JPH06148198A - Contamination preventing device for analyzing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the contamination of a sample by the ambient atmosphere or the contamination of ambient atmosphere by the sample in an analyzing equipment. CONSTITUTION:To an analyzing equipment having an autosampler 1 for sucking a solution sample from a sample cup 6 by a nozzle 10 and feeding it to an analyzing means, a clean cover 2 with a door 3 is provided on the autosampler 1 to interrupt the ambient atmosphere from the set atmosphere of the sample cup 6, and a blowing piping 5 for blowing an inert gas is provided in the clean cover 2 to fill the clean cover 2 with the inert gas.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for preventing an instrument for analyzing a solution sample from being contaminated in an ambient atmosphere, and more particularly to a technique effective for preventing contamination of an analytical instrument such as a gas chromatograph equipped with an autosampler. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an analytical instrument such as a gas chromatograph or an ion chromatograph equipped with an autosampler, a collected liquid sample (for example, pure water, tap water, acid solution, blood, etc.) is put in a sample cup and placed in the apparatus. Set to
The nozzle sucks the sample in the sample cup and sends it to the analysis unit to perform a predetermined analysis.

[0003]

According to the study by the present inventor, the conventional analysis technique in which the setting of the sample cup containing the sample in the analytical instrument is performed in the same atmosphere as in the room has been found in the sampling atmosphere and the room atmosphere. There is a problem that the sample is contaminated from the inside of the room because the gas is not blocked, or a problem that the sample is contaminated by evaporative mist because the purge gas is not flowed.

Conventionally, as a means for preventing the sample from being contaminated from the inside of the room, the analyzer has been installed in a highly cleaned room such as a cleaning room. It is not practical because it invites a dedicated installation space.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of preventing contamination of the sample by the ambient atmosphere or contamination of the ambient atmosphere by the sample.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0007]

Among the inventions disclosed in the present application, a brief description will be given to the outline of typical ones.
It is as follows.

That is, an analyzer equipped with an auto sampler for sucking a solution sample from a sample cup and sending it to an analyzing means, wherein the auto sampler is provided to block the ambient atmosphere from the installation atmosphere of the sample cup. The shielding means provided and the gas supply means for supplying an inert gas into the shielding means are provided.

[0009]

According to the above-mentioned means, since the installation atmosphere of the sample cup is covered by the shielding means such as the cover, the ambient atmosphere (for example, the laboratory) and the installation atmosphere of the sample cup are shielded. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sample from being contaminated from the outside or the ambient atmosphere from being contaminated by the sample, and it is possible to improve the analysis accuracy.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a pollution preventing device for an analytical instrument according to the present invention. 2 is a front sectional view showing the main part of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG.

The auto sampler 1 includes a tube for carrying a sample to an analyzer (not shown) and a signal line for control,
It is connected through a power supply line (not shown) or the like. The auto sampler 1 includes an upright portion 1a and a horizontal portion 1b, and the upright portion 1a is attached to the rear end of the horizontal portion 1b so as to form an L shape.

A clean cover 2 (shielding means) is attached to the front portion of the upright portion 1a so as to cover the horizontal portion 1b, and a door 3 which is attached to the front surface thereof by a hinge so as to be openable and closable is provided. . A purge gas joint 4 is attached to the side surface of the clean cover 2, and a blowing pipe 5 (gas supply means) for ejecting the purge gas (inert gas such as nitrogen, argon, or helium) downward is connected to the joint 4. Has been done.

On the upper surface of the horizontal portion 1b, there is attached a sample stand 7 having a large number of recesses for mounting a large number of sample cups 6. Further, in the horizontal portion 1b,
An XY-direction arm 8 is provided so as to be freely movable in the X-direction and the Y-direction, and a Z-direction arm 9 that moves in the Z-direction is attached to the tip end portion thereof.

Further, a nozzle 10 for sucking a sample from a designated sample cup 6 is attached to the Z-direction arm 9. A tube 11 is connected to the nozzle 10 and is led to an analyzer. Also, the horizontal portion 1b
An exhaust hole 12 is formed in the lower portion of the side wall surface of the exhaust pipe 12, and an exhaust pipe 13 is connected to the exhaust hole 12. Exhaust pipe 13
Inside, a valve 14 for adjusting the exhaust air volume and a fan 15 for sucking are arranged.

Although it is conceivable to provide the fan 15 on the gas supply side, foreign matter from the fan 15 easily enters the auto sampler 1 and causes contamination.
Therefore, it is preferable to provide it on the exhaust side as in this embodiment.

In the above configuration, when performing analysis, the valve 14 is opened and the fan 15 is rotated. Then, the purge gas purified by a filter (not shown) is supplied to the joint 4 and introduced into the blowing pipe 5. Blowing holes (not shown) are provided at various places in the blowing pipe 5, and air is blown from the blowing holes toward the sample stand 7 so that the clean cover 2 is filled with clean air.

