JPH0658374B2 - Constant temperature fluid overflow method for reaction tank - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a reaction tank in an automatic biochemical analyzer, and more particularly to a constant temperature fluid overflow method for causing a constant temperature fluid in the reaction tank to overflow.

[Technical background of the invention]

Conventionally, an automatic biochemical analyzer is an apparatus that automatically analyzes a plurality of specimens simultaneously, but a reaction tank 1 is provided as shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B). The reaction tank 1 is a device for keeping the individual reaction tubes 2 at a constant temperature to prevent the chemical reactions of different specimens from varying depending on the temperature, or to advance the chemical reaction under the temperature of the human body. . The reaction tank 1 is provided with a constant temperature tank 4 in which a U-shaped groove 3 is dug in an oval shape. Then, inside the constant temperature bath 4, the chain 5 is fitted with the two sprockets 6
Similarly, the reaction tubes 2 are arranged in the thermostatic chamber 4 via the support members 7 attached to the individual links of the chain 5 by the same. These reaction tubes 2 have an oval-shaped constant temperature chamber 4 by rotating a sprocket 6 inside an oval-shaped constant temperature chamber 4 by an external rotation mechanism (not shown).
Circulate inside. On the other hand, the constant temperature bath 4 is provided with a discharge port 8 for discharging constant temperature water therein, and a constant temperature fluid heat-exchanged to a set temperature by an external constant temperature device (not shown) is supplied from this discharge port 8 to the constant temperature bath. 4 and is collected again from the outlet 9 provided in the thermostatic chamber 4 to the external thermostatic device.

[Problems of background technology]

By the way, the constant temperature fluid in the constant temperature bath 4 keeps the reaction tube 2 at a constant liquid level and always keeps the reaction tube 2 at the same temperature to obtain data of individual specimens independent of temperature. I am trying. For this reason, the constant temperature fluid is constantly filled in the constant temperature vessel 4 to overflow the constant temperature fluid from the upper end of the constant temperature vessel 4 to keep the liquid level of the constant temperature fluid in the reaction tube 2 constant.

However, when the reaction water tank 1 is filled with the constant temperature fluid,
There is a problem that the overflow surface of the constant temperature fluid does not rise easily due to the surface tension and does not overflow easily, and it is difficult to make the liquid surface height constant with respect to the reaction tube 2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the V groove 10 is formed in the reaction tank 1 and the V groove 10 is formed.
There is also a method of overflowing from the groove 10, but if it becomes dirty, it becomes difficult to overflow and it is difficult to always obtain a constant water level. There is also a method in which one end of a water-absorbent cloth or the like is immersed in a constant temperature fluid and the other end is hung outside the reaction tank 1 to cause overflow, but there is a problem that the overflow speed is too slow.

[Object of the Invention]

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to stably overflow a constant temperature fluid in a reaction tank to maintain a constant liquid level height of the constant temperature fluid with respect to the reaction tube. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for overflowing a reaction tank in an automatic biochemical analyzer that can obtain accurate sample data by making the reaction temperature of the sample uniform.

[Outline of Invention]

The outline of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide a reaction tank of an automatic biochemical analyzer in which a reaction tube in which a reagent and a sample are mixed is immersed in a circulating constant temperature fluid, in which the upper surface of the peripheral wall constituting the reaction tank and the capillary phenomenon are A fluid introduction plate is provided so as to project in the reaction tank with a gap to the extent that it is generated, and the fluid introduction plate comes into contact with a constant temperature fluid filled in the reaction tank and raised by surface tension, and the upper surface of the peripheral wall. The constant temperature fluid is caused to overflow by a capillary phenomenon that occurs between the fluid introduction plate and the fluid introduction plate.

