JPH1151746A - Liquid face and interface position detector and partial liquid processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically and precisely detect the liquid face and interface of a solution phase by detecting the liquid face position and interface position from the image of the solution phase composed of two kinds of incompatible solution. SOLUTION: A sample bottle (sample) storing a solution phase composed of two kinds of layer-separated incompatible solution is mounted to be picked up by a camera 1, and image data are transmitted to a sensor body 2 through a transmitting and receiving management part 21. The liquid face and interface position detection part 22 of a body 2 finds the liquid face and interface position coordinate of a sample on the basis of the image data and partial liquid image file registered on the file registration part 42 of a computer 4 and transmits to a reliability judgement part 43 through transmitting and receiving management parts 21, 41. A judgement part 43 judges that the data are reliable at the time when the coordinate value of the liquid and interface repeats the prescribed number of times alone in a prescribed range. Pixel numbers corresponding to the liquid face and interface position coordinate are converted into pulse numbers by a pixel and pulse conversion part 44, and they are transmitted to a liquid extraction device 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid surface / interface position detecting device for detecting a liquid surface position and an interface position of a solution phase composed of two kinds of incompatible solutions separated by a layer, and an apparatus for detecting the liquid surface / interface position. The present invention relates to a liquid separation apparatus for separating a solution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a liquid separation treatment for separating each solution from a solution phase composed of two types of incompatible solutions separated by a layer has been carried out by, for example, a method of separating a specific compound from a reaction solution obtained by an organic synthesis reaction. This is often performed in an extraction process for separating, for example, and a separating funnel has been often used for such a separating process.

When a liquid separation process is performed using this liquid separation funnel, an operator visually checks the separated liquid phase and confirms the liquid surface and the interface between the two liquid layers, and then confirms the confirmed liquid surface and interface. Based on the above, one solution in the solution phase is taken out of the separating funnel, and the other solution remaining in the separating funnel is taken out to another container as needed, thereby separating both solutions.

[0004]

When each solution is separated from the solution phase composed of two incompatible solutions separated by a layer using a separating funnel, the liquid surface position of the solution phase and the Confirmation of the interface position and separation operation of each solution were performed by the operator himself.

[0005] Therefore, in the conventional liquid separation process using the separation funnel, the separation operation itself is performed by the operator himself. Therefore, in order to perform the separation operation accurately, the operator is accustomed to the operation of the separation funnel. There is a need. In other words, if you are not accustomed to the operation of the separatory funnel, it is difficult to confirm the interface accurately if the color of each solution in the solution phase is slightly different. There is a possibility that separation cannot be performed.

In addition, the separation funnel has a problem that it is difficult to use in a conventional apparatus for automatically performing an organic synthesis reaction because the operation is manual, and it is difficult to automate the organic synthesis reaction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to detect the liquid surface position and the interface position of a solution phase composed of two kinds of incompatible solutions separated in layers. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid separating apparatus which automatically performs the operation of extracting the solution based on the detection results of the liquid surface position and the interface position.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid level / interface position detecting apparatus which reads, as an image, a solution phase composed of two types of incompatible solutions separated into layers. It is characterized by comprising reading means and position detecting means for detecting the liquid surface position and the interface position of the solution phase from the read image.

According to the arrangement, the position detecting means detects the liquid surface position and the interface position of the solution phase from the image read in a state where the solution phase is separated into upper and lower layers. Therefore, it is possible to automatically detect the liquid level position and the interface position.

As described above, the position of the liquid surface and the position of the interface can be automatically detected by the position detecting means from the image of the solution phase read by the reading means. , Can be suitably used. This makes it possible to completely automate an apparatus for automatically performing an organic synthesis reaction.

In order to detect the liquid level position and the interface position by the position detecting means, for example, a liquid level / interface position detecting device according to claim 2 can be mentioned. In other words, in order to achieve the above object, the liquid level / interface position detecting device according to claim 2 is arranged so that, in addition to the configuration according to claim 1, the position detecting means is configured to use two types of incompatible solutions separated in layers. An image pattern registration unit for registering a plurality of types of image patterns representing the liquid surface position and the interface position of the solution phase, and the liquid surface position and the interface position shown in the image read by the reading unit, to the image pattern registration unit It is characterized by comprising a position calculation unit that approximates from the registered image patterns and obtains based on the approximated value.

