JP4036053B2 - Cylinder unit in a dispensing device, etc., and its suction / discharge amount adjustment system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cylinder unit for dispensing a sample solution in a container into a nozzle tip and discharging it in a dispensing device, an analyzer, and the like, and a suction / discharge amount adjustment system thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in order to ascertain a sample solution in a container into a nozzle tip and dispense it into a plurality of dispensing containers, take into account the properties, such as viscosity, nature and type of the reagent used. It is necessary to quantitatively adjust the amount and the discharge amount and adjust the suction speed and the discharge speed.
[0003]
By the way, conventionally, a cylinder unit in a dispensing apparatus or the like has a plurality of cylinders (K23) to which nozzle tips (K102) are mounted on the tip side as shown in FIG. 3 disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-33463. A plan having a cylinder block (K67) and a plurality of plungers (K21) which are hermetically fitted in the cylinders (K23) and supported by a plunger plate (K91) so as to be integrally driven by a lifting mechanism. A cylinder unit including a jar block is known.
However, in this, the inside of the cylinder (K23) is formed as a narrow cylindrical single-diameter pipe, and the plunger (K21) to be inserted is substantially adapted to the inside diameter of the thin cylinder (thin tube) of the cylinder (K23). Thus, the adjustment of the quantitative value and the speed value is performed by changing and controlling the insertion amount and speed of one piston stroke by driving the plunger plate (K91) up and down exclusively. Therefore, it is suitable for dispensing accuracy with a thin tube, that is, it is suitable for quantitative handling of a small amount slowly and accurately without excessively sucking an expensive sample solution, but depending on the sample solution, it is better to draw it roughly. In addition, it is not possible to deal with only by changing the piston drive speed depending on the sample liquid to be handled, but it is possible to prepare multiple dispensing devices with different cylinder units depending on the sample liquid to be handled. forced, becomes costly, different reagent in properties including such reagent, to ad hoc adjustment changes that variably sets a quantitative value and dispensing speed value individually in accordance with each of the properties and use aspects that There is a drawback that can not be. Furthermore, since the nozzle (K101) and the cylinder (K23) as the chip holding part are separately attached to the block part (K75), special assembly such as liquid leakage is required, and the structure There is a problem that it becomes complicated, the number of parts increases, and work efficiency is poor.
In addition, the symbol (K) attached | subjected with the said code | symbol shows that it is the code | symbol used for the said gazette.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention was devised in order to eliminate the above-described problems. The plunger block is integrally driven by a piston by a driving mechanism, and a test solution is sucked into a nozzle tip and discharged. However, it is possible to realize a system construction in which several types of plungers with different outer diameters are prepared in block units or individually, and these can be replaced and set. even when dealing with reagent solution can not, make it possible to adjust change the setting value of the intake and discharge amount and dispensing speed, and dispensing apparatus in which the cylinder inner diameter and a plunger outer diameter equipped with different cylinder unit or Rubakari can not Succoth a need to prepare a plurality can also shorten the piston stroke, and obtained the equipment cost and inexpensive, yet, reagent Efficient work can be performed with the optimum quantitative value of dispensing and dispensing and the dispensing speed for the characteristics such as properties and types, and the types of test solutions that can be handled by one cylinder unit have been greatly expanded, resulting in variations. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cylinder unit in a dispenser and the like, and a suction / discharge amount adjustment system thereof.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The technical means employed by the present invention in order to solve the above problems is a cylinder unit that sucks a predetermined amount of a predetermined test solution into a nozzle tip and discharges it quantitatively. The cylinder unit has a nozzle tip on the tip side. Plunger having a cylinder block having a cylinder to be mounted, and a plunger that is hermetically fitted in the cylinder through a sealing means provided to seal the upper entrance of the Linda and is integrally driven by a drive mechanism with a piston The plunger is configured such that the plunger can be appropriately replaced with different outer diameters, and the inside of each cylinder is partitioned into a narrow tube region on the nozzle tip side and a thick tube region on the plunger side. allowed, the thick tube area, said different having an outer diameter permitting insertion of the plunger, out of the inserted plunger diameter change Ban I, it is characterized in that it is configured to adjust a region made different cylinder pressure adjusting an intake amount and discharge amount of reagent by the piston driven.
