JPH08338844A - Pretreatment system for sample - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a pretreatment system for sample in which leakage of dangerous reagent of solvent can be detected and dealt with immediately upon evaporation. CONSTITUTION: A rack 2 containing a large number of test tubes containing sample, a rack 4 containing reagent bottles, a rack 6 containing sample cells dispensed with samples admixed with reagents and solvents and stirred, a robot hand 8 for transporting these test tubes and sample cells, a sample suction/ injection unit 9, a syringe pump 10, and the like are contained in one case 1. Furthermore, a gas sensor 11 for detecting the concentration of gas in the inner space of case 1 exceeding a predetermined level is mounted on the inner wall of the case 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample pretreatment device when a sample is analyzed by a gas chromatograph or another analysis device, and more particularly to a sample pretreatment device capable of detecting leakage of an organic solvent or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a sample is analyzed by using an analyzer such as a gas chromatograph, a liquid chromatograph or a spectroscopic analyzer, a reagent or an organic solvent is added to the sample and stirred to prepare a large number of test tubes or sample cells. It is dispensed into the container described in 1 above, and these are transferred by an automatic transfer device or the like and applied to an analyzer. Such pretreatment of the sample is automated and performed by a robot hand, etc., and a monitoring device is installed for the mistaken addition of the sample, reagents and solvents used (excess or shortage of the added amount), but positive liquid leakage. Was not detected. Many of such monitoring devices sense a change in the pressure of the flow path or an abnormality due to the generation of bubbles.

[0003]

As described above, the device for monitoring the sample pretreatment device for the mistaken addition of the sample, the reagent and the solvent in the flow path in the pipe requires a complicated electric circuit and a monitoring mechanism. Therefore, it is expensive and complicated. In addition, when monitoring leaks in the flow path, when dangerous reagents or solvents that may cause explosion or poisoning leak and evaporate into the surrounding space, this cannot be swiftly monitored and dealt with. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide a sample pretreatment device capable of promptly detecting and coping with the leakage and evaporation of a dangerous reagent or solvent.

[0004]

That is, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a reagent or a solvent is put into a rack containing a large number of test tubes containing a sample or a rack containing a reagent bottle and a sample and agitated. A sample pretreatment device consisting of a robot hand for transporting these test tubes and sample cells, a sample suction injection device, and a syringe pump. A rack containing a large number of test tubes containing a test tube, a rack containing a reagent bottle, a rack containing a sample cell prepared by agitating and dispensing a reagent or solvent into a sample, and a robot hand for carrying these test tubes or sample cells And a sample suction / injection device, a syringe pump, etc. are housed in one case, and further, the case is
A gas sensor is attached to the inner wall of the case to detect when the gas concentration in the case inner space reaches a certain value or more.

[0005]

If the sample pretreatment device is used as the above means, the robot hand may drop the sample cell being transported for some reason, or the pipes of the sample suction / injection device or the solvent supply device may become dislodged or damaged, causing a large amount of organic solvent. If there is a leak, the amount of evaporation will increase sharply, and a gas sensor attached to the inner wall of the case will detect this, and an alarm device will warn of the abnormality.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall outline of the sample pretreatment apparatus of the present invention. In this sample pretreatment device, a rack 2 accommodating a large number of test tubes 3 containing a sample, a rack 4 accommodating a bottle 5 containing a reagent, and a sample cell 7 in which a reagent or a solvent is put into a sample and agitated and dispensed A rack 6 or the like accommodating the
A sample suction / injection device 9, a syringe pump 10, and the like are arranged.

The racks 2, 4, 6 and the robot hand 8
The sample suction / injection device 9, the syringe pump 10 and the like are housed in a single case 1 so that the operator can perform operations such as injection of reagents and solvents and stirring from the outside. . In the pretreatment performed in the case 1 accommodating the rack 2 and the robot hand 8 or the like, an organic solvent harmful to the human body, such as methyl alcohol or acetonitrile, is often used. Further, if these organic solvents evaporate inside the case 1 and an electrostatic phenomenon or some kind of electric spark occurs, there is a risk of explosion. Therefore, a gas sensor 11 for detecting the evaporated organic solvent is attached to the inner wall of the case 1 and connected to an alarm device 12.

The alarm device 12 takes in the analog output of the gas sensor 11 when the operation of the sample pretreatment device in the case 1 is started, and the gas sensor 1 is periodically operated during operation.
The value of 1 is fetched and compared with the value at the start of operation, and if the value exceeds a certain "threshold value", it is processed as an error and a warning is issued.

Further, the above-mentioned cable housing a sample pretreatment device.
Ventilation ducts 13 and 14 are attached to both sides of the case 1 to discharge the evaporated organic solvent in the case 1. In this way, methyl alcohol for cleaning test tubes, etc.
The organic solvent such as the solvent is discharged from the lower part of the case 1 to the outside, and the evaporated portion of the evaporated methyl alcohol or the organic solvent for dissolving the sample is discharged from the ducts 13 and 14 and the case. The concentration of the organic solvent in the column 1 is a constant low value. However, if for some reason the robot hand 8 drops the sample cell being transported, or the pipes of the sample suction / injection device 9 or the solvent supply device are disconnected or damaged and a large amount of organic solvent leaks, the evaporation amount also increases rapidly. Because I do
A gas sensor 11 attached to the inner wall of the switch 1 detects this and an alarm device 12 warns of the abnormality. If the gas sensor 11 has, for example, a blinking type warning means incorporated therein, the alarm device 12 is provided with an alarm device 12.
It can be mounted in the case 1 as one body.
In the above embodiment, the case 1 has exhaust ducts 13, 1
Although 4 is attached, these ducts are not necessarily required unless a large amount of organic solvent is used for cleaning or the like.

[0010]

As described in detail above, according to the sample pretreatment apparatus of the present invention, not only liquid leakage from the pipe for supplying the organic solvent or the suction / discharge device but also liquid due to handling error of the robot hand or the like is caused. Even in the case of leakage, it is possible to detect an abnormality. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the harmful components from leaking or exploding. Further, the sample pretreatment device with the gas sensor is simple and does not require a complicated electric circuit or mechanism, and thus can be manufactured at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall outline of a sample pretreatment apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 case 2, 4, 6 racks 8 robot hand 9 sample suction / injection device 10 syringe pump 11 gas sensor 12 alarm device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rack containing a large number of test tubes containing a sample, a rack containing a reagent bottle, a rack containing a sample cell in which a reagent or a solvent is put into a sample and agitated, and the like are installed. In a sample pretreatment device including a robot hand for transporting these test tubes and sample cells, a sample suction / injection device, and a syringe pump, a rack containing a large number of test tubes containing the sample and a rack containing reagent bottles, A rack containing sample cells in which reagents and solvents are put into a sample and stirred and dispensed, a robot hand for transporting these test tubes and sample cells, a sample suction injection device, a syringe pump, etc. are housed in one case. , In addition,
A sample pretreatment device, wherein a gas sensor is attached to the inner wall of the case to detect when the gas concentration in the space inside the case reaches a certain concentration or more.