Thus, the liquid level position and the interface position of the solution phase are approximated using the image pattern registered in advance, and then the accurate liquid level position and the interface position are detected from the approximate values. In addition, the position can be detected quickly and accurately.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid surface / interface position detecting apparatus according to the first or second aspect, further comprising a solution comprising two kinds of incompatible solutions separated in layers. The phase is housed in a transparent container, and a tape of uniform width crossing the liquid surface and interface of the solution phase is provided in the height direction of the container, and the reading means places the tape on the back side of the container. In the arrangement, the solution stored in the container is read as an image.

According to the above construction, in addition to the function of the first or second aspect, the tape disposed on the back side of the container is read by the reading means in a state where the solution phase stored in the container is transmitted. At this time, since the tape is read through two layers of solution, the tape width in each layer looks different due to the difference in the refractive index of each solution.

As described above, if the position of the liquid surface and the position of the interface are detected by utilizing the difference in the refractive index of the solution,
In particular, when the interface position is difficult to detect due to a difference in color, for example, when the colors of the solutions separated into two layers are almost the same, the detection is reliably performed, and this is a more effective detection method.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid separating apparatus, comprising: a reading means for reading, as an image, a solution phase composed of two types of incompatible solutions separated into layers; A position detecting means for detecting the liquid surface position and the interface position of the solution phase, a solution for obtaining the amount of each solution in the upper and lower layers based on the detection result by the detecting means, and extracting one or both of the solutions in the upper and lower layers And a removing means.

According to the above arrangement, the position detecting means detects the liquid surface position and the interface position from the image of the solution phase composed of two incompatible solutions separated by layer. In addition, the detection operation of the liquid level position and the interface position can be automatically performed.

The solution extracting means calculates the amount of each solution in the upper and lower layers based on the result of the position detecting means, that is, from the liquid surface position and the interface position detected by the position detecting means. Since one or both of the solutions is withdrawn, the solution withdrawal can be automated.

As described above, the position of the liquid surface and the position of the interface are automatically detected by the position detecting means from the image of the solution phase read by the reading means, and based on the detection result of the position detecting means, Since each solution in the phase can be automatically extracted, it can be suitably used in an apparatus for automatically performing an organic synthesis reaction. This makes it possible to completely automate an apparatus for automatically performing an organic synthesis reaction.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The liquid separation apparatus according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
d device) It is composed of a camera 1, a sensor main body 2, a liquid extracting device 3 as a solution extracting means, and a computer 4. In addition, the CCD camera 1, the sensor body 2, the computer 4
Constitutes a liquid level / interface position detecting device. Further, this liquid separation apparatus is used in an automatic synthesis experiment system using a robot.

The CCD camera 1 is provided with a jack 6 at one end of an inspection table 5 arranged in a synthesis experiment automation system.
Is placed via. That is, the CCD camera 1
Is a direction perpendicular to the inspection table 5 by the jack 6,
That is, it can be moved up and down. Thus, the CCD camera 1 can accurately read the observation target at an appropriate position.

On the other end of the inspection table 5, a fluorescent plate 8 is mounted vertically to the inspection table 5, and the fluorescent plate 8 and C
A sample bottle 7 is placed between the camera 1 and the CD camera 1.
That is, the CCD camera 1 reads the sample bottle 7 illuminated from the rear side by the fluorescent plate 8 as an image to be observed.

The sample bottle 7 is composed of a 100 cc sample tube, and is composed of two insoluble solutions A separated in layers.
-The solution phase consisting of B is stored. That is, the sample bottle 7 contains two types of solutions A and B in a state of being separated into two layers. The sample bottle 7 has a substantially cylindrical shape so that the robot can easily carry it.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the number of pixels of the CCD camera 1 is 500 pixels in the X-axis direction and 4 pixels in the Y-axis direction.
When the sample bottle 7 is read, the surface 7a of the solution A of the upper layer and the interface 7b formed between the solution A of the upper layer and the solution B of the lower layer are represented by coordinates. To represent. Here, since the sample bottle 7 is cylindrical, the bottom area is considered to be constant, and the liquid surface 7a and the interface 7
It is assumed that the coordinate with b represents the liquid surface and the coordinate position of the interface only by the height. Thus, if the coordinates of the liquid surface 7a and the interface 7b are known, the capacities of the solution A and the solution B can be easily calculated. By the way, the Y coordinate of the liquid surface 7a is y1,
The Y coordinate of the interface 7b is represented by y2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the CCD camera 1 is connected to the sensor main body 2 by a camera code 9, and transfers a read image to the sensor main body 2. The details of the sensor main body 2 will be described later.