Further, the technical means adopted by the present invention to solve the above-described problems are sealed through a cylinder having a nozzle tip attached to the tip and sealing means provided in the cylinder to seal the upper entrance. A cylinder unit in a dispensing device or the like that is fitted and is driven by a piston driven by a drive mechanism, wherein the inside of the cylinder is divided into a narrow tube region on the nozzle tip side and a thick tube region into which the plunger is inserted. Plural types of plungers with different outer diameters are prepared while the compartments are formed, and the plungers inserted with the inner diameters of the thick tube regions based on the plungers arbitrarily selected according to the properties of the reagent used By changing the air space formed between the outer diameter and the outside diameter, the cylinder internal pressure that accompanies the piston drive is varied to adjust the quantitative values of the sample suction and discharge. It is an.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a cylinder unit in a dispensing apparatus that exemplifies an embodiment of the present invention as a preferred embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of a cylinder unit provided in the dispensing device. As shown in the figure, the cylinder unit 1 mounted on the dispensing device includes a cylinder block 11 having a plurality of cylinders 111, 111... It comprises a plunger block 12 having a plurality of plungers 121, 121,.
The cylinder unit 1 is accurately positioned with respect to a predetermined nozzle tip 2 or cartridge container 4 placed on a dispensing table together with other components by an operating mechanism (not shown), and the nozzle tip 2 is simultaneously inserted and held. In order to simultaneously inject a predetermined amount of the chemical solution into the cartridge container 4 in a distributed manner, the cartridge container 4 is configured to be able to operate arbitrarily in front and rear, left and right, and up and down directions.
Further, the inserted and held nozzle chips 2, 2,... Can be easily removed by the eject plate 6 moving downward.
The cylinder 111 is integrally formed with a tip holding portion 114 for fitting and holding the nozzle tip 2, and four cylinders 111 are conveniently attached to and fixed to the cylinder holder 51. The inside of the cylinder 111 is partitioned into a narrow tube (thin tube) region 112 on the nozzle tip 2 side and a thick tube (thick tube) region 113 on the plunger 121 side, with approximately half of the cylinder length as a boundary. The external appearance is also formed with an outer diameter of a small diameter and a large diameter. In other words, it is formed as a so-called double pipe structure in which a thin cylinder and a thick cylinder are integrally coupled. The narrow cylinder region 112 has an inner diameter of about 2 mm and is configured as an internal pressure passage in the cylinder 111 by driving the piston of the plunger 121, and the thick cylinder region 113 has an inner diameter of about 10 mm and a different outer diameter of less than that. Insertion of the plunger 121 having a diameter is allowed, and the plunger 121 is configured as an adjustment region that adjusts the intake amount and the discharge amount of the test solution by driving the piston accompanying the change in the outer diameter of the inserted plunger 121.
The cylinder holder 51 may be configured to be detachable from the dispensing apparatus main body so that the cylinder block 11 can be integrated or the cylinder 111 can be individually replaced. The ratio and shape of the inner diameter setting and arrangement are arbitrary, and the number of cylinders 111 is arbitrary including a single number.
[0008]
On the other hand, each plunger 121 is fixedly attached to the plunger holder 52 at its upper end, and the upper end portion to be attached has a constant thickness so that the outer diameter of only the portion inserted into the cylinder 111 can be varied. It has become. The plunger holder 52 is screwed to the connecting plate 521 with screws 522 and is guided up and down by left and right guide bolts 303 attached to a bracket 302 to which the motor 301 is attached. The elevating mechanism 3 is disposed on the rear side of the plunger block 12, the connecting plate 521 is connected to a coupling 304 connected to the output shaft of the motor 301, and the feed screw 305 is rotatably screwed. The connecting member 306 is detachably attached. Therefore, the plunger holder 52 is configured to be movable up and down by forward / reverse rotation driving of the motor 301, and can drive the piston within the thick cylinder region 113 of the plunger 121.
