JPS63101759A - Liquid weighing and sampling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To certainly perform the suction and emitting work of a liquid, by automatically adjusting the falling quantities of a pipet at the liquid sucking and emitting positions of said pipet according to the arrangement height of a sample container. CONSTITUTION:When the pipet P1 communicating with and connected to a rotor R reaches a liquid sucking position (a), a rack and pinion apparatus 60 is operated and a rising and falling guide rod 40 is subjected to a first falling movement and falls until the lower ends of foot pieces 23, 32 collide with a stopper part 79 to stop at a first falling position (e). At the position (e), the height of a liquid level is detected by the liquid level sensor arranged to a pipet P and the height of the stopper part 79 is automatically adjusted by the liquid level information. When the sucking operation of a pump ends, the rod 40 rises and the pipet P1 is transferred to a liquid emitting position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Technical Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to a liquid suitable for accurately and rapidly separating serum samples, etc. in an automatic analyzer that performs biochemical and immunological analysis. Regarding a weighing device.

[Prior art and its problems]

In this type of conventional liquid weighing device, a disc-shaped Holter holds a plurality of pipettes at each required angle, and these pipettes are sequentially moved from a measuring liquid measuring position to a measuring liquid discharging position. The rotation of the Holter is controlled so that the pipette is intermittently transferred to the washing position, and the holder is equipped with a dedicated pump for each pipette, and these pumps perform a breathing action when the pipette reaches the piglet or each position listed in E. Is there something that is configured to do this?

However, in a rented liquid weighing device that holds multiple pipettes in one Holter,
Since the descending distance of all pipettes is the same, it is uniquely determined by the height of the pipette relative to the washing trough and the height at which the aspirated liquid is discharged, or the descending distance of the pipette when aspirating liquid. Therefore, only specialized containers can be used in the automatic analyzer, and the liquid level in the container must also be kept constant.As a result, for example, serum samples cannot be aspirated directly from centrifuge tubes. etc., when changing the descending distance of the pipette, manual adjustment is required each time, and this work is extremely complicated.
This problem has also been a factor in hindering full automation from blood collection to analysis.

(Object of the invention) This invention was created in view of the current situation, and
The purpose of this is to automatically select the descending distance of the pipette at the liquid suction position and the liquid discharge position, even if there are two or more types of containers containing the liquid to be aspirated. As a result, we aim to provide a liquid weighing device a that can reliably perform liquid suction and discharge operations, is easy to handle, and is extremely useful for full automation from blood collection to analysis. .

(L! Young of the invention) In order to achieve such an object, the present invention includes a plurality of pipettes and at least one pipette.
A liquid weighing device is assumed to have a plurality of holders each holding one or more pipettes, and a drive control device that sequentially rotates and transfers these pipettes from a liquid suction position to a liquid discharge position to a washing position. A two-step moving body that rotatably fits and holds each holder in the liquid suction position of the v4 device, and an l-step moving body that rotatably holds each holder in each position other than the liquid suction position. a lifting guide rod operatively connected to the l-step and 2-step moving bodies, a magnetic body that attracts and holds the lifting guide rod and the l-step moving body, and a drive for moving the lifting guide rod up and down. In the first descending movement of the lifting guide rod, the l-step and 2-step moving bodies simultaneously descend to the first lowering position, and the lifting guide rod moves from the first lowering position to the first lowering position. In the second descending movement to the second descending position, the attraction state between the l-step moving body and the lifting guide rod due to the magnetic body is released, and only the two-step moving body descends to the second descending position. That is.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on an example shown in the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid weighing device A of the automatic analyzer according to this embodiment includes a stator S formed in the shape of a disk,
A rotor R disposed coaxially with the stator S, four pipettes P, four wooden holders H for holding these four pipettes P, and a liquid suction position a for these pipettes P.
It is comprised of a drive control device 1M that sequentially rotates and transfers the liquid from the liquid discharge position mb to the cleaning position Mc.

The stator S is fixed to the shaft 1, and a through hole 2 for liquid suction, a through hole 3 for liquid extrusion, and a through hole 4 for supplying cleaning liquid are formed through the stator S, respectively. has been done. Incidentally, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 denotes a spring that presses the stator S in the direction of the rotor R.

As shown in FIG. 4, the through hole 3 is opened at a point symmetrical to the through hole 2, and the through hole 4 is opened on a line perpendicular to the line connecting the through hole 2 and the axis 0. There is.

The other end of a suction line 7, which has one end connected to the Sunblink pump 6, is connected to the through hole 2 in communication.

A line for an extrusion pump 8 is connected to the through hole 3, and a line for a cleaning main pump 9 is connected to the through hole 4.

On the other hand, the rotor R is rotatably supported on the shaft l, and four pipettes p, , P2 . P,,P
, through holes 10a, 10b, 10c, 10 that are connected in communication with
d are opened, and these are connected to the above-mentioned pipettes P, , P, , ps, and P through tubes 11.

The four-piece holter H holding each of the four pipettes P sequentially rotates and transfers each of the pipettes P from the liquid suction position 2ia to the liquid discharge position and then to the cleaning position C by the drive control device 21M.

