JPS62274263A - Automatic stop sticking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the amount of sample liquid to be supplied to spot sticking constant at any time by inserting the lower end of a spot sticking chip into the sample liquid to specific depth at a suction position based on the lower end position of the chip detected by an up-down position detecting means and sucking the sample liquid, and applying the liquid to a sample layer at a discharge position. CONSTITUTION:A chip moving means 80 positions a spot sticking arm 55 at a position detecting position and while a chip up/down position control means 60 moves down the arm 55 to fit the spot sticking chip 53 atop, an up/down position detecting means 65 reads the lower end position. Then, the means 60 moves up the arm 55, which is positioned at the suction position by the means 80. A liquid level detection sensor 100 detects the up/down position of the liquid level in a sample container 52. The means 60 inserts the lower end of the spot sticking chip 53 into the sample liquid to the specific depth and the sample liquid is sucked through a sucking and discharging means 90. Then, the arm 55 is moved to a spot sticking position to apply the liquid to the reagent layer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of the Invention) The present invention is a technique for spotting a certain amount of a sample liquid onto a chemical analysis slide (hereinafter simply referred to as a slide) having a predetermined reagent layer. The present invention relates to a feeding device, and more particularly to a device that automatically performs spot feeding.

(Prior Art) Qualitative or quantitative analysis of specific chemical components in a liquid sample is a commonly performed operation in various industrial fields. In particular, quantitative analysis of chemical components or formed components in biological body fluids such as blood and urine is extremely important in the biochemical and clinical fields.

In recent years, dry-type slides have been developed that allow quantitative analysis of specific chemical components or organic components contained in a sample solution simply by applying small droplets of the sample solution.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 53-21677, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-164356
(number, etc.) has been put into practical use. Using these slides allows sample liquid analysis to be performed more easily and quickly than conventional wet analysis methods, so their use is particularly important in medical institutions, laboratories, etc. that need to analyze a large number of samples. This is preferable.

To analyze chemical components in a sample solution using such a slide, the sample solution is weighed and deposited onto the slide, and then kept at constant temperature (incubation) for a predetermined period of time in an incubator. The slide is subjected to a color reaction (gS) (chromogenic reaction), and then the slide is irradiated with measurement irradiation light containing a wavelength pre-selected based on the combination of sample components and reagents contained in the reagent layer of the slide to measure its reflected optical density. This is used to quantitatively analyze the chemical components, etc. mentioned above.

When performing such an analysis, a predetermined amount of the sample liquid must be precisely measured and applied to the reagent layer of the slide. This is because if the amount of the sample liquid differs from the predetermined amount, the reflected optical density will differ and the analysis accuracy will also decrease.

For this reason, various pipettes and the like have been devised so that when spotting and supplying a sample liquid, a predetermined amount can be dispensed correctly.

For example, such a pipette has a tip attached to the tip of the pipette, which aspirates a predetermined amount of sample solution into the tip, and then dispenses this predetermined amount of sample solution onto the reagent layer of the slide. be.

Many of these pipettes use a piston-cylinder mechanism to aspirate a predetermined amount of sample liquid into the tip and discharge it. To aspirate a sample liquid into the tip and discharge it to the reagent layer using such a pipette, first insert the tip tip into the sample liquid, and then use a piston-cylinder mechanism to inject a predetermined amount of sample into the tip. The tip of the tip is positioned on the reagent layer of the slide, and the sample liquid in the tip is spotted and supplied onto the reagent layer using a piston-cylinder mechanism or the like. however,
In this case, when the tip of the tip is inserted into the sample liquid and then pulled out for spotting, the sample liquid adheres to the outer periphery of the tip, and this attached sample liquid is also spotted on the reagent layer. However, there is a problem in that an error occurs in the amount of sample liquid deposited, resulting in a decrease in measurement accuracy.

For this reason, in the past, the sample solution was aspirated into the tip using a pipette, and then the sample solution adhering to the outer periphery of the tip was wiped off before being dispensed spot-on. This method requires a wiping operation, which does not improve work efficiency very much, and when performing automatic spotting, it is difficult to automate this wiping operation.

