JPH05157750A - Automatic distributor-agitator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten a time required for a series of operations for agitating a liquid after the liquid is distributed to sample vessels, and to attain simplification of an apparatus construction and space-saving. CONSTITUTION:A horizontally-moving holding plate 14 Which holds a driving device for elavation of a distributing nozzle 22 is made to hold a robot 46 for vessel transfer which is equipped with a grasping arm 48 grasping a sample vessel 64 to which distribution is to be made. While the sample vessel is grasped by the robot for vessel transfer and transferred to the position of an agitator 20 by a horizontal movement mechanism 16, an distributing operation is executed through the distributing nozzle.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing and stirring apparatus for automatically diluting a solution into a sample container or pour two or more kinds of liquids and then stirring the solution. The device is, for example, in a dissolution test to measure the degree of dissolution of formulation components when a solid preparation such as tablets, granules and capsules is immersed in a solvent, the solid preparation is immersed in various solvents to elute the main drug. After collecting a part of the prepared solution and filtering it,
When performing chemical analysis using the solution as a sample solution,
It is used when the sample solution is diluted to an appropriate concentration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The dissolution test of solid preparations such as tablets, granules and capsules has recently been regarded as important as one of the quality evaluation methods for preparations. This dissolution test is to examine the dissolution rate of the main drug when the solid preparation is dipped in various solvents. It is injected into a sample container in a predetermined amount and solidified in various solvents kept at a temperature of about 37 ° C. Add the formulation, collect a part of the solution multiple times over time, filter, and dilute each sample solution to an appropriate concentration, and then analyze the absorption spectrophotometrically using a spectrophotometer. , By recording the change over time in the elution amount of the main drug. Further, in the case of simultaneous measurement of multiple components in the preparation, the sample liquid is fractionated, diluted and adjusted to an appropriate concentration, and then liquid chromatographic analysis is performed.

In such a dissolution test, an automatic dilution / dispensing device is used when diluting a sample liquid to an appropriate concentration. This automatic dilution / dispensing device generally has a rack for storing a large number of sample containers in parallel in the X direction and the Y direction, a dilution nozzle, holds the dilution nozzle in a vertical posture, and reciprocates the dilution nozzle in the vertical direction. A nozzle holding device having a nozzle elevating mechanism, a syringe for liquid delivery connected to the dilution nozzle and a flow path switching valve, and an X-direction moving mechanism for moving the nozzle holding device in the X direction and the Y direction, respectively. And a Y-direction moving mechanism. Then, the nozzle holding device is moved by each of the X-direction and Y-direction moving mechanisms to position and stop the dilution nozzle immediately above the sample container in the rack, and the dilution nozzle is lowered by the nozzle elevating mechanism, and the lower end of the dilution nozzle is moved to the sample. After being inserted into the container, the liquid-feeding syringe and the flow path switching valve are drive-controlled to discharge the diluting liquid such as pure water together with the sample liquid into the sample container through the dilution nozzle. Next, the sample container in which the mixed liquid of the sample liquid and the diluting liquid has been dispensed is transferred from the rack to the stirring device by an automatic transfer device or manually, and the sample container is swung by the stirring device to be stored therein. By stirring the prepared mixed liquid, a diluted sample liquid adjusted to an appropriate concentration can be obtained.

[0004]

As described above, conventionally, a sample containing a liquid diluted and dispensed by the automatic dilution / dispensing device is provided with an automatic transfer device provided separately from the automatic dilution / dispensing device. The container was designed to be transferred from the rack to the stirring device by an automatic transfer device for the stirring operation. Alternatively, the sample container is manually transferred from the rack of the automatic dilution / dispensing device to the stirring device.

However, in the method in which the sample container is transferred from the rack to the stirring device by the automatic transfer device, when the dilution and dispensing operation by the automatic dilution and dispensing device is completed, the dilution nozzle is raised and the nozzle holding device is temporarily moved from above the rack. After evacuating, it is necessary to drive the automatic transfer device and take out the sample container after the dilution and dispensing operation from the rack and transfer it to the stirring device.For a series of operations of dilution and dispensing, transfer of the sample container and stirring. There is a problem that it takes time. In addition, the automatic dilution / dispensing device and the automatic transfer device are equipped with X
Each direction and Y direction moving mechanism is required, the overall device configuration becomes complicated, and it is necessary to separately provide a drive motor and a control device. Further, there is a problem that a space for installing the automatic transfer device is required, and the installation space for the entire device is large.

