JP6919535B2 - Dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a dispensing device including a probe for sucking a liquid and a liquid level detecting unit for detecting whether or not the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface.

For example, in a device for handling a liquid such as a sample or a reagent such as a pretreatment device, a dispensing device for dispensing the liquid is used. By using the dispensing device, the sample can be dispensed from the sample container, and the reagent to be mixed with the sample can be dispensed from the reagent container (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

When the liquid is dispensed in the dispensing device, a suction operation and a discharge operation using a probe are performed. Specifically, a container containing a liquid such as a sample or a reagent is installed at a suction position, and the probe is inserted into the container so that the tip of the probe is immersed in the liquid. By operating the syringe in this state, the liquid is sucked into the probe. After that, the liquid is discharged from the tip of the probe by moving the probe to the discharge position and operating the syringe again. After dispensing, the probe is washed with a wash solution at the wash port.

When sucking the liquid into the probe at the suction position, the tip of the probe must be securely inserted into the liquid. Therefore, a general dispensing device is provided with a liquid level detection unit for detecting whether or not the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid level. As the liquid level detection unit, for example, a configuration that detects the liquid level by a capacitance type is used.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the operation of the probe 300 when the liquid level is normally detected by the liquid level detecting unit in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 8, the container 100 containing the liquid is held by the container holding portion 200. The upper surface of the container 100 has an opening, and the probe 300 is inserted from above with respect to the opening (see FIG. 8A).

After that, when the probe 300 is further inserted into the container 100, the tip of the probe 300 comes into contact with the liquid surface of the liquid in the container 100 (see FIG. 8B). When the liquid level is detected in this way, the height of the tip of the probe 300 when the liquid level is detected is set as the reference height H100, and the height is lowered from the reference height H100 by a predetermined drop amount D100. The probe 300 is lowered (see FIG. 8C). Then, by operating the syringe, the liquid is sucked into the probe 300 (see FIG. 8D).

The drop amount D100 is set to the minimum necessary value based on the shape of the container 100, the suction amount of the liquid, and the like. As a result, the range of contact with the liquid in the probe 300 can be narrowed, so that the cleaning range of the probe 300 can be limited. Further, if the liquid level is not detected by the time the tip of the probe 300 reaches a predetermined height in the container 100, an error indicating that the amount of liquid in the container 100 is small can be detected.

JP-A-2016-205998

However, in the conventional dispensing device as described above, there is a risk that the suction operation (empty suction) is performed when the probe 300 is not inserted in the liquid due to the false detection of the liquid level by the liquid level detection unit. was there.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the operation of the probe 300 when the liquid level is erroneously detected by the liquid level detecting unit in the prior art. For example, when the user stirs the liquid in the container 100 in advance, the droplet 400 may be scattered around the opening of the container 100.

In such a case, in the process of inserting the probe 300 into the container 100, the probe 300 may come into contact with the droplet 400 adhering to the vicinity of the opening of the container 100 and erroneously detect the liquid level ( (See FIG. 9 (a)). In particular, when the opening of the container 100 has a relatively small diameter, such false detection is likely to occur.

When the droplet 400 is erroneously detected as the liquid level, the probe 300 is lowered to a position lower than the reference height by a predetermined drop amount, using the height of the tip of the probe 300 at that time as the reference height. , A suction operation is performed (see FIG. 9B). As a result, the suction operation is performed in a state where the probe 300 is not inserted in the liquid, and air suction is performed.

On the other hand, a dispensing device having a configuration in which the probe 300 is lowered to a certain height to perform a suction operation without detecting the liquid level has also been conventionally known. Since the liquid level is not detected in this type of dispensing device, even if the amount of liquid in the container 100 is small and the probe 300 is not inserted into the liquid, the suction operation is performed as it is, and the air suction is also performed. There is.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and error processing can be performed when the amount of liquid in the container is small, and the suction operation is performed in a state where the probe is not inserted in the liquid. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing device capable of preventing the above.

