JPH0114912Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to a colorimetric determination device for colorimetrically quantifying a differential image of serum, etc. formed on a support by electrophoresis. This invention relates to improvements in body transport means.

In a biochemical analyzer using electrophoresis, a sample (e.g., serum) is coated on a strip-shaped support made of a cellulose acetate membrane, etc., a voltage is applied to the support to form a partial image, and the images are compared. The protein concentration contained in serum is measured by color quantitative determination. This colorimetric determination is carried out by introducing the support into a clarifying liquid tank to make it transparent, irradiating it with measurement light, and detecting the transmitted light. In this case, each minute image is formed parallel to the width of the strip-like support, so if the support is fed in a bent state rather than straight in the longitudinal direction, it may cause damage. This results in a direct measurement error.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a colorimetric determination apparatus that is equipped with a support conveying means that can carry a support into and out of a clarifying liquid tank in an appropriate state.

Hereinafter, this invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this colorimetric determination device includes a clarifying liquid tank 1 into which a clarifying liquid 29 such as decahydronaphthalene is placed, and a lid that is detachably placed on top of the clearing liquid tank 1. It has a body 2. In this case, a transport path for the support 50 is formed between the clarifying liquid tank 1 and the lid 2, but in this embodiment, the clarifying liquid tank 1 and the lid 2 are
They are formed so as to constrict each other at their central portions, and a light source block 36 and a detection block 38 serving as measuring means are provided in that portion so as to face each other in the vertical direction across the support transport path. ing. Therefore, this device has a support carry-in side (left side in Figure 1) and a support carry-out side (right side in Figure 1) that communicate with each other via the constriction.
It can be divided into The light source block 36 is the light source 3
5, and the light irradiated from this light source 35 passes through, for example, a heat ray cut filter 34, a lens 33, a filter 32, a slit plate 31, and transparent glasses 3 and 4 installed in the support conveyance path, and enters a detection block 38. The light is incident on the light receiving element 37 of.

In this invention, a first conveying means for conveying the support 50 supplied from the support conveyance port 51 between the transparent glasses 3 and 4, that is, toward the photometry section, in the support conveyance side part; A second transport means for guiding the support 50 sent out through the photometry section toward the exit 52 is provided at the support delivery side. Referring also to FIG. 3, each of the first and second conveying means includes fixed rollers 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8 each have four fixed rollers. In this case, each of these rollers 6 to 8 has sprockets 42 to 47 fixed to their respective rotating shafts, and a chain extending between each of these sprockets, as illustrated in FIG. 39～
41, and are adapted to be rotated synchronously and in the same direction, in this embodiment clockwise in FIG. 1. In addition, sprocket 4
7 is connected to a drive motor (not shown) via a gear 48 attached to its rotating shaft.
On the other hand, an auxiliary roller 9 for carrying out,
9 is provided, and this auxiliary roller 9 is connected via a belt 10 to a fixed roller 8 located at the closest position.

Further, between the fixed rollers 5, 5, 6, 6 and 7, 7, 8, 8, a slide-shaped first guide plate 11, which prevents the central portion of the support 50 from loosening, is provided.
11 are provided along the support conveyance surface by the fixed rollers, and furthermore, second guide plates 12, 12 having guide grooves 53 for guiding the side edges of the support are provided on both sides of each fixed roller. are provided for each. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the support body 50 is carried while being held substantially flat by the first and second guide plates 11 and 12. The guide groove 53 is not limited to the U-shaped cross section shown, but may be U-shaped or V-shaped in cross section. In this embodiment, on both sides of the first guide plate 11,
Guide ribs 54, 54 are provided upright to minimize the area of contact with the support 50.

Furthermore, each of the first and second conveyance means,
Movable rollers 16, 17, 2 are attached to each of the fixed rollers on the lid body 2 side so as to be able to approach and separate from them.
4.25. Although FIG. 1 only shows two on one side of each of the support carry-in side and the support carry-out side, each movable roller 16, 17, 24, 25 has the same number as the fixed rollers, i.e. There are four on each side. In this embodiment, the movable roller 1
6, 17 and 24, 25 are swing levers 14 and 2 pivoted on support shafts 13, 21 as shown in the figure.
It is pivoted on 2. This swing lever 14, 22
are each urged upward by springs 20 and 28, that is, in a direction away from the fixed roller, but are forced downward by solenoids (not shown) connected to support shafts 13 and 21. It is now possible to lower it. The rotating shafts 15, 18, 23, and 26 of each movable roller are loosely fitted into the slit holes of the swing levers 14 and 22, and the plate springs 19 and 27 apply an appropriate pressing force to the fixed roller. is energized so that it can be obtained. Further, on the lid body 2 side, protrusions 55, 55 are provided that correspond to the guide ribs 54, 54 of the first guide plate 11 described above (see FIG. 4). 50 to keep it more flat. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an insertion port 49 is provided on the loading port 51 side of the lid 2 for manually inserting the support 50 into the clarifying liquid tank 1.