For this reason, the applicant has developed a system in which, when sucking a sample liquid into the tip, the vertical position of the tip and sample liquid level is controlled so that the insertion opening of the tip of the tip into the sample liquid is always kept constant. Therefore, we proposed an automatic spotting device that makes it possible to always keep the amount of sample deposited on the outer periphery of the tip constant, and to keep the amount of sample dispensed constant at all times. Here, the above-mentioned tip is replaced each time for reasons such as preventing mixing of sample liquids and from a sanitary point of view, but the dimensional accuracy of this tip is often not very high, and the shape may vary. Different tips may be used, and this poses a problem in that it is difficult to accurately determine the position of the tip attached to the tip of the pipette, and it is difficult to control the insertion amount of the tip.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is capable of accurately detecting the tip position of the tip, accurately controlling the insertion of the tip tip into the sample liquid, and making it possible to precisely control the insertion of the tip tip into the sample liquid. The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic point @ device that can always keep the amount of liquid constant.

(Structure of the Invention) In the automatic spotting device of the present invention, a spotting tip for sucking and holding a sample liquid and spotting it on a reagent table of a chemical analysis slide can be freely attached to and detached from the tip of the suction/discharge means. At the same time, when attached in this way, this dispensing tip is communicated with the suction/discharge means, and the tip is roughly moved up and down by the vertical position control means, and the position is changed by the moving means. At the position detection position, the lower end of the spotting tip attached to the tip is brought into contact with the reference surface by the vertical position control means, and the spotting tip at this time is moved to a detection position, a suction position, and a spotting position. The position of the lower end of the spotting tip is detected by the vertical position detection means, and at the suction position, the lower end of the spotting tip is moved into the sample liquid by the vertical position control means based on the lower end position of the tip detected by the vertical position detecting means. The tip is inserted to a predetermined depth, and the sample liquid is sucked into the chip by the suction/discharge means. At the discharge position, the sample liquid sucked into the chip is sucked into the reagent hole of the chemical analysis slide by the suction/discharge means at the predetermined opening. This feature is characterized by the fact that only one spot is applied.

(Embodiments) Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a chemical analysis apparatus having an automatic point II device 50 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the device 50 attached and viewed from above with the cover plate 16 covering the main body 10 removed. As shown in FIG. 1, this apparatus includes a display section 14 for displaying measurement data during measurement. Although operation keys 15 for operating the display and the like and a magnetic disk insertion section 13 for recording are provided, these are omitted in FIG. 2.

The cartridge 11 stores a plurality of unused chemical analysis slides 1 with weight, and the chemical analysis slides 1 are pushed out backward one by one (in the six directions of arrows in FIG. 2) starting from the lowest slide by a push lever 12. It has become so. An incubator 20 is located on the right side of this cartridge 11, and inside this incubator 20, a plurality of chemical analysis slides 1 are stored and held in line on the right side on the same plane as the lowest chemical analysis slide 1 in the cartridge 11. storage room 2
1.21..., 21 are formed. In front of this incubator 20, a tray 29 for receiving used slides discharged from the storage chamber 21 is disposed.Furthermore, in the lower part of the incubator 20, it is arranged horizontally (arrow A reflective optical mr5i measuring read head (not shown) that is slidable in the direction C) is disposed.

Note that this sliding movement is performed by being driven by, for example, a linear motor on a rail that extends horizontally below the incubator 20, and this rail extends to the bottom surface of the cartridge 11 so that the reading head can It can be slid to a position facing the lower surface, and can face the chemical analysis slide 1 at the bottom of the cartridge. Thereby, the reflection optical I! of the slide 1 stored in each storage chamber 21 of the incubator 20 by the reading head!
In addition to being able to perform @ measurements, it is also possible to perform fog photometry in which the reflected optical density of an unused slide 1 is measured.

This incubator 10 has a built-in heater (not shown), and is capable of maintaining (incubating) the chemical analysis slides 1 held in the storage compartments 21, 21, . . . , 21 at a constant temperature. Chemical analysis slide 1
A dry multilayer film consisting of a support, a reagent layer, and a developing layer are placed in this order in a frame with a circular hole for dropping a liquid sample, and a sample such as urine or blood is placed on this film. A fixed amount is dropped, and this is kept at a constant temperature in the incubator 10 to cause a color reaction.