(1) The dispensing device according to the present invention includes a probe, a moving mechanism, a liquid level detecting unit, a moving processing unit, a suction processing unit, and an error determining unit. The probe sucks the liquid in the container at the suction position. The moving mechanism moves the probe in the vertical direction at the suction position. The liquid level detection unit detects whether or not the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface. The movement processing unit performs a descent process of lowering the probe to a target height at the suction position while performing detection by the liquid level detection unit. The suction processing unit causes the probe to suck the liquid at the target height. The error determination unit performs error processing when the liquid level detection unit does not detect that the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent process. The moving processing unit lowers the probe to the target height at the suction position regardless of whether or not the liquid level detecting unit detects that the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface during the lowering process. Let me. The suction processing unit causes the probe to suck the liquid at the target height only when the liquid level detecting unit detects that the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent processing.

According to such a configuration, when the amount of liquid in the container is small and the liquid level detection unit does not detect that the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent process, error processing can be performed. In addition, the probe is lowered to the target height at the suction position regardless of whether or not the liquid level detection unit detects that the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent process, so that the target height is appropriately set. If it is set, it is possible to prevent the air suction operation when the probe is not inserted in the liquid due to the false detection of the liquid level.

Further, if the liquid level detection unit does not detect that the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent process, the suction operation is not performed, so that the suction operation is performed when the probe is not inserted in the liquid. Can be reliably prevented.

(2) The moving processing unit may perform a cleaning process in which the probe is moved to a cleaning position and the probe is washed with a cleaning liquid from the tip to a predetermined cleaning range. In this case, the target height may be determined based on the cleaning range. The dispensing device may further include a storage unit that stores the container and the target height in association with each other.

According to such a configuration, since the probe can be inserted into the liquid within the cleaning range of the probe in the cleaning process, the liquid adhering to the probe can be reliably cleaned. Further, by considering the type of container in addition to the cleaning range, an appropriate target height can be set according to the shape of the container. By storing the container type and the target height in the storage unit in advance in association with each other, it is not necessary to determine the target height each time the measurement is performed, and the preparation work for the measurement becomes easy.

(3) The suction processing unit uses the probe at the target height after detection by the liquid level detection unit is performed until the probe descends to the first height at the suction position during the lowering process. The liquid may be sucked. In this case, the first height may be the same as or higher than the target height.

According to such a configuration, during the descent process, the liquid level detector detects until the probe descends to a first height equal to or higher than the target height, and then the target. Liquid can be reliably sucked into the probe at height.

(4) When the tip position of the probe when the liquid level detecting unit detects the liquid level during the descent processing is within a predetermined range above the target height, the suction processing unit is , The probe may suck the liquid at a second height lower than the target height.

According to such a configuration, the tip position of the probe when the liquid level is detected by the liquid level detection unit during the descent process is relatively close to the target height, and the liquid cannot be sufficiently sucked. When expected, the probe is lowered to a second height that is lower than the target height, so that the liquid can be reliably sucked into the probe at the second height.

According to the present invention, when the amount of liquid in the container is small and the liquid level detection unit does not detect that the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent process, error processing can be performed. Further, according to the present invention, if the target height is set appropriately, it is possible to prevent the suction operation from being performed in a state where the probe is not inserted into the liquid due to an erroneous detection of the liquid level.

It is the schematic which showed the whole structure of the dispensing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which showed the structural example of the suction mechanism in the dispensing device of FIG. It is a block diagram which showed the electrical structure of a dispensing device. It is a flowchart which showed the flow of control by the control part at the time of dispensing. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation of a probe during a descent process. It is a figure for demonstrating the method of determining a target height. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation of the probe when the probe is additionally lowered during the descent process. It is a figure which showed the operation of the probe when the liquid level is detected normally by the liquid level detection part in the prior art. It is a figure which showed the operation of the probe when the liquid level was erroneously detected by the liquid level detection part in the prior art.

1. 1. Overall Configuration of Dispensing Device FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the overall configuration of the dispensing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This dispensing device 1 is used, for example, in a pretreatment device, and is a device for dispensing a liquid such as a sample or a reagent. In the following description, a case where the sample is sucked from the sample container 2 and discharged to the discharge container 3 will be described, but the dispensing device 1 according to the present embodiment is housed in another liquid (for example, a reagent container). It can also be used when dispensing reagents).

