JPH03275136A - Bubble detecting method, method and apparatus for supplying liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To clearly distinguish gas from noise by soaking the cut surface of open end of a piping to be diagonal to horizontal surface into liquid so that gas and liquid is alternately disposed and the gas is detected as numerous fine bubbles. CONSTITUTION:The open end 11 of the piping 3 is soaked into the liquid in the vessel 1, and the gas flowing into the piping 3 from the open end 11 is detected by the light transmitted through the piping 3. In this case, the open end 11 is soaked into the liquid so as to have the cut surface to be diagonal to the horizontal surface. As a result, the gas flowing into the piping is detected as numerous fine bubbles disposed alternately with liquid, which are clearly distinguishable from noise, and the error actions due to noise are prevented.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for supplying a liquid such as a liquid reagent contained in a container to a predetermined location, as well as an i&
In particular, it relates to a bubble detection method suitable for the supply method, in particular, by detecting air bubbles in the liquid supply piping with a detection means such as a transmission type photoelectric detector, the position inside the container is lowered and a new container is removed. A transmission-type photoelectric detector 7 suitable for such uses is installed in the middle of the primary piping 3, and when the liquid level in the container is lower than the open end of the primary piping 3, the opening Since air is sucked in from the air, when the air bubbles are detected, an alarm is issued and the operation is stopped. By the way, the cut end of the open end of the primary pipe 3 in the conventional device is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. Therefore, once the inflow of liquid from the open end is interrupted, only air is sucked in thereafter. In this case, the transmission type photoelectric detector 7 detects only one boundary between the liquid portion and the gas portion. Furthermore, if the detection signal output format of the transmission type photoelectric detector 7 is a one-shot output, the signal will only be output for a short time or only once even if it is operating normally. I wanted to,
When such a detection state and output format are combined, it becomes impossible to determine whether the output is a signal or noise. The present invention also relates to a method and device for supplying t-liquid, which alerts users that it is time to stop operation when an alarm is issued as described above, and a bubble detection method thereof.

[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]

In general, various types of means for detecting limb position within a container are known, and a type suitable for each purpose is selected and used. In various tests in the field of biochemistry, it is a common process to supply a fixed amount of reaction reagents to each sample container, and a conventional device that automatically performs this operation is shown in Figure 7. Such devices are known. In this device, a primary pipe 3 is provided between a container 1 containing a skin reagent and a syringe-type pump 2 that inhales and discharges the reagent, and a secondary pipe 4 is provided on the discharge side of the syringe-type pump 2. is provided. And primary piping 3 and syringe type pumps 2 and 2
A three-way solenoid valve 5 is provided between the syringe pump 2 and the next pipe 4, so that the suction operation and the discharge operation of the syringe pump 2 can be switched. The syringe type pump 2 is controlled by a drive mechanism 6 including a pulse motor to inhale and discharge a predetermined amount of reagent. If you replace the reagent container while the system is stopped, the primary piping 3
Air bubbles that have once entered the chamber will not be discharged, and the reagent for that time will be supplied without satisfying the predetermined amount. Furthermore, once the alarm is issued, the test process cannot continue unless the reagent container is replaced immediately. That is, if preparations for replacing the container have not already been made before the alarm is issued, the test will be interrupted for a while until the replacement is completed. The present invention was devised to solve the inconveniences such as "double pipes", and the purpose of the present invention is to detect air bubbles in piping by using a transmission type detector such as a transmission type photoelectric detector. , a method or device for supplying liquids such as reagents while monitoring the state of lowered limb position in a container, detects air bubbles and issues an alarm slightly before the container is replaced, and immediately removes the air bubbles. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid supply method and device that allows liquid supply to continue for a while, during which the container can be replaced, as well as a bubble detection method suitable for the method.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the bubble detection method according to the present invention, the open end of the pipe is immersed in a T-shell placed in a container, and the gas mixed in the liquid that flows into the pipe from the open end is transmitted through the pipe. In the optical detection method, the open end is immersed in the liquid with the cut surface oblique to the horizontal plane. The liquid supply method according to the present invention is a method for supplying the liquid after detecting the presence or absence of air bubbles in the pipe connecting a container containing the liquid and a predetermined location in the middle of the pipe. a first supply step of supplying the liquid by immersing the opening side 14 of the piping having an oblique cut in the liquid to a first depth position in the container; and at the end of the first supply step, from the opening end. a recovery step of detecting air that has flowed into the pipe together with the liquid and issuing an alarm, and collecting the liquid and air in the pipe to a location other than the predetermined location;
After the collecting step, the open end is placed in the skin at a second depth position deeper than the second depth position e'.
