JPH063433B2 - Electrophoresis tank - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electrophoresis tank used when analyzing a protein fraction of serum or the like.

(Prior Art) In an electrophoresis apparatus for automatically analyzing a protein fraction of serum or the like, a sample of serum or the like is applied to a support such as a cellulose acetate membrane by an applicator and allowed to migrate in a migration tank for a predetermined time. After being dyed, decolorized and dried in a dyeing tank, they are conveyed to a densimeter, where the electrophoretic image is photometrically scanned.

In the electrophoretic tank used in such an electrophoretic device, it is extremely important to stretch the support coated with the sample without sagging and to apply electricity in that state in order to obtain a good image. Therefore, for example, in the electrophoresis tank described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-131, a pair of filter paper stands are raised before energization and both side portions of the support are sandwiched between this and the filter paper holder, and then, respectively. By moving the filter paper base and the filter paper press in a direction away from each other, the support is stretched without bending.

However, when the pair of filter paper bases and the filter paper holder are moved in the directions away from each other and the support is stretched and stretched in both directions as described above, the sample application position on the support and the application point position at the time of migration are Since it is not constant, the fractionation accuracy becomes poor, and the support holding position in the migration tank becomes unstable, which makes it difficult to convey the support to the subsequent stage.

(Object of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to stably position the application point position during electrophoresis and the support holding position in the migration tank at a predetermined position, thus increasing the fractionation accuracy. In addition, the present invention aims to provide an electrophoretic vessel appropriately configured so that the support can be easily fed to the subsequent stage when applied to an electrophoretic device.

(Summary of the Invention) An electrophoretic tank of the present invention is arranged below a support conveyed by a conveyor belt, and has a pair of receiving pedestals for holding a bridge material moistened with a buffer solution, and corresponding to each receiving pedestal. By the pair of pressing members arranged above the support, the bridge member held by the one pedestal, and the pressing member corresponding thereto, one side edge of the support is separated from the conveyor belt. First supporting means for supporting the corresponding one of the pedestal and the pressing member so as to be vertically displaceable in the vertical direction with respect to the support body, and the bridge member held by the other pedestal. And the corresponding pedestal and pressing member are perpendicular to the supporting body so that the other side edge portion of the supporting body can be held by being separated from the conveyor belt by the pressing member corresponding thereto. Direction, and second supporting means for displaceably supporting in an obliquely upward direction away from the one of the pedestals.

(Example) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an example of the electrophoresis tank of the present invention. The electrophoresis tank body 1 is provided with an endless conveyor belt 3 which is stretched over the pulley 2 so that the support 4 coated with the sample is conveyed from the inlet to a predetermined position and the support 4 after the electrophoresis is completed from the outlet. Transport. Buffer solution storage portions 5 and 6 are provided inside the migration tank so as to face each other with the transport belt 3 interposed therebetween, and buffer solutions 7 and 8 are stored in the storage portions 5 and 6, respectively. Pedestals 11 and 12 which hold the bridge members 9 and 10 made of sponge by being immersed in the
Is provided so as to be able to move up and down between a position below and a position above the support 4 which is conveyed by the conveyor belt 3.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the bridge member 9 and the pedestal 11 holding the bridge member 9. The bridge member 9 is formed in a quadrangular prism shape along the length direction of the support body 4, and an upper surface thereof is integrally provided with a flange portion 9a which is in contact with one side surface of the support body 4 in the length direction. The pedestal 11 is formed in a frame shape for accommodating the bridge material 9, a flange portion 11a for locking the flange portion 9a of the bridge material 9 is provided on the upper surface thereof, and an opening for the buffer solution 7 to enter the bottom surface thereof. 11b is formed, and shafts 11c are provided on both end faces in the length direction. The other bridge material 10 and the pedestal 12 holding it are also formed in the same manner as the bridge material 9 and the pedestal 11 shown in FIG.

As shown in a partial perspective view in FIG. 5, the pedestal 11 has the shafts 11c on both end surfaces thereof at the respective guide members (first supporting means) 13 at both ends of the migration tank main body 1 in the support body conveying direction.
Is engaged with and held by a guide groove 13a formed in a direction perpendicular to the support body 4, and the pedestal 12 has shafts 12c on both end surfaces thereof.
Similarly, at both ends of the migration tank main body 1 in the support carrying direction,
Each of the guide members (second support means) 14 has a support 4
With respect to the guide groove 14a having a width wider than the diameter of the shaft 12c formed continuously in the vertical direction and in the direction away from the pedestal 11, it is held. Further, in each of the guide members 13, a guide groove 13b similar to the guide groove 13a is formed above the supporting body 4 conveyed by the conveying belt 3, and the groove extends in the longitudinal direction of the supporting body 4. For example,
Rod-shaped pressing member 15 as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 131
Engage the ends of the. Similarly, in each of the guide members 14, a guide groove 14b similar to the guide groove 14a is formed above the supporting body 4 conveyed by the conveying belt 3, and the groove extends in the longitudinal direction of the supporting body 4 in this groove. Then, the end portion of the pressing member 16 having the same shape as the pressing member 15 is engaged. The weight of the pressing member 16 is preferably lighter than that of the pressing member 15.

