JPH10293119A - Electrophoretic unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance safety by providing a cover opening/closing through a hinge having a fulcrum or fulcrums on one side face or the opposite side faces of an electrophoretic bath thereby enhancing the operability and preventing condensed water from leaking to the outside of the electrophoretic bath. SOLUTION: A hinge 18 is provided at the intersection of one side face and the upper end of an electrophoretic bath 1, for example, in order to open/ close a cover 9. When the cover 9 is drawn up, water droplets condensed on the inside of the cover 9 flows down along the cover 9 and flows into the electrophoretic bath 1 at the position of the hinge 18. A sump may be provided on the inner surface of the cover 9 in order to collect the water droplets flowing down along the inside of the cover 9. Furthermore, planar terminals 22, 23 are provided at the contacting part (shown by a solid line on the figure) of the electrophoretic bath 1 and the closed cover 9 in order to control connection of a power supply for applying a DC voltage to the electrode of the electrophoretic bath 1 through opening/closing of the cover 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophoresis apparatus having a migration tank lid for improving operability and safety.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electrophoresis is a universal analysis technique used in a wide range of industrial fields, including basic research in biochemistry and various tests. Although there are various types of biochemical devices, especially in the horizontal type submarine electrophoresis device, since the electrophoresis tank has a wide opening,
The opening must be sealed with a lid. Conventionally, various measures have been taken to prevent electric shock when the lid is opened during operation. For example, a power cord is connected to the lid, and the lead from the power supply is disconnected when the lid is removed.Also, connection is possible only when the power cord is closed. To remove the power cord.
However, operability is significantly impaired for this purpose.

[0003] Further, during electrophoresis, water vapor is inevitably generated and condensed on the lid. Therefore, when the lid is removed after electrophoresis, water droplets wet the experimental environment, which is complicated. Since the lid has the same size as the electrophoresis tank, there is a problem in securing a space for temporarily installing the lid when not in use. The electrophoresis tank is inevitably in front of the worktable for the sake of sample addition,
The power supply is located at the back of the workbench. Therefore, the power cord and the lid connecting the two are usually placed between the electrophoresis tank and the power supply, and when the lid holds water, there is a danger of wetting the power supply. In particular, when a plurality of electrophoresis apparatuses are used at the same time, the space occupies a considerable amount of space on the work table, the power supply is wetted by water droplets on the lid, and the risk of electric leakage or electric shock increases.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to construct a safe electrophoresis apparatus excellent in operability.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The inventors of the present invention have made intensive studies and found that by providing a hinge on the lid, it is possible to save the stationary space when the lid is not in use and to prevent water drops when the lid is opened. It has been found that since it falls in a fixed direction, it is possible to avoid water wetting of the power supply and the migration environment. Further, the opening and closing movement of the lid makes it possible to easily install a device for connecting and disconnecting the electrode terminals, thereby improving the operability and making the device safer.

That is, the present invention is an electrophoresis apparatus having a lid which can be opened and closed by a hinge whose fulcrum is located on one of the side faces of the electrophoresis tank or on a pair of opposed side faces.

Further, the present invention provides the above-mentioned electric device, wherein the contact between an electrode terminal connected to an electrode provided in the electrophoresis tank and a power supply for applying a DC voltage to the electrode is controlled by opening and closing a lid. It is an electrophoresis device.

[0008] The electrophoresis tank used in the present invention comprises:
Water vapor can be generated by increasing the temperature of the buffer solution during electrophoresis, and a typical example is a horizontal submarine electrophoresis tank. The horizontal type submarine electrophoresis tank has a convex platform at the bottom for holding a carrier for electrophoresis such as agarose gel or polyacrylamide gel.

In the present invention, the lid may be non-opaque, that is, colored or colorless, transparent or translucent so that the inside of the electrophoresis tank can be viewed when the lid is placed on the electrophoresis tank. The material and shape of the lid are not particularly limited,
Usually, a flat or square plastic member is used.

In the present invention, as the hinge, there are various shapes made of various materials, but it is not limited to a specific one, and any hinge having sufficient strength may be used.

Further, the electrophoresis apparatus of the present invention is an electrophoresis apparatus whose energization is controlled by opening and closing a lid, and includes an electrode terminal connected to both the negative and positive electrodes such as a platinum electrode installed in the electrophoresis tank. Makes contact with another terminal connected to the lid only when the lid is closed. On the other hand, the terminal of the lid is guided by a power cord and connected to a DC power supply. That is, when the lid is opened, the terminals of the electrophoresis tank and the lid are mechanically separated, and the electrophoresis tank is not energized. The structure of the terminal is not particularly limited as long as it can form an electrically conductive contact state, and the shape is not limited.

