WO2020084697A1

WO2020084697A1 - Autosampler

Info

Publication number: WO2020084697A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/039394
Authority: WO
Inventors: 翔太郎安藤; 隆志井上
Original assignee: 株式会社島津製作所
Priority date: 2018-10-23
Filing date: 2018-10-23
Publication date: 2020-04-30
Also published as: JP7136223B2; JPWO2020084697A1

Abstract

This autosampler comprises: an injection port for supplying a sample to be analysed to an analyser; a needle for extracting a sample to be analysed which is housed in a vial, and injecting the sample to be analysed into the injection port; and a cleaning unit for cleaning the needle. The cleaning unit includes: a cleaning container which has a supply port and houses cleaning fluid supplied via the supply port, and into which a needle requiring cleaning is inserted into the cleaning fluid housed therein; and a unit body which has a space for housing the cleaning container and for receiving cleaning fluid that has overflowed from the cleaning container, and to which the cleaning container is detachably attached.

Description

Auto sampler

The present invention relates to an autosampler that supplies a sample to be analyzed to an analyzer.

There is an autosampler used for analyzers such as liquid chromatographs. The needle of the autosampler collects a sample from a vial containing a sample to be analyzed, and injects the sample into the analysis channel of a liquid chromatograph. The autosampler can continuously supply the samples contained in the plurality of vials to the analysis channel of the liquid chromatograph.

After the sample is supplied to the analysis channel by the autosampler, part of the sample may remain on the needle of the autosampler. For example, when the sample is adsorbed on the needle, the sample remains on the needle. The residual sample adsorbed on the needle may be mixed with the sample supplied to the analysis channel in the next sample supply step. The mixed residual sample affects the analysis result in the liquid chromatograph. For example, the components of the residual sample mixed in appear as minute peaks in the analysis result of the next sample. This phenomenon is called carryover. Carryover is required to be as small as possible for the performance of the autosampler.

As a measure against carryover, the needle is washed before and after the sample suction process. Cleaning of the needle is performed by inserting the needle into the rinse port filled with the cleaning liquid. Alternatively, the cleaning of the needle is performed by suctioning and discharging the cleaning liquid with which the rinse port is filled by the needle (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

As the cleaning liquid used in the rinse port, a liquid having a high cleaning effect is selected according to the analysis conditions or the type of sample. Then, as a material of the rinse port filled with the cleaning liquid, an appropriate material is selected according to the type of the cleaning liquid used. Alternatively, as a material for the rinse port, an appropriate material is selected according to the type of sample. For example, a material having chemical resistance to the cleaning liquid used is selected as the material of the rinse port. Further, when the sample is adsorbed on the rinse port, the sample becomes dirty and remains on the rinse port. Therefore, as the material of the rinse port, a material having weak adsorptivity to the sample is selected.
JP, 2017-207391, A

As described above, as the rinse port material, an appropriate material is selected according to the type of cleaning solution used or the type of sample to be analyzed. Therefore, it may be necessary to change the material of the rinse port depending on the type of cleaning liquid used or the type of sample to be analyzed. Alternatively, it may be necessary to change the rinse port to a new one because the dirt adsorbed on the rinse port cannot be removed.

In such a case, the conventional autosampler requires replacement of the entire rinse port. Therefore, the change range in the autosampler becomes large in order to replace the rinse port, and the replacement work takes time. Further, since the entire rinse port is replaced, the parts to be replaced are large and the replacement cost is high.

An object of the present invention is to provide an autosampler capable of reducing the time and cost required for exchanging a portion containing a cleaning liquid.

(1) An autosampler according to one aspect of the present invention includes an injection port for supplying a sample to be analyzed to an analyzer, a sample to be analyzed contained in a vial, and an injection port for the sample to be analyzed. And a cleaning unit for cleaning the needle. The cleaning unit has a supply port, accommodates the cleaning liquid supplied through the supply port, and accommodates the cleaning container in which the needle requiring cleaning is inserted into the accommodated cleaning liquid, and the cleaning container. A unit main body having a space for receiving the cleaning liquid overflowing from the cleaning container, and the cleaning container being detachably attached.

This autosampler has a cleaning unit that cleans the needle, and in the cleaning unit, the cleaning container is detachably attached to the unit body. When it is necessary to change the material of the portion containing the cleaning liquid and to change the portion containing the cleaning liquid to a new one, the cleaning container of the cleaning unit is replaced. Since the entire cleaning unit does not need to be replaced, the change range of the cleaning unit is small and the replacement portion is small. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the labor and cost for exchanging the portion containing the cleaning liquid.

(2) The cleaning container may be attached to the unit body by a screw structure. The washing container can be attached and detached only by tightening and releasing the screws.