The dispensing device 1 is provided with a probe 4 for sucking a sample from the sample container 2. The probe 4 is an elongated tubular member, and a sample can be sucked from the tip (lower end) thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the probe 4 sucks the sample at a position (suction position) facing upward with respect to the sample container 2.

The probe 4 is rotatably held around a rotation shaft 5. In addition to the sample container 2 and the discharge container 3, a cleaning port 6 and the like are arranged on the orbit of the probe 4 that rotates about the rotation shaft 5. Therefore, by rotating the probe 4 around the rotation shaft 5, the suction position, the position facing upward with respect to the discharge container 3 (discharge position), and the position facing upward with respect to the cleaning port 6 The probe 4 can be moved horizontally to and from (cleaning position).

The rotating shaft 5 is rotated by being driven by the first motor 7, and the probe 4 moves on the locus accordingly. Further, the rotating shaft 5 is displaced in the vertical direction by the drive of the second motor 8, and the probe 4 moves in the vertical direction accordingly. At each position such as the suction position, the discharge position, and the cleaning position, the probe 4 is appropriately moved in the vertical direction by driving the second motor 8. These first motor 7 and second motor 8 form a moving mechanism 9 for moving the probe 4 in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

2. Configuration of Suction Mechanism FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a configuration example of the suction mechanism 10 in the dispensing device 1 of FIG. The dispensing device 1 is provided with a suction mechanism 10 communicating with the probe 4 of FIG. The suction mechanism 10 includes a syringe 12 connected to a pipe 11 communicating with the probe 4, and a syringe motor 13 for operating the syringe 12.

The syringe 12 is a hollow member, and the plunger 14 is inserted therein. The plunger 14 is displaced in the axial direction by the drive of the syringe motor 13, and can move forward and backward in the syringe 12.

If the plunger 14 is retracted from the syringe 12 with the tip of the probe 4 inserted into the sample in the sample container 2 at the suction position, the sample can be sucked from the sample container 2 into the probe 4. Further, after sucking the sample, the probe 4 is moved to the discharge position and the plunger 14 is inserted into the syringe 12, so that the sample in the probe 4 can be discharged into the discharge container 3.

One end of a pipe 15 for sucking washing water is connected to the syringe 12. The other end of the pipe 15 communicates with the washing water tank 16 containing the washing water. Further, a washing water valve 17 and a washing water pump 18 are interposed in the middle of the pipe 15. When the sample is sucked and discharged, the syringe motor 13 is driven with the washing water valve 17 closed.

When cleaning the probe 4, the probe 4 is moved to the cleaning position, and the tip of the probe 4 is inserted into the cleaning port 6. By opening the cleaning water valve 17 and driving the cleaning water pump 18 in this state, cleaning water can be discharged from the tip of the probe 4 into the cleaning port 6 via the syringe 12 and the pipe 11. As a result, the washing water is stored in the washing port 6, and the probe 4 is immersed in the washing water, so that the probe 4 is washed in the range (washing range) immersed in the washing water. However, the cleaning liquid for cleaning the probe 4 is not limited to water, and may be another liquid.

3. 3. Electrical configuration of the dispensing device FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the dispensing device 1. In addition to the moving mechanism 9 and the suction mechanism 10 described above, the dispensing device 1 is provided with a control unit 20, a storage unit 30, a display unit 40, an input unit 45, and the like.

The control unit 20 is configured to include, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and when the CPU executes a program, it functions as a movement processing unit 21, a liquid level detection unit 22, a suction processing unit 23, an error determination unit 24, and the like. do. The storage unit 30 is composed of, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The display unit 40 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display. The input unit 45 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, an operation key, or the like.

The movement processing unit 21 performs processing for moving the probe 4 by controlling the movement mechanism 9. In particular, during the sample suction operation, the moving processing unit 21 performs a descent process of lowering the probe 4 to the target height at the suction position. The target height is a fixed height of the tip of the probe 4 when sucking the sample into the probe 4 (when driving the syringe motor 13), and is associated with each type of the sample container 2 in advance in the storage unit 30. It is remembered in. The target height may be a relative height or an absolute height. The user can specify the type of the sample container 2 by operating the input unit 45. As a result, the target height corresponding to the designated type of sample container 2 is read from the storage unit 30 and set.