The sensor body 2 includes a monitor cable 10
Is connected to the monitor 11. This monitor 11
Is configured to display an image read by the CCD camera 1 in real time.

As the monitor 11, a 9-inch black and white monitor (model OP-26171 manufactured by Keyence Corporation) is used, and an image read by the CCD camera 1 is displayed as a black and white image.

The sensor body 2 is provided with a first RS-232
It is connected to the computer 4 by a C cable 12, and transmits data read by the CCD camera 1 to the computer 4. The details of the computer 4 will be described later.

The computer 4 is connected to the liquid extracting device 3 via a second RS-232C cable 13, and transmits data subjected to predetermined processing.

The liquid extracting device 3 includes a syringe pump 1
4. A stepping motor (not shown) for driving a needle 16 described later up and down, and a driving motor (not shown) for moving the needle 16 back and forth are provided. Drive control is performed based on data from the computer.

A needle 16 is connected to the syringe pump 14 via a needle support 15 so as to suck up a solution from the needle 16 inserted into the sample bottle 7. Then, the needle 16 is driven by the drive motor through the needle support 15 in the directions indicated by the arrows XY.
That is, the needle 16 is moved in the front-rear direction, and the needle 16 is moved in the arrow ZW direction, that is, up and down by the stepping motor. The needle 16 is
It is driven based on data from the computer 4. The operation of the needle 16 will be described later.

Here, a state is shown in which the solution A is first extracted from the solutions A and B in the sample bottle 7. The needle 16 withdraws the solution A from the sample bottle 7 and has a capacity of 30 c.
Then, the solution A is discharged to the sample tube 17 of FIG. When the solution B is withdrawn, the needle 16 is lowered to the bottom of the sample bottle 7, but the magnetic stirrer 18 used for stirring at this time does not disturb.
The magnetic stirrer 18 is moved and fixed to the side of the sample bottle 7 by a magnet 19 disposed on the side of the sample bottle 7.

Here, the sensor main body 2 and the computer 4 will be described below.

The sensor body 2 is, as shown in FIG.
It comprises a transmission / reception management unit 21 and a liquid level / interface position detection unit 22. The computer 4 includes a transmission / reception management unit 41, a file registration unit 42, a reliability determination unit 43,
And a pixel / pulse converter 44. From the above, the sensor body 2 and the computer 4
It constitutes a position detecting means for detecting the position of the liquid surface and the interface of the solution phase comprising two types of incompatible solutions separated by layer.

First, the sensor main body 2 will be described. The transmission / reception management section 21 receives image data from the CCD camera 1 and transmits the image data to the monitor 11, while the liquid level / interface position detection section ( The position is transmitted to the position calculation unit 22.

The transmission / reception management unit 21 receives the liquid separation image file (image pattern) from the computer 4 and transmits the liquid separation image file to the liquid surface / interface position detecting unit 22, The data transmitted from the position detection unit 22 is transmitted and received by the transmission / reception management unit 41 of the computer 4.
To be sent to. Here, the transmission / reception management unit 4
The data transmitted to 1 is data indicating liquid level / interface coordinates in pixel units.

The liquid level / interface position detecting section 22 samples the sample of the CCD camera 1 based on the image data read by the CCD camera 1 transmitted from the transmission / reception managing section 21 and the liquid separation image file. The liquid surface position and the interface position coordinates in the bottle 7 are obtained, and the liquid surface position and the interface position coordinates are transmitted to the transmission / reception management unit 21 again. The liquid level / interface position detecting unit 22
Will be described later in detail.

Next, the computer 4 will be described. The transmission / reception management section 41 reads the liquid separation image file registered in the file registration section 42 and stores the separated liquid image file in the transmission / reception management section of the sensor body 2. 2
1, while transmitting a signal requesting the liquid level / interface coordinates to the transmission / reception management unit 21 of the sensor main body 2. When detecting the liquid surface / interface coordinates of the image data in one sample bottle 7, the transmission / reception management unit 41 requests the liquid surface / interface coordinates a plurality of times. The number of requests can be set arbitrarily.