On the other hand, at the rear of the incubator 20, a transport/insertion means 40 that faces the entrance opening 21a of the storage chamber 21 and is slidable laterally (in the direction of arrow C) is arranged. This sliding movement is caused by the conveyance/insertion means 40 placed on a rail 49 extending laterally.
is driven by, for example, a linear motor, etc., and is used not only for the incubator 20 but also for the cartridge 11.
It is slidable up to a position opposite to (the position indicated by the chain line X in FIG. 2).

Therefore, the chemical analysis slide 1 pushed out from the cartridge 11 by the pushing lever 12 is picked up by the transport/insertion means 40 slid to the position indicated by the chain line X, and transported to a predetermined position. 1 into a predetermined storage chamber 21.

At the rear of the conveyance/insertion means 40, an automatic spotting device 50 having a rotatable spotting arm 55 is disposed as shown by arrow B in FIG. This spotting arm 55 has a spotting tip 53 that can be viewed freely at its tip, and this tip rotates in the direction of arrow B to a position detection position located above the tip holding table 51 having a reference surface. (the position indicated by the chain line symbol M) and the suction position located above the sample container 52 (
The spotting position (indicated by the chain line symbol N) and the spotting position located above the spotting hole 19 formed in the cover plate 16 on the main body 10 (the position indicated by the solid line in the figure) are movable. There is. In each of the above positions, the spotting arm 55 can be moved up and down, and the vertical position control means for controlling the vertical movement of the spotting arm 55 and the moving means for rotating in the direction of arrow B are automatic spotting arms. installed in the mounting device.

The tip holding stand 51 is a stand that holds the dotting tip 53 with its lower end in contact with the reference surface 51a, as shown in FIG. It is fixedly installed. For this reason, the spotting arm 55 is rotated to the position detection position, and is moved downward to change the vertical position of the spotting arm 55 with the spotting tip 53 attached to the tip as shown in the figure to the vertical position. If read with a detection means,
Since the position of the reference surface 51a is known in advance, the position of the lower end of the spotting tip 53 can be accurately known.

On the other hand, below the spotting hole 19, there is a predetermined position for spotting the sample liquid after the cartridge 11 is removed from the cartridge 11 by the conveyance/insertion means 40 and conveyed on the rail 49. The reagent layer of the slide 1 placed at the position indicated by IY is located, and the tip of the spotting tip 53 is located above the reagent layer of the slide 1 at the spotting position. Therefore, at the suction position, a predetermined amount of the sample liquid in the sample container 52 is sucked into the spotting tip 53, and
Next, the spotting arm 55 is rotated in the direction of arrow B to position the spotting tip 53 at the spotting position, and then the slide 1
The sample solution can be dripped onto the reagent layer. After this 1. This slide 1 is inserted into an empty storage chamber 21 of an incubator 20 and incubated, and the optical reflection density at this time is read by a reading head to perform chemical analysis of the sample liquid. Note that a reference white plate 17 is provided between the incubator 20 and the cartridge 11 for correcting photometric errors caused by the reading head.

The operation of the chemical analysis apparatus configured as described above will be briefly explained.

First, the reading head moves to a position facing the bottom surface of the cartridge 11, and fog photometry is performed on the lowest chemical analysis slide 1 among the chemical analysis slides 1 stacked in the cartridge 11. Note that when the reading head moves, it faces the reference white plate 17 to correct photometry errors. When this fog photometry is performed, the chemical analysis slide 1 is pushed out by the pushing lever 12 onto the conveyance/insertion means 40, which has been moved to the position indicated by the chain line X in FIG.
This is retained. The conveyance/insertion means 40 moves to the right on the rail 49 to a position below the spotting position @ (the position indicated by the solid line Y). Next, the automatic dotting @ device 50 is activated, and the dotting tip 53 is attached to the tip of the dotting arm 55 at the position detection position, and the position of the lower end of the dotting tip 53 at this time is read by the vertical position detection means. The spotting arm 55 is moved upward and moved to the suction position with the spotting tip 53 attached to the tip of the bond.