Further, when cleaning the probe 4, the probe 4 is moved to the cleaning position by the moving processing unit 21, and then the probe 4 is lowered, so that the probe 4 is immersed in the cleaning water in the cleaning port 6. .. As a result, the probe 4 can be washed with washing water from the tip to a predetermined washing range (cleaning treatment).

The liquid level detection unit 22 performs a process for detecting whether or not the tip of the probe 4 has come into contact with the liquid surface (liquid level detection). The probe 4 in this embodiment has a so-called capacitance type liquid level detection function. Specifically, the probe 4 has a configuration in which an inner cylinder is provided inside the outer cylinder (not shown), and the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are energized. As a result, when the probe 4 is immersed in the liquid, the capacitance between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder changes, and the liquid level can be detected based on the change. The liquid level detection unit 22 detects the liquid level based on the change in the capacitance of the probe 4 by detecting the voltage applied to the probe 4. However, the liquid level detection unit 22 may be configured to detect the liquid level by a method other than the capacitance type.

The movement processing unit 21 performs detection by the liquid level detection unit 22 in parallel when performing the descent processing. That is, during the descent process, the probe 4 is lowered to the target height at the suction position while being detected by the liquid level detection unit 22. At this time, the moving processing unit 21 lowers the probe 4 to the target height regardless of whether or not the liquid level detecting unit 22 detects that the tip of the probe 4 has come into contact with the liquid surface. In other words, the detection result by the liquid level detection unit 22 does not affect the descent processing of the probe 4 by the movement processing unit 21.

The suction processing unit 23 controls the suction mechanism 10 to perform a process for causing the probe 4 to suck the liquid. During the sample suction operation, the sample is sucked into the probe 4 at the target height. In the present embodiment, the suction processing unit 23 performs a sample suction operation based on the detection result of the liquid level detection unit 22. Specifically, the sample is sucked into the probe 4 at the target height only when the liquid level detection unit 22 detects that the tip of the probe 4 has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent process.

The error determination unit 24 performs error processing based on the detection result by the liquid level detection unit 22. During the sample suction operation, if the liquid level detection unit 22 does not detect that the tip of the probe 4 has come into contact with the liquid surface before the probe 4 drops to the target height, error processing is performed. It is said. In the present embodiment, as error processing, the user is notified that an abnormality has occurred (error) by displaying on the display unit 40. However, the error processing is not limited to such a configuration, and the error processing may be a processing of notifying the user of the error by other means such as voice, a processing of stopping the operation of the dispensing device 1, and the like.

4. Control at the time of dispensing FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of control by the control unit 20 at the time of dispensing. When dispensing the sample, first, the moving processing unit 21 controls the first motor 7 of the moving mechanism 9 to move the probe 4 to the suction position (step S101).

After that, the movement processing unit 21 controls the second motor 8 of the movement mechanism 9, so that the lowering process of the probe 4 is started at the suction position (step S102). During the descent process, the liquid level detection unit 22 detects the liquid level, but regardless of the detection result, the descent process is performed until the tip of the probe 4 reaches the target height.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the probe 4 during the descent process. As shown in FIG. 5, the sample container 2 is held by the container holding portion 50, and the upper surface thereof is an opening. When the droplet 60 adheres to the vicinity of the opening of the sample container 2, as shown in FIG. 5A, the probe 4 comes into contact with the droplet 60 during the descent process, and the liquid level detection unit 22 moves the liquid. There is a risk that it will be mistakenly detected as a surface. Even in such a case, the descent process is performed until the probe descends to the target height H regardless of the detection result by the liquid level detection unit 22 (see FIG. 5B).

The target height H is set at a position higher than the height of the bottom surface of the sample container 2 by a predetermined amount D1. The height of the bottom surface of the sample container 2 is measured by using a known technique by installing several kinds of empty sample containers 2 in the container holding portion 50 at the time of assembling and adjusting the apparatus, and is associated with each sample container 2. Can be stored in the storage unit 30 in advance. In this embodiment, the target height H is determined based on the cleaning range of the probe 4 at the cleaning port 6.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining the target height H. The cleaning water 61 is stored in the cleaning port 6 up to a constant water level, and the probe 4 is inserted into the cleaning water 61. The wash water supplied to the wash port 6 above the constant water level overflows through the outflow passage 62. Therefore, the cleaning range R1 of the probe 4 in the cleaning port 6 becomes a constant value according to the constant water level.