(3) The cleaning container may be rotatably attached to the unit body by a screw structure, and the cleaning container may be provided with an engaging portion that can be engaged with a tool for rotating the cleaning container.

The operator can attach and remove the cleaning container by engaging the tool with the engaging part of the cleaning container. Easy installation and removal of the cleaning container.

(4) The engagement portion may include an opening for discharging the cleaning liquid at a predetermined level or higher in the cleaning container. The engaging portion has both an application for engaging the tool and an application as a flow path for discharging the cleaning liquid, and the number of parts is reduced.

(5) The cleaning container may be rotatably provided around a vertical rotation axis, and the opening may include a groove provided at an upper end of the cleaning container.

The operator can attach and detach the cleaning container by engaging the tool with the groove on the upper end of the cleaning container. Easy installation and removal of the cleaning container.

(6) At least a part of the groove may be arranged above the upper end of the unit body with the cleaning container attached to the unit body.

With the cleaning container attached to the unit body, part of the groove on the upper end of the cleaning container is located above the upper end of the unit body. The operator can easily attach and detach the cleaning container by engaging the tool with the upper end of the cleaning container.

(7) The groove may include a first groove and a second groove provided at different positions in the circumferential direction with respect to the rotation axis. When the cleaning liquid overflows from the plurality of grooves, a sufficient flow path for the cleaning liquid is secured.

(8) A plurality of cleaning containers may be detachably provided in the unit body. The needle is cleaned using the plurality of cleaning containers.

(9) The plurality of cleaning containers include a first cleaning container made of a first material and a second cleaning container made of a second material different from the first material.

Since different cleaning containers are made of different materials, different cleaning solutions can be used for each cleaning container.

(10) The screw structure includes first and second screw structures. The plurality of cleaning containers include a first cleaning container fixed to the unit body by a first screw structure and a second cleaning container fixed to the unit body by a second screw structure, and a first screw structure. The screw diameter of is different from the screw diameter of the second screw structure.

The multiple cleaning containers are fastened to the unit body by the screw structure. Then, as the screw structure of the plurality of cleaning containers, structures having different screw diameters are used. Thereby, in the work of mounting the plurality of cleaning containers, it is possible to prevent a work error such as accidentally mounting another cleaning container.

According to the present invention, the labor and cost for exchanging the portion containing the cleaning liquid can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing a liquid chromatograph to which an autosampler according to the present embodiment is connected. FIG. 2 is a side view of rinse port 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the rinse port 1. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rinse port 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rinse port body 2 according to the present embodiment as seen obliquely from above. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rinse port body 2 as viewed from diagonally below. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the rinse port body 2. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cleaning container 3A according to the present embodiment as seen obliquely from above. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cleaning container 3A as seen obliquely from below. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the cleaning container 3A. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cleaning container 3B according to the present embodiment as seen obliquely from above. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the cleaning container 3B as seen obliquely from below. FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of the cleaning container 3B. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of rinse port cover 4 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the cover cap 45 according to this embodiment.

Hereinafter, the auto sampler 7 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overall Configuration of Liquid Chromatograph FIG. 1 is an overall view showing a liquid chromatograph 8 to which an autosampler 7 according to the present embodiment is connected. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid chromatograph 8 includes an autosampler 7, a column 81 and a detector 82. The autosampler 7 includes a rinse port 1, a needle 73, an injection port 74,

liquid supply tubes

52A and 52B, a liquid discharge tube 55, and pumps 75A and 75B. Outside the apparatus of the auto sampler 7, cleaning

liquid tanks

76A and 76B and a drainage tank 77 are provided.

A sample plate 71 is arranged in the auto sampler 7. A plurality of sample vials 72 are arranged on the sample plate 71. The sample vial 72 contains a sample. The needle 73 is movable between the sample vial 72, the rinse port 1 and the injection port 74. The needle 73 collects a sample from the sample vial 72. The needle 73 supplies the sample to the column 81 by injecting the sample into the injection port 74. The needle 73 is washed in the rinse port 1 after the sample is injected into the injection port 74 or after the sample is taken from the sample vial 72.

Rinse port 1 contains cleaning

containers

3A and 3B. A liquid feeding tube 52A is connected to the cleaning container 3A. The end of the liquid supply tube 52A is arranged inside the cleaning liquid tank 76A. The pump 75A is connected to the liquid supply tube 52A between the cleaning container 3A and the cleaning liquid tank 76A. With this configuration, when the pump 75A is driven, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank 76A is fed into the cleaning container 3A via the liquid feeding tube 52A. In the present embodiment, the pump 75A is used as a cleaning liquid pump for feeding the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank 76A into the cleaning container 3A and as a metering pump for collecting and discharging a sample by the needle 73. Is also used as. As the pump 75A, for example, a pump capable of highly accurate flow rate adjustment is used. Note that, in FIG. 1, a valve, a liquid supply path, and the like provided between the pump 75A and the needle 73 are not shown.