Next, at this suction position, the lower end of the tip is inserted into the sample liquid by a predetermined depth based on the lower end position of the spotting tip 53 read by the vertical position detection means, so that the sample liquid in the sample container 52 is spotted. The slide 1 is sucked into the chip 53, and then the spotting arm 55 is rotated to the spotting position, and in this spotting position, the slide 1 is transported to the position indicated by Y above.
A predetermined amount of the sample liquid in the spotting tip 53 is dispensed onto the reagent layer. In this bond, the conveyance/insertion means 40 is the rail 4
9 in the lateral direction (in the direction of arrow C), the slide 1 is opposed to a predetermined storage chamber 21 of the incubator 20, and the slide 1 is inserted into this storage chamber 21. The slide 1, which is kept at a constant temperature (incubation) in the incubator 20, is irradiated with irradiation light and its reflected optical density is measured by a reading head moved below the storage chamber, and the sample is chemically analyzed. When these measurements are completed, the chemical analysis slide 1 is transferred to the storage chamber 21 by the transport/insertion means 40.
The receiver is then discharged into the tray 29. Thereafter, by repeating the above operations, chemical analysis using a large number of chemical analysis slides can be performed automatically and continuously.

When performing the above measurement, an automatic point is used to automatically drop and supply the sample liquid in the sample container 52 onto the reagent layer of the slide 1! ! An example of the installation@50 will be described in detail below.

This automatic point! ! The configuration of the device 50 is shown in FIG. 4. This device 50 includes a tip vertical position control means 60 for vertically moving the spotting arm 55 and the spotting tip 53, and a vertical position detection device for detecting the vertical position of the spotting arm 55. means 65, container vertical position control means 70 for vertically moving the sample container 52, and tip moving means 80 for rotating the spotting arm 55 and moving the spotting tip 53 between the position detection position, the suction position, and the spotting position. , a suction/discharge means 90 that communicates with the chip 53 and sucks the sample liquid into the chip 53 and discharges the sample liquid from within the chip 53, and a liquid that detects the liquid level position of the sample liquid in the sample container 52. It is composed of a surface detection sensor 100, and the spotting arm 55 constitutes the tip of the suction/discharge means 90.

The chip vertical position control means 60 includes a first pulse motor 61 attached to the main body 10;
The first rotary shaft is connected to the first rotating shaft via a coupling 62.
Drive body 63 and female screw 63 formed in the first drive body 63
and a first driven body 64 having a male thread 64b that engages with the first driven body 64. The first driven body 64 has a recess 64a that fits snugly with the protrusion 10a of the main body 10, as shown in FIG. However, rotation is prevented. Roughly speaking, a rotating shaft 55a of a spotting arm 55 is connected to the upper part of the first driven body 64 so as to be able to freely rotate relative to each other. Therefore, when the first driving body 63 is rotated by the first pulse motor 61, since the first driven body 64 is prevented from rotating, the amount of screw engagement with the first driving body changes, and the first driven body 64 is rotated by the first driven body 61. body 64
is moved up and down, and at this time, the rotating shaft 55a of the spotting arm 55 connected to the first driven body 64 is also moved up and down. Further, the vertical position detection means 6 detects the rotation speed of the first pulse motor 61 based on the number of pulses of the first pulse motor 61 and detects the vertical position of the spotting arm 55.
It is 5.

The container vertical position control means 70 includes a second pulse motor 71 attached to the main body 10;
A second driving body 73 connected to the rotating shaft of the second! via a coupling 72; g! Female thread 7 formed on moving body 73
3a and a second driven body 74 having a male screw 74b that engages with the second driven body 74. The second driven body 74 is a projection 10a of the main body 10, as shown in FIG.
The mounting table 7 has a recessed portion 74a that is loosely fitted with the main body 10, and is movable up and down relative to the main body 10, but is prevented from rotating.
It has 4c. Therefore, when the second driving body 73 is rotated by the second pulse motor 71, since the second driven body 74 is prevented from rotating, the amount of screw engagement with the second driving body 13 changes, and the second driven body 74 is prevented from rotating. The driven body 74 is moved up and down, and thereby the sample container 52 placed on the mounting table 74 is moved up and down.

The chip moving means 80 includes a rotary motor 81 attached to the main body 10, a drive gear 83 connected to the rotating shaft of the rotary motor 81 via a coupling 82, and meshes with the drive gear 83 and is driven. It consists of a driven gear 84 that is movable up and down with respect to the gear 83, and the driven gear 84 is coaxially fixed to the rotating shaft 55a of the spotting arm 55. The rotation shaft 55a of the spotting arm 55 is rotatably supported by the main body 10. Therefore, when the rotation motor 81 is driven to rotate, this rotation is transmitted through the coupling 82, the drive gear 83, and the driven gear 84. It is transmitted to the rotating shaft 55a.