When the plunger block 12 is removed, the connection plate 521 and the screw 522 of the plunger holder 52 are removed, and the connection (not shown) with the connection member 306 is similarly released.
In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the plunger block 12 is attached and detached as a unit is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the plunger 121 is attached and detached individually. The jar holder 52 is integrally connected and fixed, the connecting plate 521 is used as a mere cover body, and is formed as a U-shaped concave groove in a top view, which is formed on the plunger holder 52 so as to expand to the near side. The plunger 121 may be inserted into the groove and fixed with the cover body (connection plate) 521. At that time, if each plunger 121 is inserted and set in the cylinder 111 in advance, it can be mounted in the concave groove with one touch.
[0009]
Reference numeral 7 denotes an O-ring that constitutes a sealing means together with the O-ring holder 71, and the O-ring 7 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the plunger 121 and is provided on the outer end portion of the upper entrance of the cylinder 111. The one having a different link diameter corresponding to a change in the outer diameter of the plunger 121 is used. Note that the O-ring holder 71 is integrally attached to the cylinder 111 by screwing means that can be attached to and detached from the cylinder 111 or by adhering means such as adhesion or welding.
[0010]
In the form of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, there is a dispensing operation in which a predetermined test solution is quantitatively sucked into the nozzle tip 2 and quantitatively discharged into another container or a plurality of containers. In the cylinder unit 1 of the present apparatus, the inside of each cylinder 111 is partitioned into a narrow tube region 112 on the nozzle tip 2 side and a thick tube region 113 on the plunger 121 side. The thick tube region 113 is configured as an adjustment region that adjusts the intake amount and the discharge amount of the test solution by driving the piston accompanying the change in the outer diameter of the plunger 121 to be inserted. For this reason, the plunger block 12 is integrally driven by the piston by the driving mechanism to suck and discharge the test solution into the nozzle tip 2, but the plunger block formed by the plungers 121 having different outer diameters. Several types are prepared in units of 12, and the inner diameter (inner peripheral surface) and plan of the thick cylinder region 113 are determined based on the outer diameter of the plunger 121 that is arbitrarily selected according to the properties of the reagent used. It is possible to construct a system that can be replaced by adjusting the fixed amount of intake and discharge of the test liquid by changing the internal pressure of the cylinder that accompanies the piston drive due to the change in the air space formed between the outer diameter (outer peripheral surface) of the jar 121. Can be realized.
The cylinder unit 1 according to the present embodiment is configured by the combination of the cylinder 111 and the plunger 121. However, the number is arbitrary as long as it is one or more combinations, and the cylinder 111 and the plunger 121 have an outer diameter. Needless to say, a plurality of cylinder units 1 having different values may be prepared and replaced.
[0011]
Here, when the outer diameter of the plunger 121 is changed as shown in FIG. 2 and the piston stroke amount and the piston speed for one stroke are set to be constant, the outer diameter of the plunger 121 becomes a large diameter (diameter) r1. The operation in the case of using the formed one and the one formed with the outer diameter of the small diameter (diameter) r2 will be described.
That is, by using the gas having a large diameter (diameter) r1, the gas in the thick cylinder region 113 is an air space (between the inner diameter of the thick cylinder region 113 and the outer diameter of the plunger 121). The amount of the liquid that is sucked into the nozzle tip 2 and discharged to the other container is increased as the speed of the gas passing through the narrow tube region 112 is increased. And the speed will be great. Conversely, by using a gas whose outer diameter is small (diameter) r2, the gas in the thick tube region 113 is formed between the inner diameter of the thick tube region 113 and the outer diameter of the plunger 121. The air space becomes large, the compression rate by the plunger 121 becomes small, and the speed at which the gas passes through the narrow tube region 112 becomes slow, so that the liquid is sucked into the nozzle tip 2 and discharged to another container. The amount and speed are small.