A liquid delivery tube 52B is connected to the cleaning container 3B. The end of the liquid supply tube 52B is arranged in the cleaning liquid tank 76B. The pump 75B is connected to the liquid supply tube 52B between the cleaning container 3B and the cleaning liquid tank 76B. With this configuration, when the pump 75B is driven, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank 76B is fed into the cleaning container 3B via the liquid feeding tube 52B. In the present embodiment, pump 75B is a dedicated pump for feeding the cleaning liquid contained in cleaning liquid tank 76B into cleaning container 3B. As the pump 75B, for example, a pump having a larger power than the pump 75A is used.

As described above, the liquid chromatograph 8 includes the column 81 and the detector 82. The sample injected into the injection port 74 by the needle 73 is sent to the column 81. The sample continuously fed from the autosampler 7 is supplied to the column 81. The sample whose components have been separated in the column 81 is detected by the detector 82.

(2) Overall configuration of rinse port Next, the overall configuration of rinse port 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a side view of the rinse port 1. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the rinse port 1. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rinse port 1. In FIGS. 2 to 4 and the drawings referred to later, in order to clarify the positional relationship, arrows indicating the X direction, the Y direction and the Z direction orthogonal to each other are attached. The X direction and the Y direction are orthogonal to each other in the horizontal plane, and the Z direction corresponds to the vertical direction. Although there is no vertical direction in the rinse port 1, in the following description, the vertical direction when the rinse port 1 is attached to the autosampler 7 at a predetermined position is the vertical direction of the rinse port 1. Will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the rinse port 1 includes a rinse port body 2 and

washing containers

3A and 3B. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B are arranged side by side in the X direction at intervals. The rinse port body 2 includes a body upper portion 21 and a body lower portion 22. The main body upper part 21 and the main body lower part 22 are integrally formed. The main body upper part 21 has a tubular shape with an open upper end and a lower end. As shown in FIG. 3, the main body upper part 21 accommodates the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B therein. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper ends of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B are arranged above the upper end of the main body upper part 21. The lower part 22 of the main body has a shape with an open upper end. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower part 22 of the main body supports the lower ends of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B. An inner space 20 of the rinse port body 2 is formed by the inner space of the upper body 21 and the inner space of the lower body 22. The internal space 20 receives the cleaning liquid overflowing from the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower portion of the lower body 22 has a first supply port 24A, a second supply port 24B, and a drainage port 23, which are cylindrical protrusions extending downward from the lower end of the lower body 22. It is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the first supply port 24A is located below the cleaning container 3A. The lower part 22 of the main body is opened downward through the cylindrical inner space in the first supply port 24A. The second supply port 24B is located below the cleaning container 3B. The lower part 22 of the main body is opened downward through the cylindrical inner space in the second supply port 24B. The drainage port 23 is located between the first supply port 24A and the second supply port 24B in the X direction. The lower part 22 of the main body is opened in the cylindrical inner space of the drainage port 23. The drainage port 23 is connected to the internal space 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the liquid supply tube 52A is inserted into the first supply port 24A. The liquid feeding tube 52A is fixed to the lower portion 22 of the main body by the

fastening members

51A and 53A. Threads are formed on the inner wall of the cylindrical member of the first supply port 24A, and threads are formed on the outer periphery of the fastening member 51A. Further, each of the

fastening members

51A and 53A has a tube insertion hole penetrating in the up-down direction in the rotation center shaft portion, and the liquid feeding tube 52A is inserted into this tube insertion hole. With this structure, the

fastening members

51A and 53A hold the liquid feeding tube 52A, and the fastening member 51A is fixed to the lower portion 22 of the main body by the screw structure.

Further, the upper portion of the fastening member 53A has a taper shape in which the diameter decreases as it goes upward, and the inner wall of the first supply port 24A also has a taper shape in which the diameter decreases as it goes upward. With this structure, when the fastening member 53A moves upward relative to the first supply port 24A by screwing the fastening member 51A to the first supply port 24A, the fastening member 53A moves toward the center of rotation. It is pressed from the inner wall of the first supply port 24A. As a result, the diameter of the tube insertion hole of the fastening member 53A becomes smaller, and the liquid feeding tube 52A can be strongly fixed.