During the second supply step in which the liquid is supplied at tFt, the container is replaced with a new one. As the cumulative supply amount increases, the liquid level (in the container) decreases, and the liquid level reaches the open end of the piping. Since the cut surface of the opening end is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane, only a part of the upper end of the opening is exposed than the limb position.
Most of the lower side of the opening is immersed in the liquid. Therefore, gas flows into the pipe along with the liquid, and bubbles and liquid are alternately arranged within the pipe. Since the detection means for detecting bubbles outputs the same number of detection signals as the number of bubbles, it is clearly distinguishable from one-shot noise. The piping is located at the depth of the second (deepest position) and the second
is controlled so that its opening end is located at the depth position of
The control is performed at the first depth position from the start of liquid supply until a predetermined amount of liquid is supplied. When the liquid level drops to that first depth position, a number of bubbles will flow into the pipe as described above, and a detection signal will signal that the liquid level has dropped to that point. At the same time, the liquid supply is temporarily stopped, and the liquid is recovered along with the bubbles in order to discharge the bubbles that have entered the pipe. After recovery, the method includes a return step in which the pipe is immersed in the liquid to the second depth position and replaced with a container again, and returned to the first supply step. Further, the liquid supply device according to the present invention has an opening end that is
A pipe that is immersed in the skin and supplies the seven skins to a predetermined location; and a bubble detection means that is provided in the middle of the pipe and that detects the presence of air bubbles in the pipe and outputs a detection signal. , an alarm means for receiving an output signal of the bubble detection means and issuing an alarm, wherein the opening end of the piping has a cut oblique to a horizontal plane, and the output of the bubble detection means Is the signal received inside the piping containing the bubbles mentioned above? A collecting means for collecting the liquid, and a moving means for immersing the open end of the piping into the liquid again at a deeper position than the depth position when the bubble detection signal is output after the liquid is collected by the collecting means. ing.

[Function] In the liquid supply device according to the present invention, the open end of the pipe is immersed in a liquid such as a reagent contained in a container, and the liquid is caused to flow into the pipe and supplied to a desired location. Note that even though the inner diameter of the pipe is sufficiently small, the pipe is immersed, and the liquid supply is continued until the next limb position is lowered to this depth position. While the supply continues, the worker completes the necessary preparations for replacing the container,
Containers can be replaced in a short time. I wanted to,
If the liquid supply operation is performed during a series of processes, containers can be replaced without interrupting the process. Note that the operation of immersing the pipe into the liquid to the second depth position may be performed by lowering the pipe itself, or by raising the container without moving the pipe. Furthermore, a combination of these two operations is also possible. Embodiment A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. Regarding the arrangement of the main components in the liquid reagent supply system of this example, the primary piping, secondary piping, syringe type pump, container, and permeation tube shown in FIG. The arrangement is similar to that of a type photoelectric detector. Therefore, by assigning the same reference numerals to corresponding components, redundant illustrations and explanations will be omitted. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a holding mechanism for a container 1 and a mechanism section for introducing a primary pipe 3 into the container. The container 1 is a bottle containing a commercially available reagent, and is used as it is, and has a male screw formed in its mouth and a female screw screwed into the male screw in the container holding part 8. The container 1 is attached to the container holder 8 by these screws. Approximately in the center of the female screw part of the container holding part 8 is a primary pipe 3 inserted into the container through the mouth of the mounted container 1.
or has been penetrated. This primary piping 3 is inserted through the container holding part 8 so that it can move up and down in cooperation with a rack 9 and a pinion 10 provided on three sides of the container holding part 8, and a sealing material 12 is attached to the penetrating part of the container holding part 8. has been done. That is, the primary pipe 3 is fixed to the rack 9, and as the pinion 10 rotates, the primary pipe 3 moves downward with the rack 9. When the rack 9 is located at the lowest end, the open end 11 of the primary pipe 3 is located approximately near the bottom of the container 1. Opening 1 of secondary pipe 3 introduced into container 1 The first pulse signal input as a bubble detection signal sent is memorized. The liquid outage determination unit 23 compares the bubble detection signal from the waveform shaping unit 21 with start-out determination factors (number of consecutive bubbles, bubble length, etc.) stored in the storage calculation control unit 24. Determine whether the liquid is out or not (noise). If it is determined that the limb is out of fluid, a fluid outage determination signal is sent from the limb outage determination section 23 to the memory calculation control section 24 and the return pulse calculation section 25. The memory calculation control unit 24 sends a pulse motor 3 to the drive mechanism 6 of the syringe pump 2.