As a result, the spotting arm 55 is rotated around the rotating shaft 55a, and the spotting tip 53 attached to the tip of the spotting arm 55 can be moved between the suction position and the spotting position. ing.

The suction/discharge means 90 includes a piston drive motor 91 having a cam plate 92 on a rotating shaft, and a link 9 between the cam plate 92 and the piston drive motor 91 .
3, and a piston 94a attached to the tip of this piston rod 94.
A cylinder 95 into which is fitted, and a passage 98 formed in the spotting arm 55 and communicating with the space 53a in the spotting tip 53.
and a flexible hose 97 that communicates with a space 96 inside the cylinder 95. The rotational movement of the piston drive motor 91 is converted into a reciprocating movement of the piston rod 94 by the link 93, and the resulting reciprocating movement of the piston 94a changes the volume of the cylinder internal space 96, which is then transferred through the hose 97 and the passage 98. The sample liquid is transmitted to the spotting tip internal space 53a, and the sample liquid is inhaled or discharged into the spotting tip internal space 53a.

The liquid level detection sensor 100 optically detects the liquid level position of the sample liquid in the sample container 52, and detects the liquid level position by moving the sample container 52 up and down by the container vertical position control means 70. It looks like this. Note that this liquid level detection sensor 100 is not limited to a sensor that detects optically as in this example, but also a sensor that uses sound waves or ultrasonic waves (for example, JP-A-60-262019, JP-A-60-158318). issue,
There is a sensor bar disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-216226), a capacitance type (sensor bar disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-192226).
No.), purge type (JP-A-60-155926)
It goes without saying that various sensors such as an electric resistance type sensor (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 185134/1983) may be used.

The operation of the automatic point @ device configured as above will be explained.

First, the spotting arm 55 is positioned at the position detection position by the tip moving means 80, and then the spotting arm 55 is moved downward by the tip vertical position control means 60, and as shown in FIG. Attach the mounting chip 53. At this time, the lower end of the spotting tip 53 is in contact with the reference surface 51a, so if the vertical position detection means 65 reads the vertical position of the spotting arm 55 at this time, the lower end position of the spotting tip 53 can be accurately determined. can be detected. Thereafter, the spotting arm 55 is moved upward by the tip vertical position control means 60, and the spotting arm 55 is positioned at the suction position by the tip moving means 80.

At the suction position, first, the mounting table 7 of the second driven body 74 is
Place the sample container 52 containing the sample liquid on the 4C.

Then, the container vertical position control means 70 controls the mounting table 74C.
is raised and lowered, and the liquid level detection sensor 100 detects the sample container 5.
Detects the vertical position of the liquid level in 2. Next, based on the detected liquid level position, the tip vertical position control means 60 is operated to move the spotting tip 53 attached to the spotting arm 55 in the suction position downward, and the vertical position detection means 65 detects the liquid level. Based on the lower end position of the spotting tip 53, the lower end of the spotting tip 53 is inserted into the sample liquid by a predetermined depth "-i, 111. Note that this predetermined depth °, h11 =
In order to reduce the amount of sample liquid adhering to the outer periphery of the lower end of the spotting tip 53, it is desirable to make it as shallow as possible.
Since the lower end position of the spotting tip 53 is accurately detected as described above, the insertion depth can also be accurately controlled, and it is easy to make the predetermined depth h1'' considerably shallower.

After that, the suction/discharge means 90 is operated to remove the piston 94.
a to aspirate a predetermined amount of the sample liquid into the space 53a of the spotting tip 53C.Note that at this time, the liquid level decreases by suctioning the sample liquid, so this decrease is detected by the liquid level detection sensor 100. When detected, the container vertical position control means 70 moves the mounting table 74c upward to move the sample container 52 upward, thereby keeping the liquid level position constant. As a result, the insertion depth of the spotting tip 53 can always be kept constant even when the sample liquid is being aspirated, and the amount of sample liquid attached to the outer periphery of the tip can always be kept constant. can. Roughly, by suctioning, the liquid level lowers and the spotting tip 75
It is possible to avoid the lower end of 3 being above the liquid level and sucking in air, so the insertion depth -i,! 'l can be made quite shallow.