The upper end of the liquid feeding tube 52B is inserted into the second supply port 24B. The liquid feeding tube 52B is fixed to the lower portion 22 of the main body by the

fastening members

51B and 53B. Threads are formed on the inner wall of the cylindrical member of the second supply port 24B, and threads are formed on the outer periphery of the fastening member 51B. Further, each of the

fastening members

51B and 53B has a tube insertion hole that penetrates in the up-down direction in the central axis of rotation, and the liquid feeding tube 52B is inserted into this tube insertion hole. With this structure, the

fastening members

51B and 53B hold the liquid feeding tube 52B, and the fastening member 51B is fixed to the lower portion 22 of the main body by the screw structure.

Further, the outer periphery of the lower portion of the fastening member 53B is tapered so that the diameter becomes smaller as it goes downward, and the inner periphery of the upper portion of the fastening member 51B is tapered as it becomes larger as it goes upward. Then, the lower taper portion of the fastening member 53B and the upper taper portion of the fastening member 51B are arranged at positions overlapping in the vertical direction. With this structure, when the fastening member 51B is screwed to the second supply port 24B and the fastening member 51B moves relatively upward with respect to the second supply port 24B, the fastening member 53B moves toward the center of rotation. It is pressed from the inner wall of the fastening member 51B. As a result, the diameter of the tube insertion hole of the fastening member 53B is reduced, and the liquid feeding tube 52B can be firmly fixed.

(3) Configuration of Rinse Port Body Next, the configuration of the rinse port body 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rinse port body 2 as seen obliquely from above, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rinse port body 2 as seen from obliquely below. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the rinse port body 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the main body upper part 21 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped internal space 20. A mounting plate 25 is provided between the upper body 21 and the lower body 22. The mounting plate 25 has bolt holes at a plurality of locations. The rinse port body 2 is fixed at a predetermined position in the auto sampler 7 by bolting the mounting plate 25 to a predetermined member in the auto sampler 7.

As shown in FIG. 6, a drain port 23, a first supply port 24A, and a second supply port 24B extend downward from the lower end of the main body lower part 22. A mounting plate 25 is provided on the lower portion 22 of the main body. The mounting plate 25 has a substantially rectangular outer shape.

As shown in FIG. 7, the rinse port body 2 has a substantially rectangular internal space 20 in a plan view. FIG. 7: is a figure which shows the state which removed

washing container

3A, 3B from the rinse port 1 shown in FIG.

Container mounting holes

26A and 26B are provided on the bottom surface of the lower portion 22 of the main body. Threads for fixing the

cleaning containers

3A, 3B are formed on the inner peripheral surfaces of the

container mounting holes

26A, 26B, as described later.

(4) Configuration of Cleaning Containers Next, the configurations of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 13. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cleaning container 3A as seen obliquely from above. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cleaning container 3A as viewed obliquely from below. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the cleaning container 3A. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cleaning container 3B as seen obliquely from above. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the cleaning container 3B as seen obliquely from below. FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of the cleaning container 3B. Although there is no vertical direction in the

washing containers

3A and 3B, in the following description, the

washing containers

3A and 3B are housed in the rinse port main body 2 and the rinse port 1 is attached to the autosampler 7. It is assumed that the up and down direction in is the up and down direction of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cleaning container 3A has a cylindrical outer shape. Inside the cleaning container 3A, a storage portion 30A for storing a cleaning liquid is formed. Two

protrusions

31A and 31A are provided on the upper end of the cleaning container 3A. Two

grooves

32A and 32A are formed between the two

protrusions

31A and 31A. As shown in FIG. 11, the cleaning container 3B also has a cylindrical outer shape. In the present embodiment, the vertical length of cleaning container 3B is longer than the vertical length of cleaning container 3A. A storage portion 30B for storing the cleaning liquid is formed inside the cleaning container 3B. Two

protrusions

31B and 31B are also provided on the upper end of the cleaning container 3B. Two

grooves

32B and 32B are formed between the two

protrusions

31B and 31B.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a mounting portion 33A is provided at the lower end of the cleaning container 3A. The mounting portion 33A extends downward from the lower end of the cleaning container 3A. The mounting portion 33A is a cylindrical member, and a thread is formed on the outer peripheral portion thereof. The screw structure 11A (see FIG. 3) is configured by the screw thread formed on the outer circumference of the mounting portion 33A and the screw thread formed on the inner circumference of the container mounting hole 26A described above. The rotating shaft 35A in FIG. 10 is the rotating shaft of the cleaning container 3A that rotates when the cleaning container 3A is fastened by the screw structure 11A. A cleaning liquid supply passage 331A is formed near the center of the cylinder of the attachment portion 33A. The cleaning liquid supply passage 331A is connected to the storage portion 30A.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a mounting portion 33B is provided at the lower end of the cleaning container 3B. The mounting portion 33B extends downward from the lower end of the cleaning container 3B. The mounting portion 33B is a cylindrical member, and a thread is formed on the outer peripheral portion thereof. The screw structure 11B (see FIG. 3) is configured by the threads formed on the outer circumference of the mounting portion 33B and the threads formed on the inner circumference of the container mounting hole 26B. The rotating shaft 35B in FIG. 13 is the rotating shaft of the cleaning container 3B that rotates when the cleaning container 3B is fastened by the screw structure 11B. A cleaning liquid supply passage 331B is formed near the center of the cylinder of the mounting portion 33B. The cleaning liquid supply passage 331B is connected to the housing portion 30B. The cleaning liquid supply passage 331B is bent midway as shown in FIG. As described above, as the pump 75B connected to the cleaning container 3B, a pump having a stronger power than the pump 75A is used in the present embodiment. By providing the bent portion in the cleaning liquid supply passage 331B, the cleaning liquid sent by the pump 75B is prevented from flowing into the cleaning container 3B with a strong force.