Next, the operation of this invention will be explained. 1st
The figure shows a state in which each movable roller 16, 17, 24, 25 is pressed against the corresponding fixed roller 5, 6, 7, 8, but in the initial state, the solenoid (not shown) is turned off. Each movable roller is held spaced apart from the fixed roller by a spring 20,28.
Support 5 dyed, bleached, and dried in the previous step
0 arrives at the entrance 51, a sensor (not shown) detects this and energizes a solenoid (not shown) on the first conveyance means side. As a result, the swing lever 14 is forcibly pushed down against the spring 20, and the movable rollers 16, 17 are pressed against the fixed rollers 5, 6 which have been rotationally driven in advance. Therefore,
The support body 50 will be sent toward the photometry section by these movable rollers 16, 17 and fixed rollers 5, 6, but in that case, this support body 50 will be sent to the first
The guide ribs 54, 54 of the guide plate 11 and the lid body 2
Since it moves along a slight gap regulated by the protrusions 55, 55 provided on the sides and the guide grooves 53, 53 of the second guide plates 12, 12 provided on both sides, the slack is reduced. It is immersed in the transparentizing liquid 29 to be made transparent without causing distortion or meandering, and is sent toward the photometry section in a straight state. When the first minute image formed on the support 50 reaches the photometry section, the feeding by each fixed roller is stopped, and both the light emitting block 36 and the detection block 38 move in the width direction of the support 50. Colorimetric measurements of the fractional images are performed. Thereafter, the support is fed and colorimetrically determined for each minute image in the same manner, and when the tip of the support 50 enters the support delivery section and passes through the fixed roller 7, the second
A solenoid (not shown) on the conveying means side is energized,
Movable roller 2 attached to swing lever 22
4 and 25 are pressed against the corresponding fixed rollers 7 and 8, respectively, and the support body 50 is brought into a conveying state. At this time, the solenoid on the first conveying means side is deenergized, and the movable rollers 16 and 17 are separated from the fixed rollers 5 and 6 by the springs 20. In this way, the support body 50 is transferred from the first conveyance means to the second conveyance means, and since the rear end side of the support body 50 is free, the support body 50 is moved along the guide grooves 53, 53. It is sent toward the exit 52 while being corrected for meandering and the like. Finally, the auxiliary rollers 9 transport the material out of the tank.

In the above embodiment, the tip of the support 50 is transferred when it passes the fixed roller 7, but the tip of the support 50 is transferred just before the position where the load of the support feeding by the first conveying means becomes large, that is, when the tip of the support 50 passes the fixed roller 7. The support may be transferred when the tip of the body 50 reaches an intermediate position between the rollers 7 and 8, and in some cases, the support may be transferred simultaneously by both conveying means. The support body 50 may also be delivered. Further, although a solenoid is used as a means for pressing the movable roller against the fixed roller, it is of course possible to use other suitable means such as a cam. Furthermore,
It is also possible to convey the support body 50 by connecting independent motors or the like to each fixed roller.

As is clear from the above examples, according to this invention, an extremely thin strip-shaped support made of a cellulose acetate film or the like can be maintained in an appropriate state without causing loosening, distortion, or meandering in a clarifying liquid tank. A means for transporting the support is provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal structure of the colorimetric determination device based on this invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the same device with the lid removed, and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the clarifying liquid tank. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a guide plate provided in the device. In the figure, 1 is a clearing liquid tank, 2 is a lid, 5 to 8 are fixed rollers, 11 is a first guide plate, 12 is a second guide plate, 14, 22 are swing levers, 16, 1
7, 24, 25 are movable rollers, 19, 27 are leaf springs, 20, 28 are springs, 29 is a clarifying liquid, 36 is a light source block, 38 is a detection block, 50 is a support body, 53 is a guide groove, 54 is a The guide rib 55 is a protruding piece.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) A clarifying liquid tank into which a clarifying liquid such as decahydronaphthalene is placed, a lid that is detachably placed on the clarifying liquid tank, and the clarifying liquid tank and the lid. a support conveyance means for conveying a strip-shaped support made of a cellulose acetate film or the like along a support conveyance path formed between the support conveyance path; and a transparent body disposed adjacent to the support at a substantially central position of the support conveyance path. A measuring means including a pair of light emitting parts and a light receiving part for irradiating measurement light through the transparent material and receiving the transmitted light, the support being transparentized by being immersed in the transparentizing liquid and formed thereon. In the colorimetric quantitative determination device for colorimetrically quantifying the amount of image by the measuring means, the support conveying means includes a first support on an input side which is arranged approximately symmetrically across the measuring means.
It has a conveying means and a second conveying means on the unloading side,
Each of the conveying means includes a fixed roller provided at a fixed position on the side of the clarifying liquid tank, a movable roller attached on the lid side so as to be able to move toward and away from the fixed roller, and the movable roller. and pressing means for selectively pressing the support against the fixed roller, and as the support is transferred from the first conveying means to the measuring means and transferred to the second conveying means, A colorimetric determination device characterized in that movable rollers operate alternately. (2) In the utility model registration claim (1), a first guide plate parallel to the lower surface of the support transport path is provided on the side of the transparentizing liquid tank, and a first guide plate that is parallel to the lower surface of the support conveyance path is provided on the side of the lid body. 1. A colorimetric quantitative determination device, characterized in that a protruding piece is formed that faces the first guide plate, leaving a gap through which a body can pass. (3) Utility Model Registration The colorimetric quantitative device according to claim (2), characterized in that the first guide plate is formed with a guide rib that faces the protrusion. (4) In claim (1) of the utility model registration, both sides of the support conveying path are provided with guide grooves into which the side edges of the support are fitted and which restrict displacement in the lateral and vertical directions. A colorimetric quantitative determination device, characterized in that it is provided with a second guide plate having a second guide plate. (5) Utility model registration In claim (1), the first and second conveying means each have a swing lever that holds the movable roller, and the swing lever is operatively connected to the pressing means. 2. A colorimetric quantitative determination device, wherein the movable roller is normally biased and held in an upper position separated from the fixed roller by a spring. (6) In the utility model registration claim (5), the movable roller is loosely fitted into a slit hole of the swinging lever, and the swinging lever has a structure in which the movable roller is connected to the fixed roller. A colorimetric quantitative determination device characterized by being provided with a spring member for applying pressure. (7) The colorimetric determination device according to claim (1) or (5), wherein the pressing means is a solenoid.