the like are dropped.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a nozzle device capable of efficiently sucking a liquid in a container.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a nozzle for sucking a liquid in a container, and a suction pump connected to the nozzle, the nozzle including a cylindrical nozzle shaft, And a brush-like portion divided into a plurality of suction tentacles having a proximal end side communicating with the nozzle shaft and a distal end side thereof being bendable.
[0007]
According to the above configuration, the brush-like portion has a plurality of suction tentacles, which can be inserted into the container to suck the liquid. At that time, since each suction tentacle is made of a flexible member, the suction tentacle is bent along the bottom surface of the container, and in particular, the liquid remaining in the corner in the container can be efficiently sucked. Further, there is an advantage that the liquid can be sucked properly without positioning the nozzle with high accuracy. The nozzle device may be a device that simply performs suction, or may be a device that injects a cleaning liquid and performs suction thereafter. The nozzle device can also be used when beads exist in the container and the remaining liquid is sucked from the container. Because of the flexibility of the suction tentacle, the beads can go around and suck the liquid remaining behind the beads.
[0008]
Desirably, each said suction tentacle is comprised with a flexible hollow member. Preferably, at least one suction tentacle among the plurality of suction tentacles has a lower end suction hole facing a horizontal direction. According to this configuration, it is possible to smoothly suck the liquid remaining in the corner in the container with the lower end suction hole facing the side surface in the container. Further, it is possible to prevent the lower end suction hole from being blocked by sucking the bottom surface of the container.
[0009]
Preferably, the brush-like portion has a natural shape that radially spreads downward from the tip of the nozzle shaft, and the plurality of suction tentacles are bent by the contact of the brush-like portion with the container bottom surface. Furthermore, it spreads radially. According to this configuration, since the brush-like portion is radially expanded in its natural shape (original shape), the brush-like portion can be naturally radially expanded simply by bringing it into contact with the bottom surface of the container. Desirably, the plurality of suction tentacles are arranged in a circular shape, and the plurality of suction tentacles can be arranged concentrically. Further, a short suction tentacle may be separately provided in the center of the brush-like portion so that the liquid in the central portion of the container can be completely sucked.
[0010]
Desirably, the brush-like portion is replaceable with respect to the nozzle shaft. According to this configuration, it is possible to cope with wear, deterioration, and clogging.
[0011]
Preferably, the sensor includes a sensor that detects contact of the brush-like portion with the bottom surface of the container, and a lowering control unit that changes the lowering speed of the nozzle at the contact timing detected by the sensor. This sensor is preferably a jamming sensor (contact pressure detection sensor), but other sensors can also be used.
[0012]
Preferably, the lowering control unit lowers the nozzle at a first speed until the contact timing, and lowers the nozzle at a second speed slower than the first speed from the contact timing. Preferably, suction is started as the nozzle is lowered, and suction is continued until the nozzle reaches the lowermost end.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a nozzle device according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the main part thereof. This nozzle device is a device that sucks and removes the liquid remaining in the container, and is incorporated in, for example, an analyzer or a dispensing device. As a container to be aspirated, a tube such as a test tube can be cited, and in addition, a well of a microplate can be exemplified.
[0016]
1, the nozzle device includes a suction nozzle 10, a suction pump 24, a controller 28, a transport mechanism 20, and the like. The transport mechanism 20 is driven and controlled by the controller 28, and is a mechanism that transports the suction nozzle 10 freely in a three-dimensional direction. In the present embodiment, the transport mechanism 20 is provided with a sensor 26 for detecting a state in which the lower end of the suction nozzle 10 is in contact with the container, and more specifically, a jamming sensor is provided. The output signal of the sensor is output to the controller 28.
[0017]
A suction pump 24 is connected to the suction nozzle 10 via a pipe 22. The suction pump 24 is controlled by a controller 28.
[0018]
The suction nozzle 10 is roughly composed of a nozzle shaft 12 and a brush-like portion 14. The nozzle shaft 12 is composed of a hard member such as metal, for example, and is a hollow pipe-shaped member. As described above, the transport mechanism 20 holds the upper end side of the nozzle shaft 12 and transports the nozzle shaft 12 in a three-dimensional direction.
[0019]
The brush-like portion 14 is detachably attached to the lower end side of the nozzle shaft 12, and the brush-like portion 14 has a head 15 and a plurality of suction tentacles 16. The head 15 is connected to the lower end of the nozzle shaft 12 and is itself formed of a hard member. A plurality of branch portions 18 are formed on the lower end side of the head 15, and the proximal end side of the suction tentacle 16 is connected to each branch portion 18.
[0020]
Each suction tentacle 16 is configured by a flexible hollow member having an inner diameter of 0.8 mm and a length of 8 mm in the present embodiment, for example, and a suction hole 17 is formed on the tip side thereof.
[0021]
In this embodiment, the brush-like part 14 has four suction tentacles 16, and these suction tentacles 16 are arranged in a circle. In this case, the suction hole 17 of each suction tentacle 16 is configured to suck the liquid in the horizontal direction. That is, when the brush-like portion 14 is in contact with the bottom surface of the container, each suction hole 17 faces the inner side surface of the container.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of suction tentacles 16 as a whole have a radial shape in which the lower side spreads out in the natural shape. Therefore, when the brush-like portion 14 is lowered from the upper side and brought into contact with the flat bottom of the container as shown in the drawing , each suction tentacle 16 is inclined obliquely in its natural shape. The tentacle 16 bends along the bottom surface of the container and advances toward the corner inside the container.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the brush-like portion 14 shown in FIG. The interior 12 </ b> A of the nozzle shaft 12 communicates with the interior 15 </ b> A of the head 15, and the interior 15 </ b> A communicates with the interior 16 </ b> A of each suction tentacle 16. Therefore, when the suction pump 24 shown in FIG. 1 is operated, a negative pressure is generated in the suction hole 17, thereby sucking the liquid from there.
[0024]
FIG. 3 shows the operation of the suction nozzle 10. When the suction nozzle 10 is lowered into the container 30 from above, the lower end of the brush-like portion 14 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the container 30 as shown in FIG. When the suction nozzle 10 is further lowered from that state, as shown in FIG. 5B, the suction tentacles 16 in the brush-like portion 14 begin to bend and deform in the horizontal direction according to the position, and finally As shown in (C), the suction holes 17 of the suction tentacles 16 are guided to the corners of the container 30. Therefore, if the suction action is continued in the series of steps (A) to (C), all the liquid remaining in the container 30 can be efficiently suctioned and removed without leaving the liquid. In particular, although liquid tends to remain in the corner portion in the container, efficient suction can be realized by positively introducing a suction hole to that portion. Note that it is also preferable to rotate the suction nozzle 10 in a state as shown in FIG.
[0025]
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, four suction tentacles 16 are provided. However, if at least one suction tentacle 16 is provided, a corner portion is bent by a bending action along the bottom surface of the container. The advantage of suction removal of the remaining liquid can be obtained, and more suction tentacles 16 are preferably provided. In this case, the suction tentacles may be arranged concentrically or randomly. Further, in such a configuration, the suction tentacle located in the center is shorter than the other suction tentacles, and the lower end of the suction tentacle in the central portion is in contact with the central portion of the container when the other suction tentacles are bent. You may make it be the length relationship which touches. In any case, various modifications can be considered for the arrangement of the suction tentacles 16.
[0026]
FIG. 4 shows an operation example of the apparatus shown in FIG.
[0027]
First, in S101, the suction nozzle 10 is positioned above the container to be sucked. In S102, the suction nozzle 10 is pulled down from above by the action of the controller 28, and suction is started at that time. In S103, it is confirmed that the contact with the bottom is detected by the sensor 26 shown in FIG. 1. In S104, after the bottom is detected, the lowering speed of the suction nozzle is switched to a low speed, and the suction nozzle 10 is moved a predetermined distance from the bottom detection. Is pulled down. In this case, the predetermined distance is, for example, 5 mm. In S105, after the required time has elapsed, the suction is stopped and the suction nozzle 10 is further lifted upward. Next, in S106, it is determined whether or not the liquid is sucked and removed from another container. When the process is continued, each process from S101 is repeatedly executed.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the liquid present in the container can be efficiently suctioned and removed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a nozzle device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the brush-like portion shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the operation of the suction nozzle shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the nozzle device shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 suction nozzles, 12 nozzle shafts, 14 brush-like parts, 15 heads, 16 suction tentacles, 17 suction holes, 22 pipes, 24 suction pumps, 26 sensors, 28 controllers.