1 is sent to the pulse motor drive section 27, and a signal that causes the buzzer 32 to issue an alarm is sent to the alarm display section 28. Even when it is not determined that the liquid is out, a signal is sent to the storage calculation control section 24. A reset signal is sent from the storage calculation control section 24 to the initial pulse storage section 22, and the stored initial pulse signal is reset. The return pulse calculation unit 25 causes the liquid reagent containing bubbles that has flowed into the primary pipe 3 to flow back into the container 1, and the end 11 is cut off diagonally. Therefore, as the supply of liquid reagent progresses and the limb position gradually decreases, only the upper end of the open end 11 comes to protrude above the limb position. In this state, when suction is further performed by the syringe pump 2, air flows into the primary pipe 3 together with the reagent, and the air part and the reagent part are finely divided and arranged alternately in the pipe. It flows. therefore,
Even if the detection signal output format from the detector 7 is a one-shot output, the detection signals corresponding to the number of boundary surfaces are output as a large number of pulse signals, so that it can be clearly distinguished from mere noise. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the closing supply device of this embodiment includes a control device 20, a block diagram of which is shown in FIG. The signal from the photoelectric detector 7 is input to the waveform shaping section 21. The waveform shaping section 21 compares this signal with the shresh level to determine a bubble detection signal, and sends the pulse signal to the initial pulse storage section 22 and the liquid outage determination section 23. The initial pulse storage unit 22 is a part that calculates the number of reverse rotation pulses of the pulse motor 31 for returning the waveform shaping unit 21 to 2. When receiving the liquid outage determination signal from the liquid outage determination unit 23, the initial pulse storage unit 22 stores the first air bubble detection signal. Initial pulse storage section 22
The number of driving pulses of the pulse motor 31 from the time when the pulse motor 31 is received is calculated and sent to the storage calculation control section 24. Memory calculation control section 2
4 adds a detection return pulse, which is a few extra pulses, to the number of pulses and sends a reverse rotation pulse to the pulse motor drive section 27. The pulse motor drive unit 27 is a syringe type pump 2
The number of pulses corresponding to the suction amount or discharge amount is output to the pulse motor 31. The open end lift drive unit 26 receives a signal from the storage calculation control unit 24 and causes the pinion 10 to move up and down the open end 11 inserted into the container l of the primary pipe 3. Outputs a signal to rotate. The three-way solenoid valve drive unit 29 receives an on signal or an off signal regarding the three-way solenoid valve 5 from the storage calculation control unit 24, and outputs a signal that causes the three-way solenoid valve 5 to switch its flow direction. The input signal processing unit 30 processes various predetermined values input from the console 35, the origin position, upper limit position, lower limit position, etc. of the syringe pump 2, and sends them to the storage calculation control unit 24. Various predetermined values entered manually from the console 35 include a liquid exhaustion determination value based on the length of bubbles and the number of consecutive bubbles, suction speed and discharge speed of the syringe type pump 2, reagent name, target injection amount, and the like. The number of times storage unit 38 stores whether or not the open end 11 of the primary pipe 3 was lowered after the bubble detection signal was output. In the figure, numeral 34 is a limit switch for setting the upper and lower limit positions of the syringe type pump 2. Next, the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Based on various predetermined values input from the console 35, the three-way solenoid valve 5, the pulse motor 31, and the drive unit 3 of the pinion 10
The reagent suction operation is started from the state set to 3 or the initial state. In the first step #100, the pulse motor 31 is driven to cause the syringe pump 2 to perform the suction operation, and the number of air bubbles in the number of pistons should be continuous, so if the answer is YES, it is determined that air is being suctioned due to a drop in the liquid level. Then, the process moves to step #104, where the piston stops being pulled down and an alarm is issued. If the determination in step #103 is NO, it is determined that it is just a noise, and the process returns to step #100 to continue lowering the piston. The process follows step #104 to step $F105
Then, it is determined whether or not the piston has stopped being pulled down for the first time. This first time means the first time after the reagent container 1 is attached to the container holding part 8 of the apparatus of this embodiment and reagent supply is started. Step #1
If the judgment in step 05 is yes, there is enough reagent remaining in the container, and after the air bubbles that have once flowed into the primary pipe 3 are discharged and collected, the open end 11 is lowered deeper to supply the reagent. Since it is possible to continue, the process moves to steps #106 and 107, which is a process of creating a backflow to discharge air bubbles in the primary pipe 3. Further, if the determination in step #105 is NO, the piston has already stopped being pulled down or has been pulled down and the process moves to step #101. In step # (01), it is determined whether the piston has been lowered to the lowest position based on the initial setting value, and if yes, the process moves to step #200 to stop lowering the piston. After that, In order to perform the normal reagent supply operation, the syringe type pump 2 shifts to the discharge operation which is the normal operation.Of course, the three-way solenoid valve 5 is also switched.The suction operation of the syringe type pump 2 is completed. During this period, air bubbles are monitored by the photoelectric detector 7. If no in step #101, the process moves to step #102, where it is determined whether air bubbles have been detected, and if no, the process moves to step #100. The CPU returns and further continues lowering the piston bow. If air bubbles are sucked into the primary pipe 3 during the piston lowering, the determination in step #102 becomes YES and the process moves to step #103. In step #103, it is determined whether the number of detected bubbles is N or more consecutively.If the air or reagent was sucked in from the diagonal cut as the liquid level in the container 1 decreased, This is the second time that multiple stops have been performed, and there is not enough reagent left in the container to continue supplying reagents, so proceed to step #300. syringe type pump 2 in the same state as in step #104.
