JPS63205110A - Automatic filtration sampling device of liquid samples - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform automatic filtration, sampling of liquid samples and washing of a filtering flow path by forming a filtering flow path and a washing liquid discharge path under a condition in which a liquid sample filtration cylinder and a filter cartridge are closely attached together. CONSTITUTION:A filter cartridge 7 arranged beneath a sample filtration cylinder 2 and the sample filtration cylinder 2 are closely attached together through double O rings 13, 14. Under this state, these members form a washing liquid discharge path which branches out from an innermost filtration path of the O rings 13, 14 and halfway from said path, and opens to the outside passing between the double O rings 13, 14 in the interiors of the cartridge 7 and the supply cylinder. Then in a condition in which the cartridge 7 and the filtration cylinder 2 are closely attached together, a branched discharge flow path is opened and the filtration path is closed prior to filtering operation. After this, the interior of the filtration cylinder 2 is washed, and the filtration path is opened and the washing liquid discharge path is closed to perform rinsing from the leg of the filtering part down to the liquid insertion nozzle. After completion of rinsing, the samples are collected through filtration.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a filtration device that automatically filters and collects a liquid sample and cleans a filtration channel.

(Prior art) Generally, when measuring dissolved components of a liquid sample, in order to prevent errors due to contamination of various solid components present in the sample, these are separated in advance by centrifugal sedimentation, filtration, etc. It is necessary. However, in the past, this separation operation was generally performed manually, which was a major obstacle in terms of work efficiency.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) Some automatic filtration methods are used to eliminate this problem, but these methods are difficult to clean the filtration channel, prevent contamination during filtration of different liquids, and reduce the component content of the filtrate. There are some problems such as fluctuations. In particular, automatic filtration of difficult-to-filter or viscous liquid samples such as brewing, fermentation, and culture fluids, which are currently in high demand, is prone to contamination of the equipment itself, making it extremely difficult to rapidly and stably continuously filter various samples. In addition, it is extremely difficult to clean the filtration channel of a secondary liquid sample without diluting or otherwise changing the sample liquid components.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention solves these conventional problems and automatically processes liquids containing various solid substances, especially viscous liquids such as brewing, fermentation, and culture solutions, and difficult-to-filter liquid samples. To provide an automatic filtration and collection device for a liquid sample that can carry out continuous filtration and collection as well as a series of operations up to cleaning of the filtration channel with efficient, stable and simple operations without contamination by other liquids. The purpose is to

The gist of the present invention is to carry out an automatic filtration of a liquid sample, which is equipped with a robot hand that carries a filter cartridge from a supply holder to a lower part of a liquid sample filtration column that is arranged to be movable up and down, and further conveys it to a carry-out chute. In the liquid sampling device, the liquid sample filtration cylinder and the filter cartridge disposed below the liquid sample filtration cylinder are in close contact with each other to form a filtration channel and a cleaning liquid discharge channel branched from the filtration channel. It is located in the automatic sample filtration collection device.

Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to clean the channel without requiring a cleaning cartridge or the like and without causing fluctuations in the sample liquid components.

(Function) In order to automatically filter many types of samples in sequence, it is necessary to completely clean the flow path after each sample filtration to prevent contamination by residual samples.

For this reason, in the present invention, specifically, the filter cartridge, which is transported and arranged below the sample filtration cylinder by a robot hand, and the filtration cylinder are in close contact with each other via the double 0-ring, and the 0-ring The innermost filtration channel is branched from the middle of the filtration channel to form a cleaning liquid discharge channel which opens the inside of the cartridge and the supply cylinder to the outside through a double O-ring. Make it.

In this way, with the cartridge and sample filtration tube in close contact, before filtration work, the branch discharge channel is opened, the filtration channel is closed, and the inside of the filtration tube is first cleaned, and then the filtration channel is opened and the washing liquid is discharged. Close the flow path and clean from the legs of the filtration unit to the liquid insertion nozzle.

After cleaning is completed, samples are filtered and collected.

In order to achieve even more complete contact between the sample supply cylinder and the filter cartridge, the neck of the supply cylinder is made flexible to improve its adhesion to the cartridge. Therefore, complete pressure filtration of the sample is possible.

