JP3740384B2 - Dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a liquid into a container. In particular, the present invention relates to a dispensing device having a self-diagnosis mode.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional dispensing device, whether the drive mechanism is faulty by measuring the current of the motor used in the nozzle drive mechanism (conveyance mechanism) or detecting the rotation of the motor with a rotary encoder. Check (self-diagnosis). In addition, by using a pressure sensor to detect pressure fluctuations in the piping system connected between the nozzle and the dispensing pump, the piping system is checked for leaks (liquid leaks or pressure leaks). It was.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, conventional checks of the drive mechanism have failed to detect abnormalities such as malfunction of the dispensing pump and slight leaks in the piping system. Also, the pressure sensor check was effective when a large leak occurred in the piping, such as when the piping was disconnected, but when the dispensing pump malfunctioned or when the piping system valve / syringe was joined When a small amount of liquid leakage or pressure leakage occurred in the part, the change could be overlooked.
[0004]
Then, an object of this invention is to provide the dispensing apparatus which can solve said subject. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to directly self-diagnose the quality of the suction / discharge operation result in the dispensing device.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention controls a dispensing nozzle for dispensing a liquid into a container, a liquid level sensor for detecting a liquid level of the liquid in the container, transport of the dispensing nozzle and a dispensing operation of the dispensing nozzle. A discharge control unit that discharges a predetermined amount of liquid into the container at the time of discharge operation diagnosis, and a liquid that is detected by the liquid level sensor after discharge of the predetermined amount of liquid at the time of discharge operation diagnosis An ejection operation diagnosis unit that diagnoses whether or not the predetermined amount of liquid has been ejected based on the surface level.
[0006]
According to this, when the operation of actually discharging a predetermined amount (target amount) of liquid (preferably a test liquid) to the container was actually performed, whether or not the predetermined amount of liquid was surely discharged using the liquid level sensor. By examining whether or not, it is possible to diagnose the quality of the discharge operation. This is because if the dispensing pump related to the discharge operation malfunctions or if a leak occurs in the piping system, the amount of liquid actually discharged will differ from the above-mentioned predetermined amount. .
[0007]
In a preferred embodiment, furthermore, a suction nozzle for sucking the liquid from the container, and means for controlling the sucking operation before Symbol suction nozzle, during suction operation diagnosis, inserting the suction nozzle to the container the liquid is accommodated A total amount suction control unit for sucking the total amount of liquid, and a suction operation diagnosis unit for diagnosing the suction operation based on a liquid level detection result by the liquid level sensor after the full amount suction at the time of the suction operation diagnosis, .
[0008]
According to this, the suction operation of the whole amount of the liquid (preferably the test liquid) contained in the container is actually sucked and checked whether or not all the liquid in the container has been sucked. Good or bad can be diagnosed. This is because if the pump related to the suction operation malfunctions or a leak occurs in the piping system, the liquid remains in the container without being sucked even if the entire amount is sucked. The suction nozzle is preferably a cleaning nozzle, but may be a dispensing nozzle.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention.
[0010]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an analysis system in which a dispensing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated. In this analysis system, the reagent 40 accommodated in the reagent container 30 is sucked by the dispensing nozzle 50, and the sucked reagent 40 is discharged to each reaction cell 60 by a predetermined amount. A sample is injected into each reaction cell 60 in advance, but the sample may be dispensed after the reagent is injected. Each reaction cell 60 is mounted on a rotatable turntable 70. The turntable 70 can mount about 50 reaction cells 60. The turntable 70 rotates by a predetermined angle every time the dispensing of the reagent 40 into one reaction cell 60 is completed, and the next reaction cell 60 moves to the dispensing position of the reagent 40. In this way, the dispensing of the reagent 40 and the setting of the next reaction cell 60 by the rotation of the turntable 70 are automatically performed in sequence, and accordingly, in each reaction cell 60, a biochemical test and a clinical test on the sample are performed. Etc. are analyzed. The liquid in the reaction cell 60 that has been analyzed is completely sucked by the washing nozzle 80 and stored in the waste liquid tank 90. In that case, the cleaning liquid 110 accommodated in the cleaning liquid tank 100 is discharged to the reaction cell 60, and the reaction cell 60 is cleaned by sucking it. The aspiration of the reagent 40 and the cleaning of the reaction cell 60 are also sequentially performed as the turntable 70 rotates.