Example of Invention

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. Components having the same functions as those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Overflow tanks 12 each having an outlet 11 connected to an external thermostat are connected to both ends of the oblong reaction tank 1. In the overflow tank 12, there is provided a fluid introduction plate 15 which projects substantially horizontally into the reaction tank 1 with an upper surface 14 of a peripheral wall 13 constituting the reaction tank 1 and a gap of about 1 to 2 m / m. A U-shaped metal fitting 16 is provided. The metal fitting 16 has a fixing screw 18 between the peripheral wall 17 of the overflow tank 12 and the peripheral wall 13 of the reaction tank 1.
It can be fixed using the overflow tank 1
The metal fitting 16 moves up and down by rotating the height adjusting screw 19 whose tip is abutted to the bottom of the metal fitting 2, and the fluid introducing plate 15 provided at the upper end of the metal fitting 16 and the upper surface 14 of the peripheral wall 13 of the reaction tank 1 are connected. The gap can be adjusted.

In this way, the fluid introduction plate 15 is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction with a gap of, for example, 1 to 2 m / m to the extent that capillary action occurs with respect to the upper surface of the peripheral wall 13 that constitutes the reaction tank 1. When the introduction plate 15 is projected to the inside of the reaction tank 1, the constant temperature fluid filled in the reaction tank 1 rises due to surface tension and the water level rises. The upper surface 14 of the peripheral wall 13
And the fluid introduction plate 15, and the overflow tank 12 along the gap between the peripheral wall 13 and the metal fitting 16 due to the water level difference.
It flows inward. At this time, the constant temperature fluid that is positively raised is guided by the fluid introduction plate 15 that protrudes to the inside of the reaction tank 1 and overflows. Therefore, even if the constant temperature fluid is replenished at regular intervals to prevent the liquid surface from lowering due to evaporation. The liquid level in the reaction tank 1 can be kept constant. Also,
In this way, the fluid overflows due to the capillary phenomenon caused by the surfaces of the upper surface 14 of the peripheral wall 13 and the fluid introduction plate 15, so that the fluid can be stably guided even if the overflow surface is contaminated, and the height adjusting screw 19 is also provided. Rotate
The flow velocity of the overflow can be adjusted by changing the gap between the upper surface 14 and the fluid introduction plate 15. The overflow tank 12
The fluid that has overflowed to is returned from the outlet 11 to the external thermostatic device.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, modifications can be appropriately made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the overflow tank 12 does not have to be provided at both ends of the reaction tank 1, and may be provided only on one side, and the number of the fluid introducing plates 15 is not limited to two.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the fluid introduction plate is disposed so as to have a gap on the upper surface of the peripheral wall of the reaction vessel, and the constant temperature fluid in the reaction vessel is removed by the water level difference and the capillary phenomenon of the constant temperature fluid. A method for overflowing a reaction tank in an automatic biochemical analyzer capable of stably overflowing and maintaining a constant liquid level of a constant temperature fluid with respect to a reaction tube to make a reaction temperature of a sample uniform and obtain accurate sample data. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an essential part, FIG. 3 (A) is a plan view showing a conventional example, and FIG. 3 (B) is the same as AA. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing another conventional example, which is a line sectional view. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reaction tank, 2 ... Reaction tube, 11 ... Discharge port, 12 ... Overflow tank, 13 ... Peripheral wall, 14 ... Upper surface, 15 ... Fluid introduction plate, 16 ... Metal fittings, 19 ... Height adjustment screw.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reaction tank of an automatic biochemical analyzer in which a reaction tube in which a reagent and a sample are mixed is immersed in a circulating constant temperature fluid, having a gap between the upper surface of a peripheral wall constituting the reaction tank and a capillary phenomenon. A fluid introduction plate protrudingly arranged in the reaction tank, the fluid introduction plate comes into contact with a constant temperature fluid filled in the reaction tank and raised by surface tension, and the upper surface of the peripheral wall and the fluid introduction plate A method for overflowing a constant temperature fluid in a reaction tank, characterized in that the constant temperature fluid is caused to overflow by a capillary phenomenon that occurs between the constant temperature fluid and the constant temperature fluid.