JPH0528595B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a method for automatically observing the state of microorganisms in a microorganism storage container in equipment that uses microorganisms for fermentation or wastewater treatment. This article relates to an automatic microorganism observation device that can be used.

[Prior art] Technologies that utilize microorganisms to produce useful substances and decompose and remove pollutants in industrial wastewater are widely practiced in fields such as fermentation industry, sewage and industrial wastewater treatment, etc. It is difficult to efficiently control the functions of microorganisms used with conventional technology,
It cannot be said that a sufficient control method has been established yet.

In particular, accurate understanding of the status of microorganisms in the treatment process, which changes from moment to moment, is extremely useful information for determining the progress of treatment using microorganisms. Because there was no means to do so, we could sample the microbial mixture in the treatment process, measure its dry weight, prepare slides and observe them under a microscope to obtain information, and use this information to estimate the state of the microorganisms in the process. methods have been taken.

However, these methods require a long time to obtain information, the state of microbial aggregation may vary depending on the sampling, and they require specialized knowledge and techniques, so they are frequently used. This method was difficult to perform, and was extremely inadequate for accurately determining the internal state in real time.

For this reason, recently, the state of microorganisms inside the treatment process has been extracted directly as an optical image, and this optical information is converted into electrical signals and processed using an image analysis processing device and a computer. As a result, techniques have been developed to obtain the necessary information.

The observation methods necessary for these have already been developed
61-35280 and other models have begun to appear, but all of them had the following problems.

For the underwater immersion type, the sample chamber has a fixed size, and in order to smoothly introduce and discharge microorganisms into the sample chamber, the thickness of the sample is required to be several mm. Observations using optical devices are difficult to focus and have low resolution, and are insufficient to obtain detailed information on the state of microorganisms (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-6143, Practical Research). Publication date 61-35280, Publication date 60-108394).

Since it does not have a mechanism to clean the microorganism observation surface, the image deteriorates in a short period of time due to slime from microorganisms and algae.
−6143).

Even if it has a cleaning mechanism, sufficient information cannot be obtained for the following reasons (Kokoku Sho 61-35280).

In order to increase the magnification and obtain high-resolution information, we installed a means to collect the microbial mixture from inside the treatment process, fix the test liquid in the middle of the liquid passage pipe, and observe it. A system has been published in which the canal can be cleaned with a cleaning solution containing chemicals (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1989-1999).
244279), which is built into the middle of the conduit, which imposes restrictions on installation.The structure also does not take into account parts replacement when the observation window becomes dirty, making it difficult to meet demands for increased magnification. I haven't been able to respond either. In addition, since the microbial image obtained by magnification usually covers only a small part of the test liquid, it is necessary to observe many parts of the test liquid in order to determine the overall condition. In this system, the sample must be introduced from the microorganism storage tank each time, which requires too much effort and time, and it is difficult to fully realize the benefits of automatic observation. It was something I couldn't do.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As mentioned above, the present invention solves the problems of the prior art, namely, low magnification, low resolution, slime adhesion, restrictions on installation location and method, inability to change magnification, and large number of microorganism images in one sampling. To provide an automatic microorganism observation device that solves the problem of not being able to grasp microorganisms, can simultaneously obtain a large number of precise and clear images of microorganisms, and is easy to install, handle, maintain, inspect, and repair. The purpose is to

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the purpose of the present invention, the present inventors have made extensive studies and have developed an automatic microorganism observation device that optically magnifies and observes a test liquid containing microorganisms. A means for introducing a test liquid containing microorganisms into an observation chamber connected to a liquid introduction pipe, a cleaning liquid introduction pipe, and a drain pipe and automatically movable on a horizontal plane, and a fixing member forming a lower surface of the observation chamber in the observation chamber. A removable observation window is provided that forms the upper surface of the observation room, and the removable observation window is automatically suspended and placed via an observation window holder. A means for fixing the liquid between both observation windows, a means for optically magnifying and imaging the fixed test liquid, and a means for draining the test liquid in the observation chamber and cleaning the inside of the observation chamber are provided. The present invention provides an automatic microorganism observation device characterized by:

To explain the present invention more specifically, a test liquid is collected from a microorganism storage container, and a test liquid introduction pipe, a washing water introduction pipe, and a drain pipe are connected, and the observation is automatically movable on a horizontal plane. A removable observation window forming the upper surface of the observation chamber is inserted into the room through the observation window holder and a drive device that moves the holder up and down. A means for fixing the sample liquid in the observation chamber between the two observation windows by suspending the sample liquid against two observation windows, and optically magnifying the fixed sample liquid with a microscope lens. It has a means for capturing an image with a television camera and transmitting it to a monitor television and/or an image processing device, a computer, etc., and after capturing the image, the removable observation window is
It is removed from the other observation window using the holder and the drive device, and then cleaning water or cleaning agent is injected into the observation chamber to drain the test liquid in the observation chamber and remove the liquid from the observation chamber. This automatic observation device for microorganisms is characterized in that all of these means are automatically controlled.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be specifically explained with reference to examples and its effects.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the main parts of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating the operating principle of the test liquid fixing means related to the observation chamber.