(5) Assembling Configuration of Rinse Port As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the lower portion 22 of the rinse port body 2 is provided with

container mounting holes

26A and 26B. The

container mounting holes

26A and 26B are cylindrical holes, and threads are formed on the inner peripheral surfaces thereof. The cleaning container 3A is fixed to the main body lower portion 22 of the rinse port main body 2 by inserting the mounting portion 33A of the cleaning container 3A into the container mounting hole 26A and tightening with the screw structure 11A. The cleaning container 3B is fixed to the main body lower portion 22 of the rinse port main body 2 by inserting the mounting portion 33B of the cleaning container 3B into the container mounting hole 26B and tightening the screw structure 11B. In this way, the lower ends of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B are fixed to the lower part 22 of the main body, and the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B are housed in the internal space 20 of the rinse port main body 2. As shown in FIG. 3, O-

rings

36A and 36B are fitted in the lower portions of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B to secure a hermetic seal between the

accommodating portions

30A and 30B and the internal space 20.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the fastening member 51A is screwed to the first supply port 24A in a state where the liquid feeding tube 52A is inserted into the tube insertion holes of the

fastening members

51A and 53A. As a result, the liquid feeding tube 52A is connected to the main body lower portion 22 of the rinse port main body 2. In this state, the liquid sending tube 52A is connected to the cleaning liquid supply passage 331A via the passage 27A in the lower portion 22 of the main body. With the above configuration, the liquid sending tube 52A is connected to the housing portion 30A of the cleaning container 3A via the flow path 27A and the cleaning liquid supply passage 331A.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the fastening member 51B is screwed to the second supply port 24B in a state where the liquid feeding tube 52B is inserted into the tube insertion holes of the

fastening members

51B and 53B. As a result, the liquid feeding tube 52B is connected to the main body lower portion 22 of the rinse port main body 2. In this state, the liquid delivery tube 52B is connected to the cleaning liquid supply passage 331B via the passage 27B in the lower portion 22 of the main body. With the above configuration, the liquid supply tube 52B is connected to the housing portion 30B of the cleaning container 3B via the flow path 27B and the cleaning liquid supply passage 331B.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 1, the

liquid feeding tubes

52A and 52B are connected to the

pumps

75A and 75B, respectively. In the above configuration, the

pumps

75A and 75B are driven to send the cleaning liquid contained in the cleaning

liquid tanks

76A and 76B to the first and

second supply ports

24A and 24B via the

liquid supply tubes

52A and 52B. As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning liquid sent to the first supply port 24A via the liquid supply tube 52A flows into the housing portion 30A of the cleaning container 3A via the flow path 27A and the cleaning liquid supply passage 331A. As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning liquid sent to the second supply port 24B via the liquid supply tube 52B flows into the housing portion 30B of the cleaning container 3B via the flow path 27B and the cleaning liquid supply passage 331B.

(6) Cleaning Treatment The rinse port 1 configured as described above is housed in the autosampler 7 as shown in FIG. The needle 73 has a drive unit (not shown) and moves between the sample vial 72, the rinse port 1 and the injection port 74 under the control of a control unit (not shown). The needle 73 is washed in either the

washing container

3A or 3B in the rinse port 1 under the control of the controller.

The needle 73 is washed in the

washing container

3A or 3B after collecting the sample in the sample vial 72 with the needle 73, for example. At a timing before the needle 73 is cleaned in the

cleaning container

3A or 3B, the

cleaning container

3A or 3B used for cleaning is filled with the cleaning liquid. The needle 73 is washed with the washing liquid by entering the

washing container

3A or 3B from above. When the needle 73 enters the

cleaning container

3A or 3B, the sample or the like attached to the outer peripheral surface thereof is washed off.