On the other hand, in the method of manually transferring the sample container from the rack to the agitator, the labor of the operator is heavy, and it becomes an obstacle in automating all the steps of the dissolution test operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to improve the working efficiency by shortening the time in a series of operations of dilution and dispensing, transfer of a sample container and stirring. It is a technical object to provide an automatic dispensing and stirring device which can simplify the structure of the device and save the space of the entire device and requires no manual labor.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a means for transferring a sample container is integrally attached to a dispensing operation portion for performing a liquid dispensing operation into a sample container, and the dispensing operation portion is provided with By making the common X and Y direction moving mechanism perform the X and Y direction movements of the injection nozzle and the X and Y direction movements of the sample container for transferring the sample container to the stirring operation unit, Was achieved.

The structure of the present invention will be described in more detail. An automatic dispenser / stirrer according to the present invention is an agitator that agitates a liquid dispensed therein by rocking a dispenser operating portion and a sample container. And an operation unit. The dispensing operation unit is connected to a rack for storing a plurality of empty sample containers in parallel and a liquid sending device including a liquid sending syringe, a flow path switching valve, etc., and is stored in the rack, as in the conventional case. A dispensing nozzle that dispenses a predetermined amount of liquid into the sample container sequentially from the lower end opening, a nozzle holder that holds the dispensing nozzle in a vertical position, and a nozzle that reciprocates the nozzle holder vertically. It is provided with an elevating mechanism, a horizontal moving holder for holding the nozzle elevating mechanism, and an X / Y direction moving mechanism for moving the horizontal moving holder in the X and Y directions, respectively. Further, according to the present invention, a sample container transfer means capable of appropriately holding the sample container is attached to the horizontal movement holder, and the sample container held by the sample container transfer means is stirred from a rack. The gist is that the moving range of the horizontal moving holder is set by the above-mentioned X / Y direction moving mechanism so that it can be transferred to the section. The sample container transfer means is disposed directly below the dispensing nozzle, and holds a sample container in a detachable manner, a driving means for driving the holding arm, and a vertical movement holder for holding the driving means. And a gripping arm elevating mechanism for reciprocating the vertical movement holding body in the vertical direction.

In the automatic dispensing agitator having the above-mentioned structure, an empty sample container to which a liquid is to be dispensed is grasped by the grasping arm of the sample container transfer means, taken out from the rack, and X
The liquid-dispensing operation into the sample container during the transfer can be performed concurrently with the operation of transferring the sample container to the stirring operation unit by the Y-direction moving mechanism. In this case, the relative positional relationship in the horizontal plane between the dispensing nozzle and the gripping arm, and thus the sample container gripped by it, does not change,
The dispensing operation is performed without any trouble.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention and showing a part of the structure of a main part of an automatic dispensing and stirring apparatus in a partially broken state. This device includes a dispensing nozzle device 10, a container gripping device 12, a horizontal moving holding plate 14 for holding them, and a horizontal moving mechanism 16 for moving the horizontal moving holding plate 14 in the X and Y directions in a horizontal plane. And a container storage rack 18 and a stirring device 20 installed on a horizontal table.

The dispensing nozzle device 10 grips the dispensing nozzle 22 and the upper end of the dispensing nozzle 22 to fix and hold the dispensing nozzle 22 in a vertical posture, and is fixedly connected to the horizontal movement holding plate 14 in a contiguous manner. A nozzle holding portion 24 that engages with a guide rail 28 fixed to the vertical connecting plate 26 and is guided by the guide rail 28 so as to be able to reciprocate in the vertical direction.
A moving nut 30 that is integral with the nozzle holding portion 24, a nozzle drive shaft that is screwed onto the moving nut 30 and rotates, and that rotates to raise and lower the nozzle holding portion 24 and the dispensing nozzle 22.
32, a power transmission roller 34 fixed to the upper end of the nozzle drive shaft 32, a drive motor 36 attached to the horizontal movement holding plate 14, a drive pulley 38 fixed to the rotation shaft of the drive motor 36, and The nozzle lifting / lowering drive device is composed of a belt 40 wound around a drive pulley 38 and a power transmission roller 34. Although not shown, the dispensing nozzle 22 is connected to a liquid sending device including a liquid sending syringe and a flow path switching valve. Then, by driving the drive motor 36 in the forward and reverse directions, the drive pulley 38, the belt
The nozzle drive shaft 32 is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise through the 40 and the power transmission roller 34, and the nozzle holder 24 and the dispensing nozzle 22 are raised along the guide rail 28 by the rotation operation of the nozzle drive shaft 32. And can be lowered.