To explain the action mechanism in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the test liquid to be observed is driven by the drive motor 18,
19, it is movable vertically and horizontally on a horizontal plane, and inside thereof, a test liquid introduction pipe 16 and a cleaning liquid introduction pipe 15 are installed.
The sample liquid is introduced into the observation chamber 12 connected to the discharge pipe 17 through the test liquid introduction pipe 16 from a microorganism storage container (not shown), either by gravity or via pumping means such as a pump. (FIG. 2A) When the test liquid is introduced, the removable observation window 8, which forms the upper surface of the observation chamber and is held by the observation window holder 9, is attached to the observation window holder 9 via the electromagnet 21. By means of an arm 10 connected in a detachable manner and a drive motor (not shown) that moves the arm, it is suspended near another observation window forming the lower surface of the observation chamber. When the electric current of the electromagnet is cut off in this state, the holder 9 is separated from the arm 10, and the test liquid is fixed between both observation windows. (Second
(Figure B) Both observation windows are made of a light-transmitting material such as glass, and transmit the light that has passed through the light source 6 and the condenser lens 7.

An optical microscope system consisting of an objective lens 2 for optically magnifying the test liquid, a lens barrel 3, and an eyepiece lens 4 is disposed below the bottom observation window, and its focal point is
It is matched to the fixed test liquid. The objective lens 2 is replaceable and has a structure in which the focal position can be adjusted according to its magnification. In addition to the single objective lens type shown in Figure 1, this structure has multiple objective lenses attached to a single rotary table, as is the case with general laboratory tabletop microscopes. , If necessary, a revolver type structure for rotating, selecting and fixing this can also be arbitrarily adopted.

The image of the test liquid magnified by the optical microscope system is captured by an industrial television camera 5, and is sent to a monitor television, an image analysis processing device, a computer, etc., and undergoes necessary processing. After a portion of the fixed test liquid is imaged in an enlarged manner, the stages 13 and 14, which are movable on a horizontal plane, are moved by the drive motor 1.
8 and 19, horizontally move b and c in the vertical and horizontal directions,
Take a magnified image of another part of the microbial suspension. By repeating this process, almost all parts of the fixed microbial suspension obtained by one water sampling can be observed and enlarged.

When the necessary imaging is completed, the electromagnet 21 is lowered by a drive motor (not shown), and a current flows to attract the observation window holder 9, move it upward, and release the fixed state. Next, a liquid containing a cleaning agent (not shown) is injected into the observation chamber 12 from the cleaning agent introduction pipe 15 and is discharged through the discharge pipe 17, thereby discharging the suspension and cleaning the observation chamber 12. be exposed. The cleaning agent can be arbitrarily selected from fresh water, chlorinated water, ozone water, cleaning liquid, or treated water from wastewater treatment equipment, taking into account installation conditions, management, cost, and the like. Also, a cleaning agent introduction pipe 15, a test liquid introduction pipe 16, and a discharge pipe 1
The installation position of 7 can be set as appropriate within the observation room.

By repeating the steps described above, it becomes possible to automatically observe the state of microorganisms in the microorganism storage container on a monitor TV or process them as electrical signals using an image processing device. By repeating these operations at arbitrary intervals as necessary, changes in the state of microorganisms in the liquid can be tracked.

The obtained image information of microorganisms can be processed into various information depending on the purpose. For example, in the case of wastewater treatment equipment, this includes determining the density of activated sludge flocs, identifying the type and amount of filamentous bacteria, and identifying the type and amount of protozoa. This processed information can of course be recorded as management information of the target microbial process, and can also be sent to a process control device and used for automatic control of the microbial process.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The features and effects of the automatic microorganism observation device according to the present invention described above are as follows.

(1) The microbial suspension in the storage container can be automatically collected without stopping the operation of the microbial process or opening the storage container for sampling.

(2) It is possible to automatically obtain microbial images magnified to the same extent as with an optical microscope, without the troublesome work of preparing slides.

(3) When observing microorganisms, the microbial suspension forms a thin layer and is fixed, making it possible to obtain clear microbial images with high resolution even at high magnification.

(4) Because the observation chamber is structured to automatically move freely on a horizontal plane, a large number of microorganism images can be obtained in a short time with one sampling, and the entire state of microorganisms in a microbial process can be obtained. can be understood in terms of

(5) All operations such as sample introduction, discharge, and cleaning of the observation chamber and conduit can be performed automatically without human intervention.

(6) The upper observation window of the observation room is removable, so it can be easily replaced in the event of damage.

(7) Observation magnification can be easily changed depending on the object and conditions, and information can be obtained arbitrarily according to the degree of need.

(8) Images of microorganisms can be monitored and processed from a remote location.

(9) Based on the results obtained from image processing, etc.
It can be used to automatically control microbial processes and optimize operational management.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overview diagram showing the main parts of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating the operating principle of the means for fixing the test liquid in the observation chamber. 1... Device main body, 2... Objective lens, 3... Lens barrel, 4
...Eyepiece, 5...TV camera, 6...Lighting, 7
...Condensing lens, 8...Observation window, 9...Observation window holder,
10...Arm, 11...Observation window glass, 12...Observation room, 13...X stage, 14...Y stage, 15
...Cleaning agent introduction pipe, 16...Test liquid introduction pipe, 17...Discharge pipe, 18...X stage drive motor, 19...Y stage drive motor, 20...Arm drive motor, 2
1...Electromagnet.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an automatic microorganism observation device that optically magnifies and observes a test liquid containing microorganisms, an observation chamber that is automatically movable on a horizontal plane is connected to a test liquid inlet pipe, a cleaning liquid inlet pipe, and a drain pipe. a means for introducing a test liquid containing microorganisms; a fixed observation window forming a lower surface of the observation chamber; and a removable observation window forming an upper surface of the observation chamber; Means for fixing the sample liquid in the observation chamber between both observation windows by automatically suspending the sample liquid through an observation window holder, and optically magnifying and imaging the fixed sample liquid. 1. An automatic microorganism observation device comprising: a means for discharging a test liquid in the observation chamber and a means for cleaning the inside of the observation chamber.