When a specified amount of sample liquid is sucked into the empty M53a in the spotting tip 53 as described above, the tip vertical position control means 60
The spotting arm 55 is moved upward and the spotting tip 53 is lifted up. Thereafter, the spotting arm 55 is rotated about the rotating shaft 55a by the tip moving means 80, and the spotting tip 53 is moved from the suction position to the spotting position. Next, the spotting tip 53 is moved down by the tip vertical position control means 60, and when its tip is located near the upper part of the reagent layer portion 1a of the slide 1, the sample inside the spotting tip 53 is moved by the action of the suction/discharge means 90. The liquid is slowly discharged to form a dot as shown in FIG. Arrivals are supplied (7th
(See Figure B). At this time, the distance between the lower end of the spotting tip 53 and the surface of the reagent layer portion 1a = -i, 2'l is controlled to be always constant. Thereafter, by moving the spotting tip 53 upward, the spotting of the sample liquid is completed.

In the above, the automatic spotting device 50 has been shown in which the spotting depth 53 is moved by the rotation of the spotting arm 55, but other embodiments of the automatic spotting device are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. , This automatic point @ device 150 will be explained below.

This automatic spotting device 150 uses a timing belt 183 stretched between two wheels 181 and 182 as a chip moving means 180. This timing belt 183 includes a chip control means 1 which integrally incorporates a chip vertical position control means 160 and a suction/discharge means 190.
20 are connected to each other, and the support shaft 1 extends laterally.
Chip control means 120 slidably mounted on 84
is pulled by the timing belt 183, and as shown in FIG.
and the spotting position (the position indicated by the chain line +I L 11).

This chip 2 control means 120 is the chip moving means 18
FIG. 9 shows the state when the camera is moved to the position detection position by 0. As described above, this chip control means 120 is configured to integrally include the chip vertical position control means 160 and the suction/discharge means 190. The chip vertical position control means 160 includes a main body 163 connected to a timing belt 183 and movably supported by a support shaft 18/I, and a first drive motor 161 attached to the main body 163. It has a first drive shaft 162 that is directly connected to the rotating shaft of the first displacement motor 161, and a female thread 164a that engages with a male thread 162a formed on the first drive shaft 162. It consists of a slidable driving body 164. On the other hand, the suction/discharge means 190 includes a second drive motor 191 fixed to the side surface of the main body 163, a second drive shaft 2 directly connected to the rotating shaft of the motor 191, and a second drive shaft 2 formed on the drive shaft 192. a piston member 193 having a female thread 193a that engages with a male thread 192a screwed therein and a piston 193b at the lower end; and a cylinder that is fixed to the side surface of the main body 163 and into which the piston 163b is vertically and slidably inserted. 164 and a flexible tube 195, one end of which communicates with the cylinder 164 and the other end of which communicates with the lower end of the drive body 164, when the upper tip control means 120 is located at the position detection position. The first drive shaft 162 is rotated by the first drive motor 161, the amount of screw engagement between the first drive shaft 162 and the drive body 164 is changed, and the drive body 164 is moved downward, thereby the flexible tube 195 connected to the lower end of the drive body 164 Beyond @195a
That is, the distal end 195a of the suction/discharge means 190 is also moved downward, whereby the light 1195a is inserted into the dotting tip 53 held on the tip holding stand 51, and the dotting tip 53 is attached to the distal end 195a. . At this time, the lower end of the spotting tip 53 is in contact with the reference 11151a, and if the position of the tip is read by the vertical position detection means 165 that detects the rotation speed of the first drive motor 161, The exact position of the bottom edge can be detected.