The transmission / reception management unit 41 transmits the data of the liquid surface / interface coordinates transmitted from the transmission / reception management unit 21 of the sensor body 2 to the reliability determination unit 43.

The reliability determination unit 43 determines whether the liquid level / interface coordinates transmitted from the sensor body 2 to the transmission / reception management unit 41 are reliable, and outputs a signal indicating the reliability again to the transmission / reception management unit 41. 41. The reliability indicates a result of determining whether or not the coordinates of the liquid surface / interface detected by the sensor main body 2 are appropriate values in the actual sample bottle 7.

Further, the transmission / reception management unit 41 requests the liquid in the same sample bottle 7 a plurality of times for the liquid surface / interface coordinates. In response to this request, coordinate data of the liquid surface / interface for the same sample bottle 7 for a plurality of times is input to the reliability determination unit 43.

When the returned coordinate values of the liquid surface and the interface for the solution in the same sample bottle 7 are repeated a predetermined number of times within a predetermined range, the reliability determination unit 43 determines that data. The signal is determined to be reliable, and the signal is output. The above range and number of times can be set arbitrarily.

Therefore, if the signal of the reliability from the reliability determination section 43 indicates that the signal is reliable, the transmission / reception management section 41 checks the liquid level / interface transmitted from the transmission / reception management section 21. Data (pixel data) corresponding to the number of pixels corresponding to the coordinates is transmitted to the pixel / pulse conversion unit 44.

The pixel / pulse converter 44 converts the transmitted pixel data into the number of pulses of a stepping motor for moving the needle 16 up and down, and data (pulse data) corresponding to the number of pulses.
Is transmitted to the transmission / reception management unit 41.

Then, the transmission / reception management unit 41 determines whether the pixel /
The pulse data transmitted from the pulse converter 44 is transmitted to the liquid extracting device 3.

Here, the detection processing of the liquid level / interface position will be specifically described. First, the file registration unit 42 will be described in detail below. As shown in FIG. 2, the file registration unit 42 stores, as a liquid separation image file,
A liquid surface area De of an area near the liquid surface 7a of the sample bottle 7;
A plurality of types of interface regions Dk in the region near the interface 7b are registered. That is, the image of the area near the liquid surface and the image of the area near the interface are registered in the file registration unit 42.

The data corresponding to the liquid surface area De and the interface area Dk include the coordinate value y1 of the liquid surface and the coordinate value y2 of the interface of the two types of solutions stored in the sample bottles having the same size as the sample bottle 7. , And the total amount of the solution, the ratio of each solution when separated, the color of each solution, and the like.

The file registration section 42 stores about 16
0 kinds of liquid separation image files are stored, and these are sequentially transmitted to the sensor main body 2 via the transmission / reception management unit 41.

The number of registered liquid separation image files in the file registration section 42 may be at least two, that is, one for each of the data of the liquid surface area De and the data of the interface area Dk. Further, if the number of registered image files is too large, it is not preferable because the time required for the liquid level / interface position detection processing becomes long. Therefore, the number of separation image files to be registered in the file registration unit 42 may be appropriately set according to the type of the synthesis reaction, that is, the type of the solution to be separated, the processing time, and the like.

Next, the liquid level / interface position detecting section 22 will be described in detail. The liquid level / interface position detection unit 22 detects the liquid level coordinates and the interface coordinates using separate liquid separation image files. However, for the sake of convenience, if the liquid level coordinates and the interface coordinates apply to both the liquid level coordinates and the interface coordinates, A description will be given with reference to sample coordinate values without specifying surface coordinates and interface coordinates.

The liquid level / interface position detecting section 22 detects the sample coordinate value of the solution actually stored in the sample bottle 7 based on the liquid separation image file registered in the file registering section 42. . That is, the sensor main body 2 searches for sample coordinate values based on the liquid separation image file.

At this time, if the liquid separation image file is close to the sample coordinate value, that is, within a predetermined range of the liquid surface area or the interface area set in advance, the coordinate value y1 or y2 included in the liquid separation image file is used. The sample coordinate values are accurately calculated based on the calculated values.

If the liquid separation image file is out of the sample coordinate value, that is, if the liquid separation image file is out of the predetermined range of the liquid surface area or the interface area set in advance, a scattered numerical value is calculated.

Then, the liquid level / interface position detecting section 22 transmits the detected value to the computer 4 via the transmission / reception managing section 21.

