JPH0247933Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] a. Purpose of the invention (industrial field of application) The rotary valve for a one-tank skeletal staining apparatus according to this invention is used for research on the occurrence of malformations in animals in the fields of medicine and pharmacy. , attached to a single-tank skeleton staining device that dyes the skeletons of small animals such as mice by sequentially feeding several types of processing solutions into a single processing tank,
It is used to switch the supply and discharge of processing liquid and the circulation of processing liquid.

(Prior Art) There is a skeletal staining apparatus that stains the skeleton of a fetus of a small animal such as a mouse that is bred for the purpose of researching the development of malformations in animals. Among these skeletal staining apparatuses, single-tank skeletal staining apparatuses, in which everything from extracting the skeleton (eluting and removing the fleshy parts) to dyeing are carried out in a single treatment tank, were conventionally configured as shown in Figure 3. It had been. That is, one end of a first pipe 3 is connected to the bottom of a processing tank 2 having an opening/closing lid 1, the other end of the first pipe 3 is connected to one port of a rotary valve 4, and a plurality of pipes connected to the other port of this rotary valve 4 are Branch pipe 5,
5 are inserted into processing liquid tanks 6 and 6, respectively. Processing liquids such as a caustic potash solution, a mixed solution of caustic potash and alizarin red, Mohr's solution, and a glycerin solution stored in each processing liquid tank 6 are sequentially fed into the processing tank 2 by switching the rotary valve 4. , carry out staining of the skeleton. Processing tank 2
A supply/discharge pipe 7 provided at the upper part of the tank is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown), and is used to exhaust air from the processing tank 2 or to feed air into the processing tank 2.
Therefore, when sending the processing liquid into the processing tank 2, the rotary valve 4 is rotated to communicate the first pipe 3 with one of the branch pipes 5, and the air in the processing tank 2 is passed through the supply/discharge pipe 7. , the processing liquid in the processing liquid tank 6 into which the branch pipe 5 has been inserted will flow into the processing tank 2.
sucked inside. When discharging the processing liquid in the processing tank 2, switch the rotary valve to the same position as for feeding the processing liquid, and drain the processing liquid into the processing tank 2 through the supply/discharge pipe 7.
By feeding air into the tank 2 and increasing the pressure inside the tank 2, the processing liquid in the processing tank 2 is returned to the original processing liquid tank 6.

On the other hand, the other end of the second pipe 8, which has one end connected to the middle of the first pipe 3, is inserted into the upper part of the processing tank 2 and has a nozzle 9 at its tip. In the middle of this second pipe 8, two electromagnetic valves 10, 10 and a circulation pump 11 are connected in series with each other so that the pump 11 is sandwiched between the two valves 10, 10. This second tube 8 is
The pump 11 is used to circulate the processing liquid sent into the processing tank 2 by the pump 11 so that the dyeing process of the skeleton can be carried out efficiently.
When energized, both valves 10, 10 open,
Both valves close when the pump stops.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the conventional single-tank skeletal staining apparatus configured as described above has the following disadvantages. That is, communication between the second pipe and the first pipe for circulating the processing liquid is established by the solenoid valves 10, 10.
However, since a large amount of impurities such as pieces of meat eluted from animal materials used to obtain skeletons are mixed into the processing liquid, the electromagnetic valves 10, 10 tend to become clogged, resulting in frequent failures. In addition, once used processing liquid is returned to the original processing liquid tank 6, but since this processing liquid cannot be reused, the processing liquid returned to each tank is discarded and the inside of the tank is cleaned before starting new processing. Liquid injection must be performed, which is troublesome.

In order to eliminate this inconvenience, as shown in FIG. One end of the waste liquid pipe 13 leading to the waste liquid tank 12 is made to communicate with the rotary valve 4, and by rotation of the rotary valve 4, the first pipe 3 is communicated with any of the branch pipe 5, the second pipe 8, and the waste liquid pipe 13. All you have to do is switch it so that it does. However, a rotary valve that satisfies these requirements has not been known in the past.

The object of the present invention is to provide a rotary valve for a single-tank skeletal staining apparatus that satisfies these requirements.

b. Structure of the invention (Means for solving the problem) The rotary valve for a one-tank skeletal staining apparatus of the invention has one end of a first pipe leading to the bottom of the processing tank in the center of one side of the immovable base. A first port for connecting a plurality of processing liquid tanks is provided on the same side of the base body, and liquid suction ports of the same number as processing liquid tanks are provided to connect one end of a branch pipe leading to a plurality of processing liquid tanks around this first port. They are arranged on the same arc. On the outer peripheral surface of the base, there is a waste liquid port to which one end of the waste liquid pipe is connected,
A second port for connecting one end of a second pipe for circulating processing liquid is provided.