[0012]

According to the electrophoresis apparatus of the present invention, since the lid has a lid which can be opened and closed by the hinge, not only the operability is improved, but also the structure of the lid or the position of the hinge is devised by water vapor condensed during electrophoresis. For example, it is possible to prevent water from leaking out of the electrophoresis tank. This makes it possible to minimize water wetting into the electrophoresis environment. Also,
In the conventional electrophoresis apparatus, when the lid is not used, the same space as the electrophoresis tank is occupied for its temporary installation, but according to the electrophoresis apparatus of the present invention, the state in which the lid is flipped up Because it can be maintained, no extra space is required on the laboratory bench. Furthermore, the opening and closing operation of the lid facilitates the installation of the safety device for power supply, and with the opening and closing of the lid,
The energization can be started or stopped.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the electrophoresis apparatus of the present invention. A convex platform 2 is formed at the bottom of the electrophoresis tank 1, and at both ends in the electrophoresis direction,
Both the negative and positive electrodes 3 and 4 made of a platinum wire or the like are formed. Bifurcated bearings 5 and 6 are formed in the upper part of both sides of the electrophoresis tank 1 in the electrophoresis direction and near one end in the direction perpendicular to the electrophoresis direction. Further, in the direction perpendicular to the electrophoresis direction of the electrophoresis tank 1, both the negative and positive electrode terminals 7, 8 are formed at two opposite corners of the bearing portions 5, 6 so as to protrude upward. The electrode terminals 7 and 8 are connected to both electrodes 3 and 4, respectively.

The lid 9 for covering the electrophoresis tank 1 is made of transparent plastic and has shafts 10 and 11 extending outward at positions corresponding to the bearings 5 and 6 of the electrophoresis tank 1. Axis 1
Reference numerals 0 and 11 each have an elliptical columnar shape in which the thickness direction of the lid 9 is the short axis and the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the lid 9 is the long axis. When the bearings 5 and 6 of the electrophoresis tank 1 and the shafts 10 and 11 of the lid 9 have such shapes, the lid 9
Upright (the thickness direction of the lid 9 is substantially horizontal,
The shafts 10 and 11 can be easily and removably fitted in the forked portions of the bearing portions 5 and 6, respectively, in a state in which the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction is substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction. A hinge is formed by fitting the shafts 10 and 11 to the bearing portions 5 and 6, respectively, and the hinge becomes a fulcrum, and the lid 9 can be closed with the electrophoresis direction as an axis.

At the time of electrophoresis, the agarose gel 13 is placed on the platform 2 in the electrophoresis tank 1 filled with the electrophoresis buffer 12 with the lid 9 flipped up, that is, with the lid 9 upright. Place. The sample is placed in the sample groove 14 of the agarose gel 13, the cover 9 is closed, and the power cord 16 from the DC power supply 15 is connected to the negative and positive electrode terminals 7, 8, and the current is supplied with an appropriate voltage and current. After completion of electrophoresis,
The power cord 16 is removed, the lid 9 is flipped up, and the gel 13 is collected.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the lid 9 can be detachably attached to the electrophoresis tank 1, but the lid 9 may be fixed to the electrophoresis tank 1 by a hinge. FIG. 2 is a view showing an embodiment in which the lid 9 is fixed to the electrophoresis tank 1 by a hinge. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, of the side surfaces of the electrophoresis tank 1, two side surfaces extending in the electrophoresis direction, that is, a pair of side surfaces that straddle the cathode 3 side and the anode 4 side of the electrophoresis tank 1 and face each other. A hinge 17 is formed at the upper end of the anode 4 side. Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the lid 9 can be closed with the axis perpendicular to the electrophoresis direction as the axis.

During the electrophoresis, the water vapor generated from the electrophoresis buffer 12 is applied to the inner surface of the lid 9 (the surface facing the bottom of the electrophoresis tank 1).
When the lid 9 is flipped up, water drops hang down along the lid 9. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, since the end of the lid 9 on the anode 4 side protrudes outward beyond the side surface of the electrophoresis tank 1, when the lid 9 is flipped up, water droplets leak out of the electrophoresis tank 1. Sometimes. In order to prevent water leakage outside the electrophoresis tank 1, it is necessary to devise the structure of the lid 9 or the position of the hinge.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an embodiment for collecting water droplets in the electrophoresis tank 1, and the broken line indicates the inflow trajectory of the water droplets. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the hinge 1 is located at a position where one side surface of the electrophoresis tank 1 and the upper end of the electrophoresis tank 1 intersect.
8 are installed. Therefore, when the lid 9 is flipped up,
Water droplets hang down along the lid 9 and flow into the electrophoresis tank 1 at the position of the hinge 18.

