JPH09318499A - Method and device for automatic pre-treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic pre-treating method and device capable of reducing the area of a tray on which tubular containers are piled even in multiple stages and treating a great number of tubular containers. SOLUTION: A container 4 of the upper stage out of tubular sample containers 4 set in two stages on a rack 6A is gripped by the gripper 12 of a manipulator 10 and fixed on a sample treating unit 13. Then a cap 4a is removed, and the sample is delivered to a concentrating device. The tubular sample container 4 after treatment is temporarily moved to an empty rack 6E. When the tubular sample containers 4 on the upper stage of the rack 6A are completed, the tubular sample containers 4 on the lower stage are treated. When the tubular sample containers 4 on the lower stage are completed, they are returned to the lower stage of the rack 6A. Next to this, the tubular sample containers 4 on the upper stage temporarily moved to the rack 6E are returned onto the upper stage of the rack 6A. This operation is repeated for every rack on which tubular sample containers are set.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic pretreatment method and apparatus for an automatic sample introduction (injection) device of an analyzer (gas chromatograph, mass spectrometer, etc.), for example, an analyzer by adsorbing and further concentrating a sample. The present invention relates to an automatic pretreatment method and apparatus used in a tube sampler (sample supply device) for thermal desorption that is sent to a device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A thermal decomposition method, which is a kind of sample pretreatment method, is used as shown in FIG.
For example, a small amount of sample existing in the atmosphere is adsorbed by the adsorbent M and caps 4a and 4a are stored on both sides to store the adsorbent M, and the concentrator 2 for analysis is used.
(See FIG. 1) After concentration, it is introduced into an analyzer such as a gas chromatograph (GC) or a mass spectrometer (GC-MS) for analysis. Conventionally, when a sample is taken out from a large number of tube-shaped containers 4 filled with a sample, a large number of tube-shaped containers 4, 4, ... Are set on a drum 22 as shown in FIG. 3 (B). Then, the method of replacing while rotating was adopted. In addition, such a service
In the maldesorption method, at present, there is no known method of exchanging the tube containing the sample by using a robot hand such as a manipulator.

[0003]

When a large number of tube-shaped containers filled with a sample are introduced into an analyzer by using a manipulator, the tubes are set on the tray and are transported. Area is increased and manipulator
Since the operating range of the computer also becomes large, there is a problem that the entire device becomes large. Further, the area of the tray can be reduced by stacking the tube-shaped containers 4 in multiple stages, but in the operation of returning the sample container 4 to the original position after the introduction of the analysis, the tube containing the sample set in the lower position is placed. There is a problem that it is impossible to take out the bag-shaped container.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. When pretreating a sample, even if a plurality of tube-shaped containers are stacked, the area of the tray is reduced and a large number of tubes are used. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic pretreatment method and apparatus capable of treating a cylindrical container.

That is, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an automatic pretreatment method in which a plurality of racks capable of setting tube-shaped sample containers in multiple stages are arranged around a column and a part thereof is arranged. Is an empty rack, and is equipped with an arm that is movable in the front-rear and up-down directions and has a gripper that has a gripping / opening function for the tube-shaped sample container and is rotatable in any direction. The multi-stage tube-shaped sample containers are picked up and set in the sample processing unit, and all or part of the processed tube-shaped sample containers are temporarily placed in the empty rack of the part. And then returning the treated tube-shaped sample container to the original rack via the empty rack or directly.

Alternatively, the automatic pretreatment apparatus is provided with a plurality of racks arranged around the column and capable of setting the tube-shaped sample containers in multiple stages, and a partially empty rack, and the tube-shaped sample container. A manipulator which is equipped with an arm having a gripper having a gripping / releasing function at its end and which can be moved back and forth and up and down and which can be rotated in any direction, and which is installed on the pillar, and the tube. A sample attachment / detachment device for a tube-shaped sample container, a sample processing unit equipped with a sample feeding means in the tube-shaped sample container, a rotating operation of the manipulator, a vertical movement of an arm, and a gripper gripping / holding operation. And an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the opening operation.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 (A) shows an automatic pretreatment apparatus 1, a sample concentrating apparatus 2 and an analyzing apparatus for carrying out a method for treating a thermal dessert tube which is one of the automatic sample pretreatment methods of the present invention. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of a gas chromatograph, a mass spectrometer) 3.
(B) is a plan view of the automatic pretreatment device 1 portion. That is, the automatic pretreatment apparatus 1 is provided with a large number of tube-shaped sample containers 4 each of which has a sample collected therein and which is sealed with caps 4a for keeping airtightness. The sample is further concentrated in the sample concentrating device 2, and then introduced into the analyzing device 3 by the carrier gas.