By using a plunger 121 having an outer diameter of the large diameter (diameter) r1, for example, when handling a test solution that is inexpensive and does not require dispensing accuracy, the quantitative value for suction and discharge is increased to increase the speed. Therefore, it is possible to perform a large amount of dispensing work in a short time and improve work efficiency, which is convenient when handling a material having a high viscosity such as an adhesive. On the other hand, by using a plunger 121 having an outer diameter of a large diameter (diameter) r2, for example, when handling an expensive reagent solution requiring dispensing accuracy, a quantitative value for inhalation / discharge This makes it possible to perform handling control and management that reduce the speed and reduce the speed, and can handle a small amount slowly and accurately without excessive suction with a strict quantitative value, which is suitable for treatment of reagent solutions such as drugs. .
[0012]
In this way, by utilizing the difference in the outer diameter r1-r2 of the plunger 121, the suction pressure and the pressing force of the gas in the cylinder 111 can be adjusted by the variable insertion volume, and when handling different types of test solutions. Even in the case where there is a change in the outer diameter of the thick tube region 113, the adjustment of the quantitative value and the dispensing speed value that cannot be dealt with only by the control by the speed change of the piston drive within the conventional single pipe diameter is possible. The jar 121 can be inserted, and can be performed by changing the outer diameter of the plunger 121. A cylinder unit having a single cylinder (K23) inner diameter and a plunger (K21) outer diameter different from each other can be used. There is no need to prepare a plurality of equipped dispensing devices and the equipment cost can be reduced. Furthermore, the advantage that the piston stroke of the plunger 121 can be shortened as compared with the conventional single thin tube is added, and the raising / lowering operation mechanism of the plunger block 12 is simplified such that the feed screw 305 can be shortened. Labor saving can be achieved. In addition, it is possible to efficiently work with the optimum quantitative values of dispensing and dispensing and the dispensing speed for the characteristics such as the nature and type of the reagent, and the types of reagents that can be handled are greatly expanded, and variations can be made. There is an advantage that can be provided as a cylinder unit.
[0013]
Furthermore, the plunger 121 is configured to be appropriately replaceable by changing the outer diameter or length of the plunger for each block. That is, each plunger 121 is Attach the individual at its upper end to the plunger holder 52, and since that is a replaceable, the plunger 121 made different outer diameters or length four prepared Since this can be replaced entirely as a block unit, it is not necessary to replace the entire cylinder unit, and not only can the equipment cost be greatly reduced, but also one cylinder unit 1 can have different outer diameters r1 and Plungers 121 having r2 are disposed in the right half and the left half, respectively, so that different types of dispensing operations can be performed simultaneously.
[0014]
In addition, since the narrow cylinder region 112 is configured as an internal pressure passage in the cylinder 111 by driving the piston of the plunger 121, the pressure gas pressed and sucked by the thick cylinder region 113 is used as a quantitative value as a narrow cylinder. Since it passes through the region 112, the role of the function of allowing only the pressure gas to pass through in relation to the thick tube region 113 is achieved, and the dispensing operation can be performed with high accuracy.
[0015]
On the other hand, the sealing fitting of the plunger 121 to the cylinder 111 is provided on the outer periphery of the plunger 121 and is mounted on an O-ring holder 71 as a sealing means provided at the outer end of the inlet of the cylinder 111. Since it is performed by the ring 7, the O-ring 7 suitable for the change in the outer diameter of the plunger 121 can be mounted on the holder 71 and used, and even when the plunger 121 is replaced, the change can be easily and reliably attached. it can.