The needle 73 is cleaned in the

cleaning container

3A or 3B after the sample is injected into the injection port 74 by the needle 73, for example. Alternatively, the needle 73 is washed in the

washing container

3A or 3B before the step of collecting the next sample. Also in this case, the cleaning liquid is filled in the

cleaning container

3A or 3B used for cleaning at a timing before the needle 73 is cleaned in the

cleaning container

3A or 3B. The needle 73 is washed with the washing liquid by entering the

washing container

3A or 3B from above. When the needle 73 enters the

cleaning container

3A or 3B, the sample or the like attached to the outer peripheral surface thereof is washed off. Alternatively, the needle 73 cleans the inside of the needle 73 by sucking and discharging the cleaning liquid in the

cleaning container

3A or 3B.

When the

pump

75A or 75B is driven and the additional cleaning liquid is supplied to the

cleaning container

3A or 3B, the cleaning liquid in the

cleaning container

3A or 3B overflows from the upper end of the

cleaning container

3A or 3B. The overflowed cleaning liquid flows into the internal space 20 of the rinse port body 2. The cleaning liquid flowing into the internal space 20 flows into the drainage tube 55 via the drainage port 23. The cleaning liquid flowing out to the drainage tube 55 is collected in the drainage tank 77.

As described above, the autosampler 7 of the present embodiment includes the rinse port 1 for cleaning the needle 73, and in the rinse port 1, the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B are detachably attached to the rinse port body 2. In the rinse port 1, when it is necessary to change the material of the portion containing the cleaning liquid and when it is necessary to change the portion containing the cleaning liquid to a new one, only the

cleaning container

3A or 3B is replaced. Since the entire rinse port 1 does not need to be replaced, the change range of the device is reduced and the labor of the work is reduced. Further, since only the

cleaning container

3A or 3B is replaced, the parts to be replaced are small and the cost for replacement is small.

Further, in the auto sampler 7 of the above-described embodiment, the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B are attached to the rinse port body 2 by the

screw structures

11A and 11B. The

washing containers

3A and 3B can be attached and detached only by fastening and releasing the screws.

Also, in the above embodiment, the screw diameter of the screw structure 11A and the screw diameter of the screw structure 11B are different. That is, the thread of the mounting portion 33A of the cleaning container 3A meshes with the thread of the container mounting hole 26A, but does not mesh with the thread of the container mounting hole 26B. Similarly, the screw thread of the mounting portion 33B of the cleaning container 3B meshes with the screw thread of the container mounting hole 26B, but does not mesh with the screw thread of the container mounting hole 26A. As a result, in the work of attaching the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B, it is possible to prevent a work error such as accidentally attaching another cleaning container.

(7) Material of Cleaning Container In the above embodiment, the rinse port 1 is provided with the two

cleaning containers

3A and 3B. As the cleaning liquid used in the rinse port 1, a liquid having a high cleaning effect is selected according to the analysis conditions or the type of sample. Then, as the material of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B filled with the cleaning liquid, an appropriate material is selected according to the type of cleaning liquid used. For example, the materials for the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B are selected to have chemical resistance to the cleaning liquid used. Further, when the sample is adsorbed to the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B, the sample becomes dirty and remains in the rinse port. Therefore, the material of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B is selected to have a weak adsorptivity to the sample.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B can be individually removed from the rinse port body 2. Therefore, different kinds of materials can be used as the material of the cleaning container 3A and the material of the cleaning container 3B. As the material of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B, for example, PEEK (polyetheretherketone), stainless steel, and ceramics can be used. As an example, a combination in which PEEK is used as the material of the cleaning container 3A and stainless steel is used as the material of the cleaning container 3B is possible.

As described above, in the auto sampler 7 of the present embodiment, since the cleaning containers of different materials are used as the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B, different cleaning liquids can be used for each cleaning container. When the cleaning liquid in the cleaning container 3A needs to be replaced depending on the analysis condition or the type of sample, only the cleaning container 3A needs to be replaced. Further, when the cleaning container 3A needs to be replaced due to dirt, only the cleaning container 3A needs to be replaced.

Note that, in the present embodiment, PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide) is used as the material of the rinse port body 2. Since the rinse port main body 2 receives the cleaning liquid overflowing the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B, it is preferable that the rinse port main body 2 has excellent chemical resistance. From this viewpoint, a metal such as stainless steel may be used as the material of the rinse port body 2, but in the present embodiment, PPS is used from the viewpoint of workability.

(8) Structure of Groove As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 8 and the like, two

protrusions

31A and 31A are provided on the upper end of the cleaning container 3A, and two grooves are provided between the two

protrusions

31A and 31A. 32A and 32A are formed. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 11, etc., two

protrusions

31B, 31B are provided on the upper end of the cleaning container 3B, and two

grooves

32B, 32B are formed between the two

protrusions

31B, 31B. ing.