FIG. 2 (A) is a front view of the automatic pretreatment device 1 portion, and FIG. 2 (B) is a plan view thereof. A plurality of racks 6 (6A, 6B, ...) Around a cylindrical portion (which may be a prism instead of a cylinder) 5 which constitutes the automatic pretreatment apparatus 1.
・) Is placed. In the case of the embodiment, the racks 6 (6A, 6B, ...) Formed with the central angle of 60 degrees are used, but the number can be increased or decreased, and of course, a single rack may be used. In these racks 6, tube-shaped containers 4 radially filled with a sample are set in two stages. In each of the racks 6A, 6B, ..., Fixing plates 7, 7, ... Arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction in the vicinity of the outer periphery and fixing plates 8, 8 disposed at constant intervals in the vicinity of the columnar portion 5 side. , Are provided upright, and the main body 4 of the tube-shaped sample container 4 is provided in the gaps 9, 9 between the fixed plate 7 and the fixed plate 7 (fixed plate 8 and fixed plate 8).
It is set so as to sandwich the b portion. In the illustrated embodiment, five sets of tube-shaped containers 4 set in two stages are arranged on one rack 6A. Of course, the number of racks and the number of racks can be increased or decreased, and the rack 6A and the like need not have a central angle of 60 degrees.

A manipulator 10, which is rotatably supported in either the left or right direction, is installed in a central cylindrical portion 5 in which the racks 6 (6A, 6B, ...) Are arranged. There is. The manipulator 10 has a gripper 12 attached to the tip thereof so that the tube-shaped sample container 4 can be gripped and released. The manipulator 1
The arm 11 to which the zero gripper 12 is attached can be moved back and forth and up and down by a driving device. The rotary drive of the manipulator 10, the forward and backward movement of the arm 11, the vertical movement, and the gripping and opening of the tube-shaped container 4 of the gripper 12 are performed by an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) not shown.

A sample processing unit 13 having a sample feeding means in the tube-shaped sample container 4 is arranged on a part of the cylindrical portion 5. That is, the tube-shaped sample containers 4 picked up one by one by the manipulator 10 are first fixed to the fixing bases 14 and 14 provided in the processing unit 13, and the caps 4a are removed by the cap attaching / detaching device 15. Next, the main body 4b is moved to the other fixed bases 16 and 16 on the same unit 13, both sides of the main body 4b of the tube-shaped container 4 are set and inserted into the tube joint connecting devices 17 and 18, and the internal suction is performed. The sample adsorbed on the agent M (see FIG. 3 (A)) is concentrated by the carrier gas into the sample concentrator 2
I am sending it to. The processing unit 13 is provided with a heating block 21 for heating the tube-shaped sample container 4 when taking out a sample.

It should be noted that the processing unit 13 has fixed bases 14 and 1 on which the main body 4b is set in order to remove the cap 4a.
4 and the fixed bases 16 and 16 on which the main body 4b is set in order to send out the sample are separately installed. Therefore, since it requires double labor, the heating block 21 is placed on the opposite side (end side).
If the fixed bases 14 and 14 are arranged so as to be movable to the positions of the tube joint coupling devices 17 and 18, the fixed bases 16 and 16 are unnecessary.

Next, the rack 6 (6A, 6B, ...) Is provided with an empty rack 6 (for example, one rack 6E is enough) in which the tube-shaped sample container 4 is not set in one of them. It is arranged. Then, when all the upper stages of the tube-shaped sample containers 4 set on the rack 6A have been processed, they are temporarily set on the rack 6E, and when the tube-shaped sample containers 4 on the lower stage of the rack 6A have been processed, the rack 6A is processed. The operation of returning to the lower stage and then returning the processed tube-shaped sample container 4 placed on the empty rack 6E to the original upper stage position is repeated for each rack. To do.

The automatic preprocessing apparatus of the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, and its specific operation will be described below. (1) First, of the tube-shaped sample containers 4 set in two stages on the rack 6A, the upper container 4 is gripped by the gripper 12 of the manipulator 10 to be picked up, and the fixing base of the sample processing unit 13 is fixed. 14, the cap 4a on both sides of the main body 4b by the cap attaching / detaching device 15,15,
Remove 4a. (2) Next, the main body 4 of the tube-shaped sample container 4 in which the caps 4a, 4a are removed by the gripper 12 of the manipulator 10.
b is transferred to the fixed stands 16 and 16 of the sample processing unit 13,
Both sides of the body 4b are connected to the tube joint connecting device 17,
The sample in the tube-shaped sample container 4 is sent to the concentrating device 2 while being set at 18, and heated by the heating block 21. (3) The tube-shaped sample container 4 after sending out the sample is
The main body 4b is returned to the fixed bases 14 and 14, the caps 4a and 4a are capped again by the cap attaching / detaching device 15, then gripped by the gripper 12 of the manipulator 10 and temporarily transferred to the empty rack 6E. (4) When the processing of the upper tube-shaped sample container 4 set in the rack 6A is completed, the operations (1) and (2) are performed even if the lower tube-shaped sample container 4 of the rack 6A is attached. .
After the processing of the lower tube-shaped sample containers 4 is completed, the tube-shaped sample containers 4 are directly capped on the main body 4b with the cap attaching / detaching device 15 and then directly on the rack 6A. Return to the bottom row. (5) Next, the upper tube-shaped sample container 4 temporarily transferred to the rack 6E is returned to the upper stage of the rack 6A. (6) The operations of (1) to (5) above are performed by the following racks 6A,
The tube-shaped sample container 4 set to 6B, ...