Since the fan 15 is rotating, the blown air is exhausted through the exhaust hole 12. Therefore, the inside of the clean cover 2 is shielded from the outside air (ambient atmosphere) and always kept in a clean state. The sample cup 6 is set on the sample stand 7 by opening the door 3, and the door 3 is closed when the setting is completed.

By performing an analysis start operation on the analyzer side, the XY direction arm 8 and the Z direction arm 9 are moved onto a specific sample cup 6, and the nozzle 10 is inserted into the sample cup 6. , The sample is sucked. The sucked sample is sent to the analyzer through the tube 11 and analyzed for predetermined analysis items. After the analysis for one sample cup 6 is completed,
Similarly, the suction process for the sample cup 6 is continued until the analysis target is completed.

With this structure, dust and the like in the ambient atmosphere (laboratory, etc.) are blocked from entering the clean cover 2, and the accuracy of analysis is reduced due to contamination of the sample and dropping of dust and the like onto the sample. Can be prevented.
Further, it is possible to prevent the ambient atmosphere from being polluted by various kinds of harmful gas and toxic gas generated by the evaporation of the sample, which adversely affects the human body.

As described above, the influence of dust and the like in the room (ambient atmosphere) can be minimized, and the same level of effect as putting the analyzer in the clean room can be obtained without putting the analyzer in the clean room. It is possible to obtain highly accurate data with good reproducibility.

In the above embodiment, the joint 4 is provided with a mass flow meter having an input / output function, and
If a barometer or an exhaust airflow meter having an input / output function is added to the exhaust hole 12 and the mass flow meter or the like is controlled based on the exhaust pressure or the exhaust airflow, the purge gas flow rate can be controlled. . By performing such control, conditions such as the internal pressure of the clean cover 2 can always be kept constant.

Specifically, the following control can be considered.

(A) The gas supply flow rate from the blow-out pipe 5 is set to the gas exhaust pressure, the gas exhaust air volume or the clean cover 2.
Control based on the gas pressure inside.

(B) The gas exhaust pressure or the gas exhaust air volume is controlled based on the gas pressure in the clean cover 2 or the gas supply flow rate from the blowing pipe 5.

Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

For example, the number of the exhaust holes 12 is one, but if the number is two or more, the ventilation effect can be further enhanced. Further, instead of the one-point concentrated exhaust by the exhaust holes 12,
Ventilation can be further enhanced by exhausting air from the entire floor as seen in a clean room.

[0027]

The effects obtained by the typical ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.
It is as follows.

That is, an analyzer equipped with an autosampler for sucking a solution sample from the inside of the sample cup and sending it to the analyzing means, wherein the autosampler is provided to block the ambient atmosphere from the installation atmosphere of the sample cup. Since the shielding means provided and the gas supply means for supplying the inert gas into the shielding means are provided, it is possible to prevent the sample from being contaminated from the outside or the ambient atmosphere from being contaminated by the sample. It becomes possible and the analysis accuracy can be improved. In addition, it is not necessary to install analytical equipment in a clean room.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a pollution preventing device for an analytical instrument according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing a main part of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pollution control device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Autosampler 1a Upright part 1b Horizontal part 2 Clean cover (shielding means) 3 Door 4 Joint 5 Gas outlet piping (gas supply means) 6 Sample cup 7 Sample stand 8 XY direction arm 9 Z direction arm 10 Nozzle 11 Tube 12 exhaust hole 13 exhaust pipe 14 valve 15 fan

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An analyzer equipped with an autosampler for sucking a solution sample from a sample cup and sending the solution sample to an analyzing means, wherein the autosampler is provided to block an ambient atmosphere from an installation atmosphere of the sample cup. A contamination preventing device for an analytical instrument, comprising: a shielding means provided; and a gas supply means for supplying an inert gas into the shielding means. 2. The contamination preventing device for an analytical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the shielding means is a cover with a door arranged so as to cover the installation atmosphere of the sample cup. 3. The contamination of the analytical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the gas supply flow rate by the gas supply means is controlled based on the gas exhaust pressure, the gas exhaust air volume, or the gas pressure in the shielding means. Prevention device. 4. The contamination prevention of the analytical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the gas exhaust pressure or the gas exhaust airflow is controlled based on the gas pressure in the shielding means or the gas supply flow rate by the gas supply means. apparatus. 5. The analytical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a gas exhaust unit for controlling the inert gas supplied by the gas supply unit from the shielding unit by centralized exhaust or floor exhaust. Pollution control device. 6. The pollution control device for an analytical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the gas exhaust unit includes an exhaust drive source and an exhaust control unit in an exhaust system.