Further, in the container gripping device 12, the upper end portion of the raising / lowering drive shaft 42 is rotatably engaged with the horizontal movement holding plate 14, the moving nut 44 screwed to the raising / lowering drive shaft 42, and the moving nut 44.
A pair of gripping arms 48, 48 that are integrally fixed to each other and that are slidably engaged with the guide rail 28 and that have two abutting rods 50 and are capable of expanding and contracting with each other, and a pair of gripping arms 48, 48. Gripping arm 4
The robot for container transfer 46 having a built-in drive mechanism for driving 8, 48, the power transmission roller 52 fixed to the lower end of the elevation drive shaft 42, and the horizontal holding plate 54 fixedly connected to the vertical connecting plate 26. The robot elevating and lowering drive device is composed of a vertically mounted drive motor 56, a drive pulley 58 fixed to the rotary shaft of the vertical drive motor 56, and a belt 60 wound around the drive pulley 58 and the power transmission roller 52. ing. The container transfer robot 46 is located directly below the dispensing nozzle 22 among the plurality of sample containers 64 stored in the plurality of storage holes 62 formed in parallel in the X direction and the Y direction of the container storage rack 18. A pair of gripping arms 48, 48 are provided for the dispensing nozzle 22 so that the one positioned at can be gripped.
Further, when the sample container 64 is grasped by the pair of grasping arms 48 of the container transfer robot 46, the tip of the dispensing nozzle 22 can be inserted into the sample container 64 through the upper end opening of the sample container 64. Thus, the pair of gripping arms 48, 48 are attached. Then, by driving the drive motor 56 in the forward and reverse directions, the elevation drive shaft 42 is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise via the drive pulley 58, the belt 60 and the power transmission roller 52, and the elevation drive shaft 42 is rotated. By the operation, the container transfer robot 46 can be moved up and down along the guide rail 28.

The horizontal movement holding plate 14 to which the dispensing nozzle device 10 and the container holding device 12 are attached is an X-direction guide rail.
It is arranged so as to be reciprocally movable in the X direction by being guided by the 66, and drives the X direction drive motor 68 to provide a distance between the drive pulley fixed to the rotation shaft of the drive motor and the drive pulley. By moving a timing belt (none of which is shown) that is wound around the driven pulley that is disposed as a connection plate, a connecting plate 70 is attached to a part of the timing belt.
The horizontal movement holding plate 14 connected via the is movable in the X direction. Furthermore, X direction drive motor
A pair of sliding bearings 74, 74 are fixed to a holding substrate 72 that holds the horizontally moving holding plate 14 to which the 68, the guide rail 66, etc. are fixed, and the pair of sliding bearings 74, 74 has a pair of sliding bearings 74, 74. The Y-direction guide rods 76, 76 are slidably inserted therein. The pair of Y-direction guide rods 76, 76 are fixed, and although not shown, are connected to a part of the timing belt by a Y-direction drive device including a Y-direction drive motor, a drive pulley, a driven pulley and a timing belt. The holding substrate 72 can be reciprocated in the Y direction along the pair of Y direction guide rods 76, 76.

As the agitator 20, a conventionally used one may be used, and the agitator 20 causes the sample container 64 fitted in the holding hole 78 to rock at high speed in a horizontal plane. The liquid contained in the sample container 64 is agitated.