[0011]
The dispensing nozzle 50 is attached to the holder 52. The holder 52 can be moved up and down and horizontally by the transport mechanism 120. A liquid level detection electrode 54 is also attached to the holder 52. The dispensing nozzle 50 and the liquid level detection electrode 54 are made of a metal material, and the distal end portions of the dispensing nozzle 50 and the liquid level detection electrode 54 (both end faces are coincident or the liquid level is the same). When the detection electrode 54 protrudes downward by a minute amount), the liquid level of the liquid can be detected by changing the current flowing between them or the resistance between them. it can. This liquid level detection signal is transmitted to the control unit 130 described later. During normal operation, the liquid level detection electrode 54 is used to detect the liquid level of the liquid, so that the height of the dispensing nozzle 50 when performing suction is based on the detected liquid level. Can be set. For example, the suction operation can be performed in a state where the tip of the dispensing nozzle 50 is advanced by a predetermined amount to the liquid level, and the adhesion of the liquid to the outer surface of the dispensing nozzle 50 can be minimized.
[0012]
In addition, the dispensing nozzle 50 is connected to the dispensing pump 140 via a pipe 56. The reagent 40 is aspirated and discharged by the dispensing nozzle 50 when the dispensing pump 140 operates. Hereinafter, the dispensing nozzle 50, the holder 52, and the liquid level detection electrode 54 are collectively referred to as a nozzle unit 55 as a movable portion.
[0013]
The cleaning nozzle 80 can be moved up and down and horizontally by the transport mechanism 122. The cleaning nozzle 80 is connected to the cleaning pump 150 via a pipe 58. The discharge and suction of the cleaning liquid by the cleaning nozzle 80 is performed by operating the cleaning pump 150. The waste liquid tank 90 and the cleaning liquid tank 100 are selectively connected to the cleaning pump 150 by a pipe switching valve 92.
[0014]
The control unit 130 controls operations of the transport mechanisms 120 and 122, the dispensing pump 140, the cleaning pump 150, and the turntable 70. The control unit 130 automatically performs the processing such as the dispensing of the reagent 40, the rotation of the turntable 70, and the cleaning of the reaction cell 60 described above.
[0015]
The control unit 130 includes a discharge diagnosis control unit 160 and a cleaning diagnosis control unit 170. The discharge diagnosis control unit 160 controls the discharge operation at the time of discharge operation diagnosis and diagnoses the discharge operation. The cleaning diagnosis control unit 170 controls the suction operation at the time of cleaning operation diagnosis and diagnoses the suction operation. The diagnosis results from the discharge diagnosis control unit 160 and the cleaning diagnosis control unit 170 are displayed on the screen of the display unit 180, notified by voice through the speaker 190, or recorded in the storage unit 200.
[0016]
The discharge diagnosis control unit 160 can make a diagnosis according to containers of various shapes (including the reaction cell 60) by referring to the container data table 162. The container data table 162 will be described later. The user can set conditions such as the type of container used at the time of discharge operation diagnosis and the amount of liquid to be discharged by the input unit 210.
[0017]
Diagnosis by the discharge diagnosis control unit 160 and the cleaning diagnosis control unit 170 can be automatically performed when the dispensing apparatus 10 is activated or at predetermined time intervals. In addition, the user can appropriately input a diagnosis command through the input unit 210.
[0018]
Here, the discharge operation diagnosis will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0019]
First, the nozzle unit 55 is inserted into the reaction cell 60, and it is checked whether or not the reaction cell 60 is empty depending on whether or not the liquid level is detected (S10). When the liquid is detected, the process here is finished. In this case, the discharge operation diagnosis may be performed again after the entire amount of the liquid in the reaction cell 60 has been sucked. On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the reaction cell 60 is empty, a predetermined amount (for example, 1 cc) of liquid (for example, distilled water for testing) is discharged from the dispensing nozzle 50 to the reaction cell 60 ( S20). Next, the liquid level of the liquid discharged to the reaction cell 60 is detected by once raising and lowering the nozzle unit 55 (S30). Subsequently, it is diagnosed whether or not the discharge operation is normal based on the detection result of the liquid level (S40). For example, if the difference between the detected liquid level and the normal liquid level when a predetermined amount of liquid is correctly discharged is within an allowable range, the discharge operation is diagnosed as normal. Is done. On the other hand, when the difference from the normal liquid level when a predetermined amount of liquid is correctly discharged exceeds the allowable range, it is diagnosed that the discharge operation is abnormal. The subsequent processing is determined based on the diagnosis result (S50). When it is determined that the discharge operation is normal, the process here is finished. If it is diagnosed that the discharge operation is abnormal, an alarm is issued (S60).