[0016]
In addition, since a tip holding portion 114 for fitting and holding the nozzle tip 2 is integrally formed in the cylinder 111, there is no risk of leakage of the joint portion as compared with the conventional one, and the number of parts is reduced and the cylinder is reduced. Not only can the structure of the block 11 be simplified and the block 11 can be manufactured at low cost, but it can be easily and reliably changed and attached even when the cylinder 111 is replaced.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in the cylinder block 11 forming the cylinder unit 1, the plunger 121 is configured to be appropriately replaceable with different outer diameters, and the inside of each cylinder 111 is connected to the narrow cylinder region 112 on the nozzle tip 2 side. A partition is formed with the thick cylinder region 113 on the plunger 121 side, and the thick cylinder region 113 is allowed to be inserted into the plunger 121 having a different outer diameter. Thus, since the adjustment area for adjusting the suction amount and the discharge amount of the test liquid that changes the cylinder internal pressure due to the piston drive is configured, the plunger block 12 is integrally driven by the drive mechanism 3 to drive the piston into the nozzle tip. 2 which is sucked into and discharged from the inside of the nozzle 2 and is formed by the plunger 121 having a different outer diameter. Units and individually prepared several, since it system construction realization to set replace this correspondence even when dealing with reagent which can not be inhaled and discharge amount and frequency is a variable speed control by the piston drive Note possible speed adjusting setting changes and becomes, cylinder inner diameter and a plunger outer diameter can not Succoth the need to prepare a plurality equipped with dispensing device such as a different cylinder unit or Rubakari, the piston stroke Can be shortened, the equipment cost can be reduced, and the work can be done efficiently with the optimum quantitative value of dispensing and dispensing and the dispensing speed for the characteristics such as the nature and type of the test solution. the kind of reagent that can be handled by 1 is greatly enlarged, to provide a cylinder units reduced the variation of It can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a cylinder unit.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state where a plunger is inserted into a cylinder thick cylinder amount region.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part of a conventional cylinder unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cylinder unit 11 Cylinder block 111 Cylinder 112 Thin cylinder area | region 113 Thick cylinder area | region 12 Plunger block 121 Blanker 2 Nozzle tip 3 Drive mechanism 301 Motor 302 Bracket 303 Guide bolt 304 Coupling 305 Feed screw 306 Connecting member 4 Cartridge container 51 Cylinder Holder 52 Plunger holder 521 Connection plate 522 Screw 6 Eject plate 7 O-ring 71 O-ring holder

Claims (5)

A cylinder unit that sucks a predetermined amount of a predetermined solution into a nozzle tip and arbitrarily discharges a predetermined amount thereof. The cylinder unit includes a cylinder block having a cylinder to which a nozzle tip is mounted on the tip side, and an upper portion of the cylinder. sealed fitted into the cylinder via the sealing means provided in order to seal the inlet consists of a plunger block having a plunger integrally piston driven by the drive mechanism, the plunger, the outer diameter The inside of each cylinder is divided into a narrow tube region on the nozzle tip side and a thick tube region on the plunger side, and the thick tube region has a different outer diameter. allowing insertion of the plunger, it accompanied to varying outside diameter of the inserted plunger, the cylinder pressure by the piston drive Not tighten the cylinder unit in the dispensing apparatus or the like, characterized by being configured to adjustment area for adjusting the intake amount and discharge amount of reagent.   2. A cylinder unit in a dispensing apparatus or the like according to claim 1, wherein the plunger is configured to be appropriately replaceable in block units. Dispensing device comprising: a cylinder to which a nozzle tip is attached at the tip; and a plunger that is hermetically fitted in the cylinder via a sealing means provided to seal the upper entrance of the cylinder and that is driven by a piston by a drive mechanism The cylinder unit is divided into a narrow cylinder area on the nozzle tip side and a thick cylinder area into which the plunger is inserted, and several types of plungers with different outer diameters are prepared and used. Cylinder associated with driving the piston by the air space change formed between the inner diameter of the thick tube area and the outer diameter of the plunger to be inserted based on the plunger arbitrarily selected according to the nature of the reagent etc. A cylinder unit suction / discharge amount adjustment system characterized in that the internal pressure is varied to adjust the fixed amount of the sample solution suction and discharge. In any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fine tube region, a cylinder unit in the dispensing apparatus or the like, characterized by being configured to internal pressure passage in the cylinder by the piston driving of the plunger, and its inhalation・ Discharge rate adjustment system . 5. A cylinder unit in a dispensing device or the like according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a tip holding portion for fitting and holding a nozzle tip is integrally formed in the cylinder , and a suction / discharge amount thereof Adjustment system .

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