When the probe 4 is lowered into the sample container 2 during the lowering process, if the sample is fully contained up to the opening of the sample container 2, the range from the upper end of the sample container 2 to the tip of the probe 4 comes into contact with the sample. Therefore, it is necessary to wash the probe 4 in that range. Therefore, based on the height of the upper end of the sample container 2, the height below the cleaning range R1 is determined as the target height H. In other words, the value obtained by subtracting the cleaning range R1 from the height from the bottom surface to the upper end of the sample container 2 is the above-mentioned predetermined amount D1 (see FIG. 5).

Since the height of the upper end of the sample container 2 differs depending on the type of the sample container 2, the target height H has a different value depending on the type of the sample container 2. The sample container 2 has a capacity of, for example, about 1 mL, and usually, the sample is stored up to about half of the capacity.

Referring to FIG. 4 again, if the tip of the probe 4 reaches the target height H during the descent process (Yes in step S103), the descent process of the probe 4 is stopped (step S104), and the descent process is in progress. It is determined whether or not the liquid level is detected by the liquid level detection unit 22 (step S105). The detection by the liquid level detection unit 22 is performed until the tip of the probe 4 descends to a predetermined height (first height) during the descent process. In the present embodiment, the case where the first height is the same as the target height H will be described.

When the liquid level is not detected by the liquid level detection unit 22 during the descent process (No in step S105), it means that the amount of the sample liquid in the sample container 2 is small or the inside of the sample container 2 is empty. The determination is made, and error processing is performed by the error determination unit 24 (step S112). In this case, the suction processing by the suction processing unit 23 is not performed.

On the other hand, when the liquid level is detected by the liquid level detection unit 22 during the descent process (Yes in step S105), the tip position of the probe 4 when the liquid level is detected is relative to the target height H. It is determined whether or not it is within the upper predetermined range (step S106). Then, when the tip position of the probe 4 when the liquid level is detected is not within the above-mentioned predetermined range (No in step S106), that is, when the liquid level is detected at a position relatively higher than the target height H, it is as it is. When the suction processing unit 23 operates the suction mechanism 10 at the target height H, the sample is sucked into the probe 4 (step S108).

When the tip position of the probe 4 when the liquid level is detected is within the above predetermined range (Yes in step S106), that is, when the liquid level is detected at a position relatively close to the target height H, the target height is maintained as it is. If the suction operation is performed at the height H, the sample may not be sucked well. Therefore, in such a case, the movement processing unit 21 controls the second motor 8 of the movement mechanism 9, so that the tip of the probe 4 has a predetermined height (second height) lower than the target height H. (Step S107), the suction processing unit 23 operates the suction mechanism 10 at this second height, so that the sample is sucked into the probe 4 (step S108).

After the suction treatment is performed in this way, the movement processing unit 21 raises the probe 4 by controlling the second motor 8 of the movement mechanism 9 (step S109). Then, after the moving processing unit 21 controls the first motor 7 of the moving mechanism 9 to move the probe 4 to the discharge position (step S110), the sample in the probe 4 is placed in the discharge container 3 at the discharge position. (Step S111).

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the probe 4 when the probe 4 is additionally lowered during the descent process. As described with reference to FIG. 5, the descent process is performed until the probe 4 descends to the target height H regardless of the detection result by the liquid level detection unit 22 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B). ..

However, when the amount of the sample contained in the sample container 2 is small, as shown in FIG. 7B, the distance between the tip position of the probe 4 and the liquid level at the target height H becomes short. If the suction operation is performed at the target height H as it is, the liquid level may drop to the tip of the probe 4 during suction, and the sample may not be sucked well. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the tip position (liquid level height) of the probe 4 when the liquid level is detected is within the predetermined range R2 above the target height H, the target height H The tip of the probe 4 is additionally lowered to a predetermined height (second height) which is lower than the predetermined amount D2.