The above operation is repeated for one sample bottle 7 a plurality of times, and the detected data is transmitted to the computer 4 each time.

The flow of the liquid separation processing in the liquid separation processing apparatus having the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5.

First, the process of detecting the liquid level / interface coordinates will be described. The sample bottle 7 containing the solution phases separated into two layers read by the CCD camera 1 is
Called the target sample.

First, a robot (not shown) sets a target sample in front of the sensor body 2 (S1).

Then, the computer 4 transmits the liquid separation image file registered in advance to the sensor body 2 (S
2).

Subsequently, the sensor main body 2 searches for the liquid level / interface of the target sample (S3). That is, the sensor body 2 searches the liquid level / interface pattern of the target sample based on the received image file.

Next, the computer 4 requests the coordinate values of the liquid surface / interface of the target sample (S4). Here, it is assumed that the coordinate values of the liquid surface / interface are requested N (N> 1) times for one target sample.

Then, the sensor main body 2 returns the coordinate values of the liquid surface / interface to the computer 4 (S5). That is, the sensor main unit 2 sends the position of the liquid surface and the interface of the target sample to the computer 4 as data expressed by coordinate values on the monitor 11 connected to the sensor main unit 2 in accordance with the request from the computer 4 in S5. Send back. At this time, the number of times returned from the sensor body 2 to the computer 4 is the same as the number N of requests made by the computer 4 to the sensor body 2.

Next, the computer 4 determines that the number n (n> 1) of returning coordinate values of the liquid surface / interface from the sensor body 2 to the same target sample is a predetermined number, ie, N
It is determined whether (N> 1) has been performed (S6). If n has not reached N, the process proceeds to S4.

On the other hand, if n has reached N in S6, the computer 4 determines whether or not all of the returned N coordinate values are within a preset value range (S6).
7).

At S7, if all of the N coordinate values are within the preset range, it is determined that the reproducibility is good and the coordinate values returned to the computer 4 are reliable. Based on the result, a liquid removal process is performed (S8). Here, the above coordinate values are values obtained by searching based on the liquid separation image file sent from the computer 4, and are the values detected by the liquid surface / interface position detecting unit 22 of the sensor main body 2. It is. Note that the liquid removal processing will be described later.

On the other hand, in S7, all of the N coordinate values must be within the preset range, and it is determined that the reproducibility is not good. That is, it is determined that the liquid separation image file for the target file is not appropriate.

As a result, the computer 4 determines whether or not another liquid separation image file has been registered (S 4).
9). Here, if it is determined that another liquid separation image file is registered, the process proceeds to S3, and the liquid surface / interface of the target sample is searched based on the liquid separation image file.

If it is determined in S9 that another liquid separation image file has not been registered, the liquid removal is stopped (S10). That is, if a value without reproducibility is obtained by any of the registered separation image files,
Assuming that the interface is unclear, the computer 4 instructs the liquid extracting device 3 to stop the liquid extracting device 3 so as not to perform the liquid extracting operation.

Next, the flow of the liquid removal process will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the y coordinate of the liquid surface and the interface of the target sample is obtained from the coordinate values with good reproducibility obtained in S7 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 (S11). That is, the computer 4 sets the coordinate value having the larger value as the y coordinate (y1) of the liquid surface and sets the other coordinate value as the y coordinate (y) of the interface.
2)

Next, the liquid amount of each layer is determined from the liquid surface coordinate value y1 and the interface coordinate value y2 (S12).

Subsequently, each y-coordinate value is converted into a pulse number, and this signal is transmitted to a stepping motor for moving the needle 16 up and down (S13).

Then, the liquid extracting device 3 extracts the solution in the container (sample bottle 7) (S14). That is, the stepping motor provided in the liquid extracting device 3 drives the needle 16 according to the transmitted pulse number, extracts the upper layer or the lower layer in the sample bottle 7, and transfers it to another container.

The detection of the liquid level and the interface position of the solution phase by the above-described image processing, particularly the detection of the interface position, is mainly performed by searching for a difference in the color of each solution based on a separation image sample. However, for example, when there is almost no color difference between the solutions in the solution phase, there is a possibility that the interface cannot be detected accurately.

Then, utilizing the difference in the refractive index of the solution,
As a method for detecting the interface of the solution phase, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a colored tape 51 having a uniform width perpendicular to the liquid surface 7a and the interface 7b of the sample bottle 7 is provided on the fluorescent plate 8, There is a method in which the liquid surface 7a and the interface 7b can be confirmed by the difference in the refractive index when the colored tape 51 is viewed through the tape 7.