Claims (5)

A nozzle for sucking the liquid in the container;
A transport mechanism for transporting the nozzle;
A suction pump connected to the nozzle;
Including
The nozzle is
A cylindrical nozzle shaft;
A brush-like portion provided at the tip of the nozzle shaft, the base end side communicating with the nozzle shaft, and the tip side divided into a plurality of suction tentacles that can be bent;
Have a,
Each suction tentacle is composed of a flexible hollow member,
The brush-like portion has a natural shape radially spreading downward from the tip of the nozzle shaft,
At least one suction tentacle among the plurality of suction tentacles has a lower end suction hole facing a horizontal direction,
The nozzle device , wherein the plurality of suction tentacles are bent and further spread radially by contact of the brush-like portion with a flat bottom surface of the container . The apparatus of claim 1.
The brush apparatus, wherein the brush-like portion is replaceable with respect to the nozzle shaft. The apparatus of claim 1.
A sensor for detecting contact of the brush-like portion with the bottom of the container;
A descent controller that changes the descent speed of the nozzle at the contact timing detected by the sensor;
A nozzle device comprising: The apparatus of claim 3 .
The lowering control unit lowers the nozzle at a first speed until the contact timing, and lowers the nozzle at a second speed slower than the first speed from the contact timing. The apparatus of claim 1.
Suction is started as the nozzle is lowered, and the suction is continued until the nozzle reaches the lowermost end.

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