The end of the first flow path leading to the first port is opened in the center of the other surface of the base, and multiple liquid suction flows leading to each liquid suction port are formed on the same arc centered on this opening. a waste flow path leading to a waste port;
Each end of the second flow path leading to the second port is open.

On the other hand, one side of a rotatable switching plate is in liquid-tight sliding contact with one side of the base body through which each of these channels is open. This switching plate has a switching channel (or a groove) with one end opening in the center and the other end opening at a position opposite to the end openings of the above-mentioned liquid suction, waste liquid, and second channels. The opening near the center of this switching channel always communicates with the first channel, and the opening at the other end connects to the liquid suction channel, waste liquid channel,
It is configured to communicate with any one of the second flow paths.

(Function) The rotary valve for a one-tank skeletal staining apparatus of the present invention configured as described above aligns the end opening of the switching channel with the end opening of the liquid suction channel as the switching plate rotates. In this case, the first pipe leading to the processing tank and the branch pipe leading to the processing liquid tank communicate through the first port, the first flow path, the switching flow path, the liquid suction flow path, and the liquid suction port.

Further, when the end opening of the switching flow path is aligned with the end opening of the second flow path, the first pipe and the second pipe for circulating the processing liquid are connected to the first port, the first flow path, The switching channel, the second channel, and the second port communicate with each other.

Further, when the end opening of the switching flow path is aligned with the end opening of the waste liquid flow path, the first pipe and the waste liquid pipe leading to the waste liquid tank are connected to the first port, the first flow path, the switching flow path, Communicates through the waste liquid flow path and waste liquid port.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail while explaining the illustrated embodiment.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the invention. The rotary valve 4 includes a fixed base 14 and this base 1.
The switching plate 16 is rotatably driven by a motor 15 while being in liquid-tight sliding contact with the end surface 14a of the switch 4.

The base body 14 has a passage member 18 having a short cylindrical shape and having a plurality of passages inside thereof tightly fitted inside a housing 17 having a short cylindrical shape with a bottom. This channel member 18
Two grooves 19 and 20 are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the
are spaced apart from each other, and form annular flow paths 21 and 22 with the inner circumferential surface of the housing 17. Of the second port 23 and the waste liquid port 244 provided through the outer peripheral wall of the housing 17,
A second port 23 is connected to the flow path 21, and a waste port 24 is connected to the flow path 21.
are in communication with the flow path 22, respectively. The first port 25 provided through the center of the bottom of the casing 17 is connected to the first port 25 provided through the center of the flow path member 18.
6. Eight (only two are shown in the drawing) liquid suction ports 27, 27 are provided on the same arc centered on the first port 25,
Each liquid suction port 27, 27 communicates with the first to eighth liquid suction channels 28a to 28h, respectively. The ends of the first to eighth liquid suction channels 28a to 28h are connected to the base 1.
The end face 14a of the first flow path 26 is opened at the same arc position centered on the opening of the first flow path 26.

In addition, one end of four (only one is shown in FIG. 1) second flow paths 29a to 29d formed in the flow path member 18 is opened in the flow path 21 in which the second port 23 is opened. The other ends of the second channels 29a to 29d open at the same arc positions as the openings of the liquid suction channels 28a to 28h on the end surface 14a of the base body 14.

Furthermore, four waste liquid flow paths 3 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) are provided in the flow path 22 where the waste liquid port 24 opens.
One end of 0a to 30d is open, and this waste liquid flow path 30
The other ends a to 30d are connected to the openings of the liquid absorption channels 28a to 28h on the end surface 14a of the base body 14 and the second channels 29a to 28h.
It opens at the same position on the arc as the opening 29d.

On the other hand, a plane 1 that slides into fluid-tight contact with the end surface 14a
6a has one end connected to the first flow path 2.
A switching flow path 31 is provided, which is opened at the center aligned with the flow path 6 and whose other end is opened at a portion opposite to the circular arc position where each of the liquid suction, second, and waste liquid flow paths are opened. This switching plate 16 is rotated by the motor 15, and while keeping one end of the switching flow path 31 in communication with the first flow path 26, it determines whether the other end is connected to the suction, second, or waste liquid flow path. Switch.

When staining a skeleton using the one-tank skeleton staining apparatus incorporating the rotary valve of the present invention, the motor 15 rotates the switching plate 16 in the forward or reverse direction to switch the first flow through the switching channel 31. A flow path communicating with the path 26 is selected, and the processing liquid is supplied into and discharged from the processing tank 2, or the processing liquid sent into the processing tank 2 is circulated.