In the above embodiment, the empty rack 6
It is arranged that the tube-shaped sample containers 4 can be installed in multiple stages in E, and after the processing of all the upper tube-shaped sample containers 4 of the other racks 6A, 6B, ... Temporarily set it on the rack 6E, and set the racks 6A, 6
B, ... When the processing of the lower tube-shaped sample container 4 is completed, the racks 6A, 6B ,.
After that, the processed tube-shaped sample container 4 temporarily placed on the rack 6E may be returned to each rack 6A, 6B, ....

Alternatively, the tube-shaped sample containers 4 set in the rack 6A are stacked on the empty rack 6E until the processing is completed, and when the processing of all the tube-shaped containers 4 in the rack 6A is completed, The rack 6E in which the tube-shaped container 4 treated by the manipulator 10 is placed
It is also possible to return the original rack 6A to the original rack 6A in order. That is, the tube-shaped sample container 4 is attached to the manipulator 1.
0 in order, starting from one rack 6A, and when this finishes, proceed to the next rack 6B in order and return the tube-shaped container 4 to a large number of tube samplers 1 of a small space. The tube-shaped container 4 can be processed.

As a modified embodiment of the present invention,
A rack 6 for separately setting the tube-shaped sample container 4 at a position around the rack 6 (6A, 6B, ...) And within the reach of the arm 11 of the manipulator 10.
W may be arranged. That is, the upper tube-shaped sample containers 4 that have been stacked and processed in two stages on the rack 6A or the like are sequentially placed on the rack 6W, and when the processing of the upper tube-shaped containers 4 is completed, After processing the tube-shaped container 4, the tube-shaped container 4 in the lower stage after the processing is the rack 6A.
Back to its original position, and when the processing of the lower tube-shaped container 4 is completed, the processed tube-shaped container 4 in the upper stage placed on the rack 6W installed separately is returned to the original rack 6.
It is also possible to return to the upper part of A. In the above embodiment, the tube-shaped container 4 is mounted on the rack 6 (6A, 6A).
B, ...) has been described in the case of being stacked in two stages, but the number of stages may be further increased.

[0017]

As described above in detail, according to the automatic pretreatment method and apparatus of the present invention, a rack or a place where the tube-shaped sample container is not set is provided, and the rack shown in the embodiment is used.
By controlling the can, it is possible to process the containers set in multiple stages on one rack. Also, since the area of the tray or the installation place can be reduced and efficient processing can be performed, the entire apparatus can be downsized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 (A) is a front view showing the configuration of an automatic pretreatment device, a sample concentrating device, and an analyzer for carrying out the automatic pretreatment method of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (B) is an automatic pretreatment device. It is a top view of a processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 (A) is a front view of an automatic pretreatment device,
FIG. 2B is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 (A) is an external view of a tube-shaped sample container, and FIG. 3 (B) is an example of a drum-shaped rack in which a conventional tube-shaped sample container is set.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Automatic Pretreatment Device 2 Sample Concentrator 3 Analytical Device 4 Tube-shaped Sample Container 5 Cylinder 6 (6A, 6B, ...) Rack 6E Rack (Empty Rack) 6W Rack (Empty Rack Outside) 7, 8 Fixing Plate 10 Manipulator 11 Arm 12 Gripper 13 Processing Unit 21 Heating Block

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A gripping / opening function for the tube-shaped sample container, wherein a plurality of racks capable of setting the tube-shaped sample container in multiple stages are arranged around the column and a part of the rack is made empty. A tube-shaped sample container set in multiple stages is picked up by a manipulator equipped with an arm that can be moved back and forth and up and down equipped with a gripper having Set in the processing unit, temporarily temporarily place all or part of the processed tube-shaped sample container in the empty rack, and then place the processed tube-shaped sample container in the empty rack. An automatic pretreatment method characterized by returning to the original rack through a rack or directly. 2. A plurality of racks arranged around a column and capable of setting tube-shaped sample containers in multiple stages and a partially empty rack, and a function of gripping / opening the tube-shaped sample containers. A manipulator, which is equipped with an arm having a gripper at its end and is movable back and forth and up and down, is rotatable in any direction and is installed on the column, and a tube-shaped sample container An automatic pretreatment apparatus comprising a sample processing unit equipped with a sample feeding means, and an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the rotating operation of the manipulator, the longitudinal movement of the arm and the gripping / release operation of the gripper. .