In FIG. 6, since the refractive index of the solution A in the sample bottle 7 is smaller than the refractive index of air, the width of the colored tape 51 seen through the solution A is narrower than the actual one. On the other hand, since the refractive index of the solution B in the sample bottle 7 is larger than the refractive index of air, the width of the colored tape 51 seen through the solution B is wider than the actual one.

As described above, if the liquid surface and the interface are detected based on the difference in the refractive index of the solution in the solution phase, it is effective in the case where the color of each solution in the solution phase hardly differs. It turns out that it is.

The colored tape 51 is not particularly limited as long as it is colored with a color different from the color of the solution stored in the sample bottle 7. Further, the colored tape 51 does not need to be disposed perpendicularly to the liquid surface 7a and the interface 7b of the solution phase in the sample bottle 7, and the liquid surfaces 7a. Interface 7b
It is sufficient if they are arranged so as to intersect.

In the liquid separation processing apparatus having the above configuration, the liquid surface 7a and the interface 7b in the sample bottle 7 can be automatically detected from the solution phase image read by the CCD camera 1, so that the organic synthesis It can be suitably used in an apparatus for automatically performing a reaction. This makes it possible to completely automate an apparatus for automatically performing an organic synthesis reaction.

The liquid surface 7a and the interface 7b of the solution phase stored in the sample bottle 7 are approximated from the liquid separation image file registered in the file registration section 42, and based on the approximated value, Since the position is determined, the position can be detected quickly and accurately.

Further, the liquid extracting device 3 of the liquid separating apparatus having the above-described configuration calculates the amount of each solution of the upper and lower layers in the solution phase in the sample bottle 7 from the detected liquid level 7a and the interface 7b.
Since each solution in the upper and lower layers is extracted, the extraction of the solution can be automated.

In the description of the above embodiment, the liquid level 7a
From the interface 7b, the volumes of the solution A and the solution B in the sample bottle 7 are calculated.
Was calculated, and each solution was extracted. In this case, it is necessary that the shape and size of the sample bottle 7 are always constant.

As a method for liquid separation using the above liquid separation processing apparatus, there is a method for extracting the solution by determining the volumes of the solution A and the solution B in the sample bottle 7 from the liquid surface 7a and the interface 7b. Another method is to extract the solution in the container based on height information of the liquid surface 7a and the interface 7b from the bottom surface of the container.

In this method, the driving of the needle 16 is controlled based on the height information of the liquid surface 7a and the interface 7b of the solution phase of the sample bottle 7 to extract the solution. At this time, the coordinate values of the liquid surface 7a and the interface 7b are always detected, and the coordinate values are transmitted to the liquid extracting device 3. When the coordinate value of the liquid surface 7a reaches a predetermined range of the coordinate value of the interface 7b, the withdrawal of the upper layer solution A in the sample bottle 7 is interrupted.

In this manner, the solutions A and B in the sample bottle 7 are separated from the liquid surface 7a of the solution phase of the sample bottle 7 and the height information of the interface 7b.

According to the above method, the shape of the sample bottle 7 does not need to be limited, and the liquid separation processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied in a wide range.

As the CCD camera 1 used in the present embodiment, a model CV-C1 manufactured by Keyence Corporation was used.
The sensor body 2 is a model C manufactured by Keyence Corporation.
V-100 was used. Further, the control program of the liquid separation processing device is, for example, WI as an OS (operating system).
It was created to run on NDWS® 95. Therefore, as the computer 4, WINDOW
A computer on which S (registered trademark) 95 operates may be used. However, the present invention is not limited to the above OS, and can be applied to other OSs.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to various configurations in the present embodiment.

[0090]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid level / interface position detecting apparatus which reads a solution phase composed of two types of insoluble solutions separated into layers as an image,
And a position detecting means for detecting a liquid surface position and an interface position of the solution phase from the read image.

Therefore, the position detecting means detects the liquid surface position and the interface position of the solution phase from the image read in a state where the solution phase is separated into upper and lower layers.
The operation of detecting the liquid surface position and the interface position can be automated.

Further, since the liquid level position and the interface position can be automatically detected by the position detecting means from the solution phase image read by the reading means, it is suitable for an apparatus for automatically performing an organic synthesis reaction. Can be used.