The mode for collecting water droplets in the electrophoresis tank 1 is not limited to the one shown in FIG. 3, but a water receiver or a water receiver for receiving water drops on the inner surface of the lid and dropping them into the electrophoresis tank 1 is collected. Water dripping can also be prevented by providing a reservoir (water reservoir) or the like for performing the operation. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a mode in which a water reservoir 19 is provided on the inner surface of the lid 9, and a broken line indicates the inflow trajectory of a water droplet. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the position of the hinge 17 is not particularly limited, and when the lid 9 is flipped up,
The water drops hang down along the lid 9 and are collected in the water reservoir 19.

Another embodiment of the present invention is an electrophoresis apparatus in which energization is controlled by opening and closing a lid of an electrophoresis tank fixed by a hinge. This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A is a schematic view of the lid 9 of the electrophoresis tank and the electrophoresis tank 1 fixed by a hinge,
A terminal is arranged at any position of a facing portion (shown by a thick solid line in the figure) where the electrophoresis tank 1 and the lid 9 can come into contact with each other. FIGS. 5B and 5C show typical terminals.

FIG. 5 (b) is a view showing a system in which male and female terminals are fitted. When the lid 9 is closed, the male pin 20 is closed.
Is a female pin receiver 2 formed by a pair of leaf springs.
1 and both terminals come into contact and conduct electricity.

FIG. 5 (c) is a view showing a system in which terminals composed of surfaces come into contact with each other. One planar terminal 22 is provided with a spring as shown in FIG. Therefore, contact with the other planar terminal 23 is guaranteed. These pairs of terminals are required for each of the cathode and anode. The shape of the terminal is not limited to these, but may be anything that can form a contact state.

[0023]

According to the electrophoresis apparatus of the present invention, not only the operability is improved, but also the water vapor condensed during the electrophoresis can be prevented from leaking out of the electrophoresis tank. This makes it possible to minimize water wetting in the electrophoretic environment. Also, no extra space is required in the experimental workbench, and the opening and closing operation of the lid facilitates installation of a power supply safety device.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to embodiments. Example 1 Recovery of dew water formed on the inner surface of the lid of the electrophoresis tank (I) A hinge was provided in the electrophoresis tank, the lid was fixed, and a device as shown in FIG. Was examined. The time required for the formation of the dew condensation water varies depending on the size and voltage of the electrophoresis tank, but the dew condensation water that normally drip in one hour was formed on the inner surface of the lid. As the angle of the lid increased, the dew water gradually moved to the hinge side of the lid, gathered and dropped into the electrophoresis tank. It was found that the dew water could be effectively collected in the electrophoresis tank.

Example 2 Recovery of dew water formed on the inner surface of the lid of the electrophoresis tank (II) A hinge was provided in the electrophoresis tank, the lid was fixed, and an apparatus as shown in FIG. 4 was made. The trajectory of the dew condensation water was examined. The time required for the formation of the dew condensation water varies depending on the size and voltage of the electrophoresis tank, but the dew condensation water that normally drip in one hour was formed on the inner surface of the lid. As the angle of the lid increased, the condensed water gradually moved to the hinge side of the lid, gathered and moved to the sump. It was found that the dew water can be effectively collected in a water reservoir installed on the inner surface of the lid.

Example 3 Effect of Power Switch Associated with Opening and Closing of Lid An apparatus shown in FIG. 5 was manufactured, and the operation of the power switch associated with opening and closing of the lid was examined. It was found that both the fitting type and the contact type responded to a slight opening / closing angle of the lid and functioned as a switch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of an electrophoresis apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a mode in which a lid 9 is fixed to the electrophoresis tank 1 by a hinge.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment for collecting water droplets in the electrophoresis tank 1.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an embodiment in which a water reservoir 19 is provided on the inner surface of the lid 9;

5A and 5B are diagrams showing a mode in which energization is controlled by opening and closing a lid 9; FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an installation position of an electrophoresis tank 1 and electrode terminals; FIG. FIG. 3C is a view showing a contact electrode terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrophoresis tank 3 Negative electrode 4 Positive electrode 7 Cathode terminal 8 Anode terminal 9 Lid 15 DC power supply 17, 18 Hinge

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electrophoresis apparatus having a lid that can be opened and closed by a hinge whose fulcrum is located on one of the side faces of the electrophoresis tank or on a pair of opposed side faces. 2. The electrophoresis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact between an electrode terminal connected to an electrode provided in the electrophoresis tank and a power supply for applying a DC voltage to the electrode is controlled by opening and closing a lid.