That is, first, the liquid suction channel 28a and the first channel 26 are made to communicate with each other, and the processing liquid in one processing liquid tank 6 is
The liquid is sucked into the processing tank 2 through the branch pipe 5, the liquid suction port 27, the liquid suction passage 28a, the switching passage 31, the first passage 26, the first port 25, and the first pipe 3.

Once the processing liquid has been suctioned into the processing tank 2 in this way, the switching plate is rotated slightly clockwise as shown in Fig. 2 to communicate the second flow path 29a and the first flow path 26, and then the circulation pump 11, the processing liquid in the processing tank 2 is transferred to the first pipe 3, the first port 25, the first flow path 26, the switching flow path 31, the flow path 21, the second port 23, and the second pipe. Cycle through 8.

When the circulation of the processing liquid for a certain period of time is completed, the switching plate 16 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. The first pipe 3, the first port 25,
First flow path 26, switching flow path 31, waste liquid flow path 30a,
The waste liquid is sent to the waste liquid tank 12 via the flow path 22, the waste liquid port 24, and the waste liquid pipe 13.

Next, one end of the switching channel 31 is connected to the next liquid suction channel 28.
b from another processing liquid tank 6 to processing tank 2.
The processing liquid is sent into the dyeing process, and the same steps as described above are repeated. However, the symbols of the channels through which the end of the switching channel 31 communicates from the start to the end of the dyeing process are written in order as follows. becomes.

28a → 29a → 30a → 28b → 29b → 3
0a → 28c → 29b → 30b → 28d → 29
c→30b→28e→29c→30c→28f
→29d→30c→28g→29d→30d→
28h→29a→30d In the above embodiment, in order to reduce the diameter of the rotary valve, each of the second and waste liquid channels is used twice, and the switching plate 16 is rotated in the forward or reverse direction. However, if the diameter of the rotary valve is increased and the same number (not limited to 8) of each flow path for liquid suction, secondary liquid, and waste liquid are provided, it will be possible to switch each flow path during the dyeing process. All you have to do is rotate the plate in one direction.

c. Effects of the invention The rotary valve for a one-tank skeletal staining apparatus of the present invention is configured and operates as described above, so when it is incorporated into a staining apparatus, it eliminates the need for other valves and reduces the occurrence of failures. Not only this, but also the used processing liquid can be directly disposed of in the waste liquid tank, which prevents contamination of the unused processing liquid tank. Therefore, it is not necessary to wash the processing liquid tank one by one, and by increasing the capacity of this tank, continuous operation is possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the rotary valve of the present invention, Figure 2 is a view from the right side of Figure 1 with the switching plate omitted, and Figure 3 is a single-tank type incorporating a conventional rotary valve. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a skeleton staining apparatus. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a one-tank skeleton staining apparatus incorporating the rotary valve of the present invention. 1: Opening/closing lid, 2: Processing tank, 3: First pipe, 4:
Rotary valve, 5: Branch pipe, 6: Processing liquid tank,
7: Supply/discharge pipe, 8: Second pipe, 9: Nozzle, 10:
Solenoid valve, 11: Circulation pump, 12: Waste liquid tank,
13: Waste liquid pipe, 14: Substrate, 14a: End surface, 1
5: Motor, 16: Switching plate, 16a: Plane, 1
7: Housing, 18: Channel member, 19, 20: Concave groove,
21, 22: Channel, 23: Second port, 24:
Waste liquid port, 25: first port, 26: first flow path, 27: liquid suction port, 28a to 28h: liquid suction flow path, 29a to 29d: second flow path, 30a to 30
d: Waste liquid flow path, 31: Switching flow path.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A first port for connecting one end of a pipe leading to the bottom of the processing tank to one side of the immovable base, and branch pipes arranged on the same arc centered on this port, each leading to a separate processing liquid tank. A plurality of liquid suction ports connecting one end of the base body are provided, and the end of the first flow path leading to the first port is opened in the center of the other surface of the base body, and a plurality of liquid suction ports are provided on the same circular arc centering on this opening. , a plurality of liquid suction channels leading to the liquid suction port, a second flow path leading to a second port connecting one end of a second pipe leading to the processing tank, and one end of a waste liquid pipe leading to the waste liquid tank. The waste liquid channels leading to the waste liquid ports to be connected are opened respectively, and the switching plate, which is rotationally driven by a motor that is in liquid-tight sliding contact with the opening surface, has one end always connected to the first flow path and the other end connected to the switching plate. 1. A rotary valve for a one-tank skeleton staining apparatus, which is provided with a switching flow path that communicates with one of an absorption liquid flow path, a second liquid flow path, and a waste liquid flow path as the rotary valve rotates.