The wrench 9 engages with the two

grooves

32A, 32A. Similarly, the wrench 9 engages with the two

grooves

32B and 32B. In FIG. 4, as an example, the wrench 9 is engaged with the two

grooves

32B, 32B of the cleaning container 3B. The operator can screw the

cleaning container

3A or 3B onto the rinse port body 2 by rotating the wrench 9 in the XY plane. That is, by rotating the cleaning container 3A with the wrench 9, the screw structure 11A is fastened or released. Alternatively, the cleaning container 3B is rotated by the wrench 9, whereby the screw structure 11B is fastened or released.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the

grooves

32A and 32B engaged with the wrench 9 are formed at the upper ends of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B. When the

wash containers

3A and 3B are fastened to the rinse port body 2, the operator can perform the work of attaching and removing the

wash containers

3A and 3B by engaging the wrench 9 with the upper ends of the

wash containers

3A and 3B. Therefore, the workability is good. The

grooves

32A and 32B at the upper ends of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B also serve as channels for discharging the cleaning liquid when the cleaning liquid overflows. That is, the

grooves

32A and 32B have a use as openings for discharging the cleaning liquid of a predetermined level or higher in the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B. The

grooves

32A and 32B have both a use for engaging a tool and a use as a cleaning liquid flow path, and the number of parts is reduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper ends of the

grooves

32A and 32B are arranged above the upper end of the rinse port body 2. The workability is good when the operator engages and dismounts the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B by engaging the wrench 9 with the upper ends of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, etc.,

grooves

32A and 32A are formed at two locations on the upper end of the cleaning container 3A. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 11, etc.,

grooves

32B and 32B are formed at two locations on the upper end of the cleaning container 3B. That is, in the present embodiment, the two

grooves

32A, 32A are provided at different positions in the circumferential direction with respect to the rotary shaft 35A (see FIG. 10). Similarly, in the present embodiment, two

grooves

32B, 32B are provided at different positions in the circumferential direction with respect to rotary shaft 35B (see FIG. 13). As a result, the cleaning liquid overflows from the plurality of grooves, whereby a sufficient flow path for the cleaning liquid is secured. As described above, since the

cleaning containers

3A and 3A are fixed by screwing, the positions of the

grooves

32A and 32B in the circumferential direction are not fixed. Even when the positions of the

grooves

32A, 32B are close to the wall surface of the main body upper portion 21, the

grooves

32A, 32A and 32B, 32B are formed at two different positions in the circumferential direction, so that the flow path of the overflowing cleaning liquid is formed. Therefore, the cleaning liquid can be prevented from overflowing from the upper portion of the rinse port body 2.

(9) Configuration of Rinse Port Cover Next, the configuration of the rinse port cover 4 will be described. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the rinse port cover 4. FIG. 15 is a plan view of the cover cap 45. Although the rinse port cover 4 and the cover cap 45 do not have a vertical direction, in the following description, the rinse port cover 4 and the cover cap 45 are attached to the rinse port body 2, and the rinse port 1 is the autosampler. It is assumed that the vertical direction in the state of being attached to 7 is the vertical direction of the rinse port cover 4 and the cover cap 45.

As shown in FIG. 14, the rinse port cover 4 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The lower portion of the rinse port cover 4 is open almost entirely. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the rinse port cover 4 is attached to the upper portion of the rinse port body 2. The lower opening of the rinse port cover 4 is connected to the upper opening of the upper portion 21 of the rinse port body 2. Thereby, the rinse port cover 4 covers the internal space 20 of the rinse port body 2 from above.

As shown in FIG. 14, two

cap insertion grooves

41, 41 are formed on the upper surface of the rinse port cover 4. The cap insertion groove 41 is a groove having a circular shape in plan view. The cap insertion groove 41 has a depth corresponding to the vertical thickness of the cover cap 45. An opening 42 is provided at the center of the cap insertion groove 41.

As shown in FIG. 15, the cover cap 45 has a circular shape in plan view. The cover cap 45 can be attached to the cap insertion groove 41 of the rinse port cover 4. The diameter of the cap insertion groove 41 is substantially the same as the diameter of the cover cap 45 or slightly smaller than the diameter of the cover cap 45. With this configuration, the cover cap 45 is held in the cap insertion groove 41 by pushing the cover cap 45 into the cap insertion groove 41. As a material for the rinse port cover 4 and the cover cap 45, for example, PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), or the like is used.