suction will be stopped and the container will be replaced. In step #106, the number of driving pulses P of the pulse motor 31 from when the first bubble is detected until the piston stops is calculated, and the process moves to step #07. In step #107, the extra pulse number α is added to the pulse number P calculated in step #106, and the pulse motor 31 is reversed by the number of pulses (P+α). By this,
The reagent that has flowed into the primary pipe 3 with bubbles is caused to flow back,
The amount is collected into the container i, and air bubbles in the primary pipe are removed. In the following step #108, the open end 11 of the primary pipe 3 is lowered together with the rack 9 by driving the hinge 10. The open end 11 is immersed in the reagent again, and reagent supply can continue for some time until the liquid level falls to the position of the open end 11 again. If the operator replaces the reagent container with a new one before starting to supply the next loft, reagent supply can continue without interruption. From Step #08, the process returns to Step #100. In the above-described embodiment, the vertical movement of the primary pipe 3 is driven by the combination of the rack 9 and the pinion 10, or the downward movement is driven by the configuration shown in FIG. It is also possible to have only the operation performed automatically. In this embodiment, the drive mechanism section is housed in a casing 40 provided above the container holding section 8. 41 is fixedly installed, and a spring 42 is interposed between this flange portion 41 and the casing 40.
2 is held in that position by engaging the pin of the electromagnetic switch 43 in the retracted state. In the held state, the flange portion 41 is urged downward by the spring 42. When a voltage is applied to the electromagnetic switch 43, the pin is pulled in and the flange portion 41 is closed.
Cancellation of the guarantee. When the flange portion 41 is engaged or released, a spring 42 is also used. A pressurizing pipe 55 opened above the liquid level of the reagent is introduced into the container 1, and pressurized gas is supplied thereto. The open end 11 of the reagent supply pipe 53 has an oblique cut end similarly to the above embodiments, and is immersed in the reagent. 33 is a mechanism for driving the vertical movement of the pipe 53, and 7 is a transmission type photoelectric detector. A distributor 56 is interposed in the middle of the pipe 53 to branch the route into two, one route forms a desired supply system 53a via the first three-way solenoid valve 5■, and the other route Second
A recovery system 53b is formed via the three-way solenoid valve 52, and a recovery tank 54 is provided at the tip of the recovery system 53b. Until the transmission type photoelectric detector 7 detects air bubbles, the first
The solenoid valve 51 is open and the second solenoid valve 52 is closed. The reagent is forced into the pipe 53 by pressurized gas and flows through the supply system 53a. When the first bubble is detected,
The first solenoid valve 51 is closed. Thereafter, the supply of pressurized gas is temporarily stopped, and the pipe 53 is lowered further into the container 1. The supply of pressurized gas is resumed, the second electromagnetic valve 52 is opened, and the force pushes the primary pipe 3 downward into the container 1 to a deeper position. Franc 7 parts 41
The lowering of the yoke is made gentle by the yoke absorber 44. The return is performed manually by pulling up a handle 45 fixed to the primary pipe 3 outside the casing 40. In addition, in order to once pull in the pin of the electromagnetic switch 43 when pulling the handle 45, a voltage may be temporarily applied. Or the structure of the pin.