(Example) The present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIGS. 1(a) to (c) and FIG. 2, ■ is a liquid pump, 2 is a filter tube, 3 is a stand, 4 is a filter cartridge discharge guide, 5 is a filter cartridge receiver, 6
is a filter cartridge supply holder, 7 is a filter cartridge, 8 is a feeding tube, 9 is a rack, lO
1 is a test tube, 11 is a robot hand, and 12 is a base portion.

The filter cartridge 7 extracted from the supply holder 6 is carried by the robot hand 11 onto the base portion 12 located below the filter cylinder 2.

The filter cylinder 2 is lowered downward by the motor drive, and the filter cylinder 2
and filter cartridge 7 are tightly attached via double O-rings 13, 14 (FIG. 6). The sensor S shown in Figure 3 shows whether this close contact has been completed completely.
S2. Detected at S3.

In Fig. 3, M is a motor that drives gears G r and G 2, A is a shaft that engages with gear CZ, and B is threadedly connected to shaft A so that it does not rotate together with shaft A. There is. Therefore, shaft B is gear G,
,G! When the shaft A engaged with the shaft A rotates due to the rotation of the gears G + and G z, it can move up and down in the axial direction.

After it is confirmed that the filtration tube 2 and the filter cartridge 7 are completely in contact with each other, the sample liquid is sent to the filtration tube 2 through the passage 16 by the liquid sending pump 1, filtered by the filter cartridge 7, and then sent. It passes through tube 8 and enters test tube 10.

After a certain amount has been filtered, the liquid feed pump 1 is stopped, and the residual liquid is completely filtered with pressurized air.The filter tube 2 is then raised by the motor M via gears G+ and Gz (Fig. 3), and the filter is removed. It is separated from the cartridge 7.

The remaining filter cartridge 7 is carried out by the robot hand 11 and discharged into the filter cartridge receiver 5 via the discharge guide 4.

Next, the filter cylinder 2 is lowered again by the drive of the motor M, and brought into close contact with the base part 12.

In this state, as shown in the system diagram of Fig. 4, the valve V
6 is opened, valve V is closed, and the liquid feeding pump 1 is operated to allow cleaning water to flow in, thereby completely cleaning the inside of the filter cylinder 2, base portion 12, and liquid feeding tube 8. Then, valve V6 is closed, valve V is opened, and the discharge hole 15 (FIG. 6) is washed with water.

After cleaning with water, use high-pressure air to completely blow out any remaining air in the system. This completes the cleaning.

Next, the filter cylinder 2 is raised again by the gears Gl+GK, and the filter cartridge 7 extracted from the filter cartridge supply holder 6 is carried in and placed on the base part 12 by the robot hand 11. Next, the filter cylinder 2 is connected to the gear G1. It is lowered by Gz and brought into close contact with the filter cartridge 7 on the base portion 12.

In this state, the liquid feed pump 2 is operated to feed a small amount of sample liquid into the filter tube 2 through the passage 16. At this time valve V
, are closed and the valve vS is kept open, so that the sample liquid passes over the filtering surface of the filter cartridge 7 and is discharged from the discharge hole 15.

Next, when valve V is closed and valve 2 is opened, a small amount of the sample liquid is filtered, and this filtrate is discharged through the liquid feeding tube 8.

As a result, the small amount of cleaning water remaining in the filter cylinder 2 and the liquid feeding tube 8 is completely replaced with the sample liquid, so that it is possible to prevent the concentration of the next filtrate from becoming diluted and causing errors in measurement.

Next, the liquid feeding tube 8 is moved directly above the rack 9, and filtration is performed. The amount of filtration is determined by the rotation speed and time of the liquid feed pump 1.

The filter cylinder 2 has two large and small O-rings 13 on its bottom surface.
14 are mounted concentrically, and a discharge hole 5 is provided in the annular portion between the two O-rings (see Fig. 6).

In addition, the filter tube 2 is provided with a passage 16 having an outlet opening at the center of its lower surface, which serves as a passage for washing water, sample liquid, and pressurized air, as shown in FIG.

The filter cartridge 7 is made of metal or plastic and has a structure as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 shows each component of the filter cartridge, 18 is a funnel, 19 is an O-ring, 20 is a filter paper, 21 is a support screen, 22 is a base of the cartridge, and 23 is provided in the center of the funnel 18. The sample passage hole 24 is a sample discharge hole provided in the center of the base 22 of the cartridge.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the passage 16 of the filter cylinder 2 is uniform within 10 mm, preferably 3 to 5 Nφ. This diameter is chosen because cleaning is easier and more reliable with a larger diameter, especially with an enlarged inner wall.