[0020]
Next, the cleaning operation diagnosis will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0021]
First, the cleaning nozzle 80 is inserted into the reaction cell 60 containing the liquid (S100). As the reaction cell 60 containing the liquid, it is preferable to continue to use the reaction cell 60 used for the above-described discharge operation diagnosis. In this case, when the turntable 70 rotates, the reaction cell 60 used for the discharge operation diagnosis moves to a position where the cleaning nozzle 80 can reach. Alternatively, the reaction cell 60 containing the liquid may be prepared by separately injecting a test liquid such as distilled water into the reaction cell 60. Next, the entire amount of liquid is sucked in the state where the washing nozzle 80 is inserted into the reaction cell 60 (S110). After completion of the total amount suction operation, the reaction cell 60 is moved by the turntable 70 to a position where the dispensing nozzle 50 can reach, the nozzle unit 55 is lowered, and the liquid remaining in the reaction cell 60 by the liquid level detection electrode 54. The liquid level is detected (S120). Whether or not the suction operation is normal is diagnosed based on the liquid level detection result (S130). For example, if the liquid level cannot be detected even when reaching the down limit of the dispensing nozzle 50 (or the bottom surface of the reaction cell), the suction operation is diagnosed as normal. On the other hand, if the liquid level is detected before such arrival, it is diagnosed that the suction operation is abnormal. The subsequent processing is determined based on the diagnosis result (S140). If it is determined that the suction operation is normal, the processing here is terminated. If it is diagnosed that the discharge operation is abnormal, an alarm is issued (S150).
[0022]
Note that the suction operation diagnosis by the dispensing nozzle 50 can also be performed by applying the same method as described above.
[0023]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the container data table 162. The container data table 162 includes data indicating the normal liquid level when a predetermined amount of liquid is stored for each container type. Thus, when the user gives a type of container to be used and a predetermined amount for discharging the liquid, the container data table 162 is referred to for the type and the predetermined amount, so that each case can be matched. Appropriate normal liquid level can be obtained, and variations in discharge operation diagnosis are abundant.
[0024]
In the present embodiment, the nozzle unit 55 and the pipe 56 connected to the nozzle unit 55 and the cleaning nozzle 80 and the pipe 58 connected to the nozzle unit 55 are each one system. In this case, it is desirable to perform the above-described discharge operation diagnosis for each of the plurality of nozzle units 55, and the above-described cleaning operation diagnosis for each of the plurality of cleaning nozzles 80 or collectively. It can be performed.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately self-diagnose the quality of the discharge operation and the suction operation of the dispensing device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an analysis system in which a dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a discharge diagnosis operation.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a cleaning diagnosis operation.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a container data table.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 dispensing device, 30 reagent container, 40 reagent, 50 dispensing nozzle, 52 holder, 54 liquid level detection electrode, 55 nozzle unit, 56, 58 piping, 60 reaction cell, 70 turntable, 80 washing nozzle, 90 Waste liquid tank, 92 piping switching valve, 100 cleaning liquid tank, 110 cleaning liquid, 120, 122 transport mechanism, 130 control unit, 140 dispensing pump, 150 cleaning pump, 160 discharge diagnostic control unit, 162 container data table, 170 cleaning diagnostic control unit , 180 display unit, 190 speaker, 200 storage unit, 210 input unit.

Claims (2)

A dispensing nozzle for dispensing liquid into the container;
A liquid level sensor for detecting the liquid level of the liquid in the container;
A means for controlling the conveyance of the dispensing nozzle and the dispensing operation of the dispensing nozzle, and a discharge control unit for discharging a predetermined amount of liquid into the container at the time of discharge operation diagnosis;
A discharge operation diagnostic unit that diagnoses whether or not the predetermined amount of liquid has been discharged based on a liquid level detected by the liquid level sensor after discharging the predetermined amount of liquid during the discharge operation diagnosis;
A dispensing device comprising: The dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising:
A suction nozzle for sucking liquid from the container ;
A means for controlling the suction operation of the suction nozzle, and at the time of suction operation diagnosis, a full-volume suction control unit that inserts the suction nozzle into a container containing the liquid and thereby sucks the total amount of the liquid; and
At the time of the suction operation diagnosis, a suction operation diagnostic unit that performs a diagnosis of the suction operation based on the liquid level detection result by the liquid level sensor after the total amount suction,
A dispensing device comprising:

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