In the present embodiment, the cradle 11, which is held as described above,
By raising and lowering 12 by a common raising and lowering mechanism, as shown in FIG.
From B to B in a vertical upward direction by h
Is moved vertically upwards from a to b, and further obliquely upward from cradle 11 from b to c to displace height h from a to c, and a period during which the pedestals 11 and 12 are vertically raised. The support 4 is separated from the conveyor belt 3, and both edges of the support 4 orthogonal to the conveying direction are sandwiched by the bridge member 9 and the pressing member 15 and the bridge member 10 and the pressing member 16 at positions indicated by broken lines. The sample coated on the support 4 is migrated by energizing the support 4 for a predetermined time through the bridge members 9 and 10 at the highest position of the receiving bases 11 and 12. Further, in the descending period after the end of the migration, the pedestal 11 is displaced vertically downward from B and returned to A, the pedestal 12 is vertically downward from c to d, and further diagonally downward from the d to approach the pedestal 11. Back to a, and when the pedestals 11 and 12 are moved vertically downward, the support 4 is separated from the pressing members 15 and 16 at the position indicated by the broken line, and then the support 4 is moved to the conveyor belt. Place on top of 3.

As described above, the cradle 11 is displaced vertically, and the cradle 12 is displaced vertically and diagonally away from the cradle 11, so that the cradle 12 is displaced obliquely upward while the support body 4 is sandwiched. By doing so, the support 4 is pulled horizontally toward the cradle 12 side with the cradle 11 side as a reference.
Therefore, the application point position at the time of migration and the support holding position in the migration tank are stabilized, whereby the accuracy of fractionation can be improved and the support can be easily fed. Further, in this embodiment, since the bridge materials 9 and 10 are made of sponge material, they can be easily set as compared with the case of using a filter paper, and can be used for a long period of time and can be reused by washing.

FIG. 4 shows a modified example of the bridge member and the pedestal. In this example, a plate-shaped support 21 is used, and a band-shaped sponge material is used as the bridge member 22, and a pin 22a planted in the support 21 is provided with a hole 22a formed at one edge of the bridge member 22.
The bridge member 22 is positioned and mounted on the pedestal 21 by engaging with each other. This cradle
21, the other side edge of the bridge material 22 is immersed in a buffer solution,
Similar to the above-described embodiment, the shafts 21b at both ends are engaged with and held by the guide grooves.

Of course, the present invention can be effectively applied to the case where a filter paper is used as the bridge material.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, in the present invention, the support is stretched and stretched in one direction with one of the pedestals as a reference with the opposite edges thereof being sandwiched between the bridge member and the pressing member. Therefore, the application point position at the time of migration and the support holding position in the migration tank can always be stably positioned at a predetermined position, and thus the fractionation accuracy can be improved and applied to the electrophoresis device. In that case, the support can be easily fed to the subsequent stage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a bridge member and a pedestal shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows an operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another example of the bridge member and the pedestal, and FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of FIG. 1. 1 ... Migration tank main body 2 ... Pulley 3 ... Conveyor belt 4 ... Support 5,6 ... Buffer solution storage 7,8 ... Buffer solution 9,10 ... Bridge material 11, 12 ... Cradle 13,14 …… Guide member 15,16 …… Holding member 21 …… Catch 22 …… Bridge material

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of pedestals, which are arranged below a support conveyed by a conveyor belt and hold a bridge material moistened with a buffer solution, and arranged above the supports corresponding to the respective pedestals. A pair of pressing members, a bridge member held by the one pedestal, and the pressing member corresponding to the bridge member so that one side edge portion of the support body can be held apart from the conveyor belt. First supporting means for supporting the one pedestal and the pressing member so as to be vertically displaceable with respect to the support body, the bridge member held by the other pedestal, and the pressing member corresponding thereto. Thus, the other pedestal and the corresponding pressing member corresponding to the other side edge portion of the supporting body can be sandwiched in the direction perpendicular to the supporting body and the one receiving side so that the other side edge portion of the supporting body can be sandwiched by being separated from the conveyor belt. Electrophoresis tank, characterized in that it comprises a second supporting means for displaceably supported obliquely upward away from.