[0093] Thus, there is an effect that the apparatus for automatically performing the organic synthesis reaction can be completely automated.

In order to detect the liquid level position and the interface position by the position detecting means, for example, the liquid level and the interface of the second aspect of the present invention are used.
An interface position detecting device may be used.

That is, according to the liquid level / interface position detecting device of the second aspect of the present invention, as described above, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the position detecting means is provided by using two types of incompatible solutions separated in layers. An image pattern registration unit for registering a plurality of types of image patterns representing the liquid surface position and the interface position of the solution phase, and the liquid surface position and the interface position shown in the image read by the reading unit, to the image pattern registration unit A position calculation unit that approximates from the registered image patterns and obtains based on this approximated value.

Thus, the liquid level and the interface of the solution phase are approximated using the image pattern registered in advance, and then the accurate liquid level position and the interface position are detected from the approximate values. Can be performed quickly and accurately.

The liquid level / interface position detecting device according to the third aspect of the present invention is, as described above, in addition to the configuration according to the first or second aspect,
A solution phase composed of two incompatible solutions separated by layer separation is housed in a transparent container, and a tape having a uniform width crossing the interface of the solution phase is provided in the height direction of the container, The reading means is configured to read the solution stored in the container as an image in a state where the tape is arranged on the back side of the container.

Therefore, if the liquid surface position and the interface position are detected by utilizing the difference in the refractive index of the solution, in addition to the effects of the first and second aspects, the two layers are separated. In the case where it is difficult to detect the interface position due to a difference in color, for example, when the colors of the solutions are almost the same, it is possible to provide an effective detection method.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid separating apparatus, comprising: a reading means for reading as an image a solution phase composed of two types of incompatible solutions separated into layers; Position detecting means for detecting the liquid surface position and the interface position of the liquid, and the amount of each solution in the upper and lower layers is determined based on the detection result by the detecting means, and one or both of the solutions in the upper and lower layers are withdrawn. Means.

Therefore, from the image of the solution phase read by the reading means, the liquid surface position and the interface position of the solution phase are automatically detected by the position detecting means, and the solution is detected based on the detection result of the position detecting means. Since each solution can be automatically extracted from the phase, it can be suitably used in an apparatus for automatically performing an organic synthesis reaction. Thereby, there is an effect that a device for automatically performing an organic synthesis reaction can be completely automated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system using a liquid separation apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a pixel arrangement of a sample bottle displayed on a monitor provided in the system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the liquid separating apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of a liquid separation process performed by the liquid separation apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a liquid removal process in the liquid separation process shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram in the case where the liquid surface and the interface of the solution phase are detected based on the difference in the refractive index of each solution in the liquid separation processing apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 CCD camera (reading means) 2 Sensor body (position detecting means) 3 Liquid extracting device (solution extracting means) 4 Computer (position detecting means) 7 Sample bottle (container) 22 Liquid level / interface position detecting section (position calculating section) 42 File registration unit (image pattern registration unit) 51 Colored tape (tape)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for reading, as an image, a solution phase composed of two kinds of incompatible solutions separated by a layer, and a position detecting means for detecting a liquid surface position and an interface position of the solution phase from the read image. A liquid level / interface position detecting device, comprising: 2. An image pattern registration unit for registering a plurality of types of image patterns representing a liquid surface position and an interface position of a solution phase comprising two kinds of incompatible solutions separated in layers, and said reading means. A liquid level position and an interface position shown in the image read by the means are approximated from among the image patterns registered in the image pattern registering section, and a position calculating section is obtained based on the approximated value. 2. The liquid level / interface position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the solution phase comprising the two insoluble solutions separated in layers is contained in a transparent container, and a tape having a uniform width intersecting the liquid surface and interface of the solution phase is formed in the container. The liquid surface / interface according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reading unit reads the solution phase of the container as an image in a state where the tape is disposed on the back side of the container. Position detection device. 4. A reading means for reading, as an image, a solution phase composed of two kinds of incompatible solutions separated by a layer, a position detecting means for detecting a liquid surface position and an interface position of the solution phase from the read image, A liquid separating apparatus comprising: a solution extracting means for determining the amount of each solution in the upper and lower layers based on the detection result by the detecting means, and extracting one or both of the solutions in the upper and lower layers.