It may also be a latch type that can be flipped to one side. 12 is a sealing material, and 46 is a packing. Each of the above-mentioned embodiments is configured to move the primary pipe 3 downward, but for example, as shown in FIG.
is lowered in the initial state, and when air bubbles are detected for the second time, the container holding part 8 is pulled up together with the container 1, and the primary piping 3 is
It is also possible to configure it so that it remains as it is. FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, pressurized gas is used as an energy source to cause the reagent to flow into the pipe 53 from the container 1, and the reagent in the column pipe 53 is collected together with air bubbles in the collection tank 54. The first solenoid valve 51 is opened again and the second solenoid valve 52 is closed, and reagent supply continues until the second bubble detection. [Effect of the invention] In the bubble detection method of the present invention, the gas flowing into the pipe is
Since it can be detected as a large number of fine bubbles arranged alternately with the liquid, it can be clearly distinguished from noise, and malfunctions due to noise can be prevented. With the liquid supply method and device of the present invention, gas flowing into the pipe can be detected as a large number of fine bubbles arranged alternately with the liquid, so it can be clearly distinguished from noise.
In addition to preventing malfunctions due to noise, setting the immersion position of the piping in two stages allows for preparation time for container replacement, and furthermore, it is possible to continue supplying the container during the preparation period, making it possible to easily perform a series of processes such as tests. No more interruptions.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a container holding mechanism and a mechanism section for introducing the primary pipe into the container in an embodiment of the branch feeding device of the present invention, and FIG. A block diagram showing the configuration of a control device in an embodiment according to
FIG. 3 is a flowchart diagram illustrating an embodiment of the limb feeding method of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing another modification of the limb supply device of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the limb supply device of the present invention and the prior art. It is an explanatory view showing a common part of a limb feeding device. 1. Container, 2. Syringe type pump, 3.. Primary piping, 4.
Secondary piping, 5 Three-way solenoid valve, 6 Pump drive mechanism, 7
Transmission type photoelectric detector, 8... Container holding section, 9 Rack, 10. Pinion, 11... Open end, 12... Seal material, 20... Control device, 21... Waveform shaping section, 22
Initial pulse storage unit, 23・L start-up determination unit, 24・
Memory calculation control section, 25...Return pulse calculation section, 26.Open end lifting/lowering drive section, 27.Pulse motor drive section, 28.
Alarm display section, 29... Three-way solenoid valve drive section, 30...
Input signal processing section, 31 Pulse motor, 32... Buzzer, 33... Pinion drive section, 34... Limit switch, 35... Console, 38... Number of times storage section, 40
...Casing, 41. Flange part, 42.. Spring, 43.. Electromagnetic switch, 44. Shock absorber, 45. Handle, 46.. Packing, 51..
・First three-way solenoid valve, 52・Second two-way solenoid valve, 53... Piping, 53a... Supply system, 53b... Recovery system, 54...
Recovery tank, 55 pressure piping, 56...distributor

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1), pipes (3, 4,
The open end (11) of 53) is immersed, and the open end (11)
A cut surface of the opening end (11) in a method of detecting gas mixed into a liquid flowing into the pipe (3, 4, 53) from the pipe (3, 4, 53) by light transmitted through the pipe (3, 4, 53). A bubble detection method characterized in that the bubble is immersed in the liquid at an angle with respect to a horizontal surface. (2) A method of supplying the liquid while detecting the presence or absence of air bubbles in the pipes (3, 4, 53) that connect the container (1) containing the liquid and a predetermined location. A first supply supplying the liquid by immersing the diagonally cut open end (11) of the piping (3, 4, 53) into the liquid to a first depth within the container (1). At the end of the first supply step, the air flowing into the pipe together with the liquid from the open end (11) is detected and an alarm is issued, and the liquid and air in the pipe are removed to a location other than the predetermined location. a recovery step of recovering the liquid at a second depth; and after the recovery step, a second step of supplying the liquid by immersing the open end (11) in the liquid at a second depth position that is deeper than the first depth position. A liquid supply method comprising two supply steps, and a return step of replacing the container (1) with a new container during the second supply step and returning to the first supply step. (3), piping (3, 4,
53), a bubble detection means (7) provided in the middle of the piping (3, 4, 53), which detects the presence of air bubbles in the piping and outputs a detection signal; and the bubble detection means (7). In the liquid supply device, the opening end (11) of the piping (3, 4, 53) has an oblique cut with respect to the horizontal plane. recovery means (24, 52,
53b, 54) and the liquid recovery means (24, 52, 53b, 54), the opening end (11) of the piping is re-opened at a deeper position than the depth position at which the bubble detection signal was output. Transfer means immersed in liquid (9, 10, 24, 26, 33, 4
1, 42, 43).