As shown in FIG. 15, an insertion hole 451 for the needle 73 is provided at the center of the cover cap 45. When the cover cap 45 is attached to the rinse port cover 4, the position of the insertion hole 451 overlaps with the opening 42 of the rinse port cover 4 in a plan view. As a result, the needle 73 passes through the rinse port cover 4 via the insertion hole 451 and reaches the

cleaning containers

3A, 3B housed in the rinse port 1. The insertion hole 451 may be formed in the cover cap 45 before use, or may not be formed in the cover cap 45 before use. When the insertion hole 451 is not formed in the cover cap 45 before use, when the needle 73 first passes through the cover cap 45, the tip of the needle 73 pierces the cover cap 45 and the insertion hole 451 is formed.

(10) Correspondence between each component of the claims and each element of the embodiment An example of the correspondence between each component of the claim and each element of the embodiment will be described below. In the above embodiment, the rinse port 1 is an example of a cleaning unit, the rinse port body 2 is an example of a unit body, and the first supply port 24A and the second supply port 24B are examples of supply ports.

Further, in the above embodiment, the screw structure 11A constituted by the screw thread formed on the outer periphery of the mounting portion 33A and the screw thread formed on the inner periphery of the container mounting hole 26A is the same as the screw structure of the present invention. Here is an example. Further, the screw structure 11B constituted by the screw thread formed on the outer circumference of the mounting portion 33B and the screw thread formed on the inner circumference of the container mounting hole 26B is an example of the screw structure in the present invention.

Further, the wrench 9 in the above embodiment is an example of the tool in the present invention, and the

grooves

32A and 32B are examples of the engaging portion or the opening in the present invention. That is, the

grooves

32A and 32B are an example of an engaging portion that can be engaged with a tool and an example of an opening for discharging the cleaning liquid at a predetermined level or higher. The

rotary shafts

35A and 35B are examples of the "vertical rotary shaft" in the present invention.

As each constituent element of the claim, various elements having the configurations or functions described in the claim may be used.

(11) Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the rinse port 1 includes the two

cleaning containers

3A and 3B has been described as an example, but the number of cleaning containers is not limited to this. The number of cleaning containers accommodated in the rinse port 1 may be one, or may be three or more. Further, the screw structure in the present invention is not limited to the

screw structures

11A and 11B in the above embodiment. For example, the screw structure may be a structure using bolts.

In the above-described embodiment, the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B have been described by way of example of the structure in which they are attached to the rinse port 1 by the

screw structures

11A and 11B. Not a thing. For example, the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B may be detachably attached to the rinse port body 2 by another attachment structure.

In the above embodiment, two

protrusions

31A and 31B are provided at the upper ends of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B, respectively, and two

grooves

32A and 32B are provided respectively. Three or more protrusions may be provided on the upper ends of the

cleaning containers

3A and 3B, and three or more grooves may be formed accordingly.

In the above-described embodiment, the

grooves

32A and 32B are provided as openings at the upper end of the cleaning container 3, but the opening is not limited to this, and a hole is provided at a predetermined height of the cleaning container 3 as an opening. May be.

Claims

An injection port for supplying a sample to be analyzed to the analyzer,
A needle for injecting the sample to be analyzed into the injection port while collecting the sample to be analyzed contained in the vial,
A cleaning unit for cleaning the needle,
The cleaning unit is
A cleaning container having a supply port and accommodating the cleaning liquid supplied through the supply port, and a needle requiring cleaning in the contained cleaning liquid is inserted,
An autosampler comprising: a unit main body that accommodates the cleaning container and has a space for receiving a cleaning liquid overflowing from the cleaning container, and the cleaning container is detachably attached.
The autosampler according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning container is attached to the unit body by a screw structure.
The cleaning container is rotatably attached to the unit body by the screw structure,
The autosampler according to claim 2, wherein the cleaning container is provided with an engaging portion that can be engaged with a tool for rotating the cleaning container.
The autosampler according to claim 3, wherein the engagement portion includes an opening for discharging a cleaning liquid of a predetermined level or higher in the cleaning container.
The cleaning container is rotatably provided around a vertical rotation axis,
The autosampler according to claim 4, wherein the opening includes a groove provided at an upper end of the cleaning container.
The autosampler according to claim 5, wherein at least a part of the groove is arranged above an upper end of the unit body in a state where the cleaning container is attached to the unit body.
The autosampler according to claim 5, wherein the groove includes a first groove and a second groove provided at different positions in the circumferential direction with respect to the rotation axis.
The autosampler according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a plurality of the cleaning containers are detachably attached to the unit main body.
9. The plurality of cleaning containers include a first cleaning container made of a first material and a second cleaning container made of a second material different from the first material. The described autosampler.
The threaded structure includes first and second threaded structures,
The plurality of cleaning containers include a first cleaning container fixed to the unit body by the first screw structure and a second cleaning container fixed to the unit body by the second screw structure, The autosampler according to claim 8, wherein a screw diameter of the first screw structure is different from a screw diameter of the second screw structure.