Next, the first drive motor 161 is reversed to drive the drive body 16.
The above light @ 19 where the spotting tip 53 is attached along with 4
After moving 5a upward, the tip moving means 180 moves the tip controlling means 120 to the suction position. This invasion,
The vertical position control means 160 moves the spotting tip 53 downward and the suction/discharge means 190 sucks the sample liquid into the spotting tip 53. This operation and the subsequent spotting operation are performed in the first place. Since it is the same as in Figure 4,
The explanation will be omitted. The sample liquid is sucked into and discharged into the spotting tip 53 by the vertical movement of the piston member 193. This is done by adjusting the amount of screw engagement between the piston member 193 and the piston member 193.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, when the spotting tip is attached to the spotting arm that constitutes the tip of the suction/discharge means, the lower end of the spotting tip is brought into contact with the reference surface. The vertical position of the dotting arm is read by the vertical position detection means when the dotting tip is placed in contact with the dotting arm, and the vertical position of the lower end of the dotting tip can be accurately detected. Even when there are variations in size or when spotting tips with different shapes are used, the lower end position of the spotting tip can always be accurately grasped. Therefore, it is easy to control the insertion depth of the lower end of the spotting tip into the sample liquid during suction, and it is easy to always keep the amount of sample deposited on the chemical analysis slide constant. be.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a chemical analyzer having an automatic point @ device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the above chemical analyzer with the cover plate removed, and Fig. 3 is an arrow shown in Fig. 2. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of the automatic spotting g@ according to the present invention; FIGS. 5 and 6 are arrows v-- in FIG. 4. v and Vl
7A and 7B are front sectional views showing the operation of spotting the sample liquid from the spotting tip onto the slide. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the Vl line. FIG. 9 is a schematic front view showing different embodiments; FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a chip control means used in the automatic spotting device of FIG. 8; DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Water body 11... Cartridge 16... Cover plate 20... Incubator 40... Transport/insertion means 50... Automatic point @ device 51... Chip holding stand 51a... Reference surface 5
3... Spotting tip 55... Spotting arm 60
, 160...Chip vertical position control means 65.165.
... Vertical position detection means 70 ... Container vertical position control means 80, 180 ... Chip moving means 90, 190 ... Suction/discharge means 100 ... Liquid level detection sensor 120 ... Chip control means No. +ll Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 8 Figure 9 (Voluntary) Procedure Nem Seisho Case Relationship with Patent Applicant Location 210 Nakanuma, Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture Name
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 4, Agent: 7th Floor, Uraya Building, 5-2-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (7318) Patent Attorney: Yanagi 1) Seishi (and 2 others) 5
, Date of amendment order None 6, Number of inventions increased by amendment None 7, Subject of amendment ``Detailed description of the invention'' column 8 of the specification,
Contents of the amendment 1) In the 6th line of page 14 of the Meiwa A-Zan, "semi-white board" is corrected to read "leather watch board." 2) In line 13 of the same page, "!i! Semi-white board" is corrected to "reference density board." 3) On page 26, line 6, "drive shaft 182" is corrected to "drive shaft 192." 4) In the 8th line of the same page, "193 and" is corrected to [193 and]. 5) Line 10 of the same page [Correct 163b J to 1193b J. 6) In the 11th line of the same page, correct "164, and one end is this cylinder 164" to "194, and one end is this cylinder 194." 7) Line 12 of the same page: “Correct 164J to [194J.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A sample liquid contained in a sample container is sucked and held from the lower end,
and a spotting tip for spotting the aspirated sample liquid onto the reagent layer of the chemical analysis slide, the spotting tip being removably attached to the tip and communicating with the spotting tip via the tip, a suction/discharge means for aspirating a predetermined amount of the sample liquid into the spotting tip and then discharging a predetermined amount of the sample liquid from the spotting tip for spotting onto the reagent layer; It has a vertical position control means for vertically moving the tip of the means, and a reference surface that the lower end of the dotting tip comes into contact with when the dotting tip is attached to the tip, and the lower end comes into contact with the reference surface. a vertical position detection means for detecting the position of the lower end of the dotting tip by detecting the up-down position of the tip when in contact with the tip; and a vertical position detection means for detecting the position of the lower end of the dotting tip, and positioning the dotting tip attached to the tip above the reference surface. position detection position,
a moving means for moving between a suction position located above the sample container and a spotting position located above the reagent layer; and a liquid level detection sensor for detecting the liquid level position of the sample liquid in the sample container. At the suction position, based on the lower end position of the dotting tip detected by the up-down position detection means at the position detection position, the up-down position control means adjusts the lower end of the dotting tip to the liquid level. The automatic device is characterized in that the sample liquid is inserted into the sample liquid to a predetermined depth from the liquid level position detected by the detection sensor, and the sample liquid is sucked into the spotting tip by the suction/discharge means. Spotting device.