5. Action effect (1) In the present embodiment, when the amount of the sample liquid in the sample container 2 is small and the liquid level detection unit 22 does not detect that the tip of the probe 4 has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent process (1). Error processing can be performed in step S105 of FIG. 4 (No) (step S112). Further, the probe 4 is lowered to the target height H at the suction position regardless of whether or not the liquid level detection unit 22 detects that the tip of the probe 4 has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent process (step). If the target height H is appropriately set in S102 to S104), the suction operation is performed in a state where the probe 4 is not inserted into the sample, and it is possible to prevent empty suction.

(2) Further, in the present embodiment, if it is not detected by the liquid level detection unit 22 that the tip of the probe 4 has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent process (No in step S105), the suction operation (step S108) is performed. Therefore, the suction operation is performed in a state where the probe 4 is not inserted into the sample, and it is possible to reliably prevent air suction.

(3) In the present embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 6, the target height H is determined based on the cleaning range R1. As a result, the probe 4 can be inserted into the sample within the cleaning range R1 of the probe 4 in the cleaning process, so that the sample adhering to the probe 4 can be reliably cleaned.

(4) In the present embodiment, the lower limit height (first height) of the tip of the probe 4 detected by the liquid level detection unit 22 during the descent process is the same as the target height H. Therefore, during the descent process, the liquid level detection unit 22 detects until the probe 4 descends to the same height as the target height H, and then the sample is surely placed on the probe 4 at the target height H. Can be aspirated.

(5) Further, in the present embodiment, when the tip position of the probe when the liquid level is detected by the liquid level detection unit 22 during the descent process is within the predetermined range R2 above the target height H. That is, when the probe 4 is relatively close to the target height H, the probe 4 is lowered to a height (second height) lower than the target height H by a predetermined amount D2. As a result, the sample can be reliably sucked into the probe 4 at the second height.

6. Modification Example In the above embodiment, when the liquid level detection unit 22 does not detect that the tip of the probe 4 has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent process (No in step S105 of FIG. 4), the suction operation (step S108). ) Was not described. However, the configuration is not limited to such a configuration, and a configuration in which a user who recognizes an error by error processing manually stops the suction operation may be used.

In the above embodiment, the case where the lower limit height (first height) of the tip of the probe 4 detected by the liquid level detection unit 22 during the descent process is the same as the target height H has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and the first height may be set higher than the target height H.

In the above embodiment, the case where the liquid to be dispensed by the dispensing device 1 is the sample in the sample container 2 has been described. However, the present invention is applicable not only when the sample is sucked into the probe 4, but also when other liquids are sucked into the probe 4.

1 Dispensing device 2 Sample container 3 Discharge container 4 Probe 5 Rotating shaft 6 Cleaning port 7 1st motor 8 2nd motor 9 Moving mechanism 10 Suction mechanism 20 Control unit 21 Moving processing unit 22 Liquid level detection unit 23 Suction processing unit 24 Error Judgment unit 30 Storage unit 40 Display unit 60 Droplet 61 Cleaning water R1 Cleaning range R2 Predetermined range

Claims (3)

A probe that sucks the liquid in the container at the suction position,
A moving mechanism that moves the probe in the vertical direction at the suction position,
A liquid level detection unit that detects whether or not the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface,
A first height that is the same as or higher than the target height while lowering the probe at the suction position to a target height determined based on the type of the container and the cleaning range of the probe. A moving processing unit that performs a descent process that detects the probe by the liquid level detection unit until it descends.
A suction processing unit that causes the probe to suck liquid at the target height,
It is provided with an error determination unit that performs error processing when the liquid level detection unit does not detect that the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent process.
The moving processing unit lowers the probe to the target height at the suction position regardless of whether or not the liquid level detecting unit detects that the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent processing. Let me
The suction processing unit is characterized in that the probe sucks the liquid at the target height only when the liquid level detecting unit detects that the tip of the probe has come into contact with the liquid surface during the descent processing. Dispensing device. A storage unit for storing the container and the target height in association with each other is further provided.
The movement processing unit may move the probe to the cleaning position, the dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that intends line cleaning process of cleaning with a cleaning liquid to said cleaning area the probe from the tip. When the tip position of the probe when the liquid level detecting unit detects the liquid level during the descent processing is within a predetermined range above the target height, the suction processing unit is the target. The dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the probe sucks a liquid at a second height lower than the height.

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