When performing the dispensing / stirring operation by the automatic dispensing / stirring device having the above-described configuration, first, the dispensing nozzle 22 and the container transfer robot 46 are held at the uppermost positions, and then horizontally moved by the horizontal moving mechanism 16. The movable holding plate 14 is moved in the X direction and the Y direction and positioned so that the dispensing nozzle 22 is located directly above one of the many sample containers 64 stored in the container storage rack 18 to which the liquid is to be dispensed. .. Next, the nozzle elevating and lowering drive device lowers the dispensing nozzle 22 so that its lower end is inserted into the sample container 64. In parallel with this operation, the robot elevating / lowering device lowers the container transfer robot 46 to the position of the sample container 64 with the pair of gripping arms 48, 48 being expanded, and then the pair of gripping arms 48, 48 is moved. The sample containers 64 are gripped by the four contact rods 50 by driving them to reduce the distance between them. Then, the robot elevating / lowering device raises the container transfer robot 46 holding the sample container 64 to take out the sample container 64 from the container storage rack 18, and then the horizontal moving mechanism 16 moves the horizontal moving holding plate 14 in the X direction. And in the Y direction to transfer the sample container 64 to the position of the stirring device 20, and drive and control the robot elevating and lowering drive device and the container transfer robot 46.
64 is inserted and held in the holding hole 78 of the stirring device 20. During the transfer of the sample container 64, a diluting liquid such as pure water is sent together with the sample liquid from the liquid feeding device (not shown) to the dispensing nozzle 22, and the dispensing operation to the sample container 64 by the dispensing nozzle 22 is performed. .. In this way, the dispensing operation is performed while transferring the sample container 64 to the position of the stirring device 20, so that the working time is shortened. The container transfer robot 46 that has set the sample container 64 in the stirring device 20 releases the grip of the sample container 64, and then the robot elevating drive device and the horizontal movement mechanism.
The driving operation is controlled by 16, and the next sample container 64 is moved. The sample container 64 held by the stirring device 20 is swung at a high speed in the horizontal plane by the stirring device 20 to stir the liquid contained therein, and then the stirring device 20 is manually or manually carried by the stirring device 20. Be shipped from.

The automatic dispensing and stirring apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, but the scope of the present invention is not limited by the above description and the contents of the drawings, and may include various modifications. That is, as the configuration of the container transfer robot, its lifting / lowering drive device, nozzle lifting / lowering drive device, horizontal movement mechanism, and the like, various mechanisms other than the mechanism of the above-described embodiment can be adopted. In addition, this device is not only for diluting sample liquid,
It can be used for various purposes such as an operation of mixing two or more kinds of liquids and an operation of adding a reagent to a sample liquid.

[0019]

Since the present invention is constructed and operates as described above, using the device according to the present invention,
The time required for a series of operations of agitating the liquid after dispensing the liquid into the sample container is shortened, work efficiency is improved, and the device configuration can be simplified as compared with the conventional method. The installation space of the device can be reduced. Further, since it does not require manpower, it does not impose a labor burden on an operator and contributes to the case of automating a whole series of steps such as a dissolution test operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a partially broken configuration of a main part of an automatic dispensing and stirring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Dispensing nozzle device 12 Container gripping device 14 Horizontal movement holding plate 16 Horizontal movement mechanism 18 Container storage rack 20 Stirring device 22 Dispensing nozzle 24 Nozzle holder 28 Guide rail 30 Moving nut 32 Nozzle drive shaft 36 Nozzle lifting drive motor 42 Lifting Drive shaft 44 Moving nut 46 Container transfer robot 48 Grasping arm 56 Robot lifting drive motor 64 Sample container 66 X direction guide rail 68 X direction drive motor 74 Sliding bearing 76 Y direction guide rod

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rack for accommodating a plurality of sample containers in parallel, and a channel connected to a liquid sending device for dispensing a predetermined amount of liquid into each of the sample containers accommodated in the rack sequentially from the lower end opening. An injection nozzle, a nozzle holding part that holds the dispensing nozzle in a vertical posture, a nozzle elevating mechanism that vertically reciprocates the nozzle holding part, a horizontal movement holding body that holds the nozzle elevating mechanism, and a horizontal Dispensing operation unit including an X and Y direction moving mechanism for moving the movable holder in the X direction and the Y direction, and agitation for rocking the sample container to agitate the liquid contained therein. In an automatic dispensing and agitating device having an operation section, a gripping arm that is disposed directly below the dispensing nozzle in the horizontal moving holder and that detachably grips the sample container, and drives this gripping arm. Drive means, Of the vertical movement holder for holding the driving means and a holding arm elevating mechanism for vertically reciprocating the vertical movement holder are attached, and horizontal movement by the X / Y direction moving mechanism is performed. The automatic range is characterized in that the moving range of the holding body is set to a range in which each sample container stored in the rack is gripped by the gripping arm of the sample container transfer means and transferred to the stirring operation unit, respectively. A stirring device.