This is particularly suitable for highly viscous sample liquids such as wort.

In addition, in order to completely bring the filter cylinder 2 into close contact with the filter cartridge 7 and the base part 12, it is preferable that the presser neck part 17 is made into a free structure.

A device for detecting the attachment state of the filter cylinder 2 and the filter cartridge 7 is constructed as shown in FIG. Conventionally, it was directly detected using a light sensor etc. placed in the base part 12, but
In this case, there is a drawback that there are many malfunctions due to leakage of sample liquid, etc. In the device of the present invention, the detection sensor is installed in a position completely separated from the base part 12, which is easily soiled, and since the pressing mechanism of the filter tube 2 itself serves as the detection mechanism, the sensor is installed near the base part 12. It has the advantage that it does not require the provision of levers, light emitters, etc., and its reliability can be improved.

By attaching a rail made of a material with good lubricity such as polyethylene resin to the filter cartridge ejection guide 4, the used filter cartridge can be ejected smoothly without getting caught in the middle. This is particularly advantageous when dealing with highly viscous samples such as sugar solutions.

It is also preferred that the entire device be water proof so that it can be easily washed with water if contaminated.

Water is kept in the filter cartridge receiver 5 to facilitate cleaning and collection of used cartridges.

In alcoholic fermented beverages containing carbon dioxide gas, such as beer, foaming often occurs when a sample is introduced. In a preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention, the tip of the liquid feeding tube 8 is placed directly above the test tube 10, and the filtrate is collected in a free-falling state, thereby minimizing foaming.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, by tapering the outer periphery of the tip of the nozzle for inserting liquid into the test tube, it is highly effective in preventing foaming. The filter cartridge 7, which eliminates overflow of liquid due to bubbles and therefore prevents the loss of components in the sample, usually has a pore size of 1. A Menplan filter with a diameter of about θ μm is used, but other filter media can be used if necessary.

Carbonated beverage fermentation liquids such as wort require degassing for pre-treatment for measurement and analysis, but since the carbon dioxide gas is removed by the filtration process using the device of the present invention, degassing is no longer necessary or easy. There is also.

In the apparatus of the present invention, the sample collection filtration section, the sample refrigerated storage, and the control section are made into a small integrated unit, and can be separated for transportability, and can also be attached to a trolley.

Note that a disposable filter cartridge can also be used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the device of the present invention, (a
) is a front view, ('b) is a side view, (C) is a perspective view of the entire device, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main mechanism of the device of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a state in which the filter cylinder and filter cartridge are installed. Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the filtration and cleaning cycle, Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the components of the filter cartridge, and Fig. 6 is a cross section showing the filter cartridge in close contact with the filter cylinder. 7 are cross-sectional views showing the shape of the tip of the nozzle for inserting liquid into the test tube. 1... Liquid pump, 2... Filter cylinder, 3... Mounting frame,
4... Filter cartridge ejection guide, 5...
Filter cartridge receiver, 6...supply holder,
7... Filter cartridge, 8... Liquid feeding tube, 9... Rack, 10... Test tube, 11... Robot hand, 12... Base part, 13... O-ring, 14...O-ring, 15...Cleaning liquid discharge hole, 16...Passway, 17...Filter load holding neck, 18...
... Funnel, 19 ... O-ring, 20 ... Filter paper, 21 ... Support screen, 22 ... Base of filter cartridge, 23 ... Sample passage hole, 2
4...Sample discharge hole, S+, St, Sz...sensor, G,,G! ...Gear, M...Motor. Figure 3 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an automatic filtration and collection device for a liquid sample, which is equipped with a robot hand that carries a filter cartridge from a supply holder to a position below a liquid sample filtration cylinder that is arranged to be movable up and down, and further conveys it to a discharge chute, the liquid sample filtration cylinder is 1. An automatic filtration and collection device for a liquid sample, characterized in that a filtration channel and a cleaning liquid discharge channel branched from the filtration channel are formed in close contact with a filter cartridge disposed below the filtration channel.