The drive control device g1M enables the Holter H to rotate at the liquid suction position t1a F#:? one two-step moving body 20 that holds c, three one-step moving bodies 30 that rotatably fit and hold each holder H at each position alb, c other than the liquid suction position, and these l step and a lifting guide rod 40 operatively connected to the two-step moving body 30°20; a magnetic body 50,50' that attracts and holds this lifting guide rod 40 and the L-step moving body 30; and the lifting guide rod. 40, an adjustment device 70 that finely adjusts the stop position of the l step moving body 30, and a rack and pinion device 60 that moves the halter H up and down.
It is comprised of a holder transfer device 80 that intermittently transfers the holder at every 0°. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 90 indicates a support plate, 91 indicates a fixed outer cylinder, and 92 indicates a bearing.

The l-step and 2-step movable bodies 30°20 have their main bodies shaped like cylinders or vertically divided into four parts.
9. Engagement grooves 21, 31 are provided on the inner circumferential surface of the holder H to slidably fit the locking pieces protruding from the lower ends of the legs of the holder H.
or is formed.

Further, the lower part of the main body of the two-step moving body 20 has an outer circumferential diameter smaller than the outer circumferential diameter of the main body, and an inner circumferential diameter slightly larger than the outer circumferential diameter of the groove part 71 of the adjusting device @70, which will be described later. A cylindrical body 22 is integrally formed, and a magnetic body 50° made of a permanent magnet is fixed to the upper surface of the cylindrical body 22 to which the three one-step movable bodies 30 are connected. Further, magnetic bodies 50 made of permanent magnets are fixed to the lower surfaces of the three one-step moving bodies 30, and these magnetic bodies so, so' normally move the one-step moving bodies 30 to the cylindrical body 22. It acts to connect with the particles adsorbed to it.

The cylindrical body 22 of the two-step movable body 20 configured in this manner has a pin 4 at the upper end of the elevation guide rod 40.
1 is fitted and fixed.

Further, a pin 4 is provided on the lower surface of each one-step moving body 30.
A leg piece 32 having a long groove 33 that is slidable in the vertical direction is integrally extended between the cylindrical body 22 and a cylindrical body 42 for an elevation guide rod, which will be described later. It is arranged. The opening length of the long groove 24 is slightly longer than the length at which the flange 41 abuts against the lower end of the groove when the elevating guide rod 40 is lowered to the second stop position.

Lifting guide rod 40 with a flange 41 disposed at the upper end
has the rack and pinion device 6 at its lower end.
An elevating guide rod cylindrical body 42 having two long grooves 43 is disposed between the elevating guide rod 40 and the legs 23, 32.

The rack-and-binion device z60 has a known configuration, and although a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here, the descending distance of the lifting guide rod 40 is automatically determined by a sensor (not shown) or by a selected command signal. selected based on
4 to be driven and controlled! ! has been completed.

The adjusting device 70 has a motor 71, a gear 73 fixed to a rotating shaft 72 of the motor 71, and a gear 74 meshing with the gear 73 at the lower end, and has a screw 75 carved on the outer periphery of the upper end body. A rotary body 76 and a screw 77 that is screwed into the screw 75 of the rotary body 76 are carved on the inner wall surface, and are fitted into the lifting guide rod cylinder 42 and slide along the pitching direction of the cylinder 42. The stopper body 78 has a planar stopper with which the ends of the legs 23 and 32 abut against each other during the first downward movement of the pipette P. A portion 79 and the groove portion 71 which is formed in a step shape and is provided on the outer wall surface of the stopper body 78 for lowering the conical body 22 are formed, respectively.

The Holter transfer device 80 includes a motor 81 and a
a gear 82 fixed to a rotating shaft; an outer cylindrical body 84 fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of a gear 83 that meshes with the gear 82;
The outer cylindrical body 84 is disposed on a rotating shoulder via a bearing 92, and the holter H or Wj movable member is attached to the body along the longitudinal direction of the outer cylindrical body 84. Four possible long grooves 85 are provided.

Next, the operation of the liquid weighing device A configured as described above will be explained.

First, a container containing the liquid to be aspirated, or in the case of a shallow container as shown in FIG. 1, a pipette Pt connected to the rotor R is used to aspirate the liquid as shown in FIG. When you arrive at position a, uh-nku-and-pinion? t
't160 is activated and the elevating guide rod 40 makes the first downward movement, thereby causing the above-mentioned l step and 2 step moving body 3
0.20, as shown in FIG. 2, descends until the lower ends of the legs 23, 32 abut against the flat stopper portion 79 of the stopper body 78, and as a result, the pipette P0 moves as shown in FIG. To, the first descending rank lii! Stop at 1e. This first lowering position e is determined by a liquid level sensor (not shown) installed in each pipette P, which detects the liquid level in the container.
Based on this information, the adjusting device 70 is driven, and the height of the flat stopper portion 79 is automatically adjusted to:A. Of course, similar adjustments are made at the liquid discharge position ab and the cleaning position C as well.

Further, if the container contains the liquid to be aspirated, or if it is a container with a deep bottom such as a centrifugal tube as shown by the dashed line in FIG.
It moves downward from the movement position Me to the second lowering position stirrup f. At this time, the suction state between the l-step movable body 30 and the lifting guide rod 40 due to the magnetic body 50.50° is released, and only the two-step movable body 20 descends based on the information from the liquid level sensor, thereby sucking the liquid. After the sampling pump 6 is set to this state where it stops at the second lowered position itf, which is the optimum position, the sampling pump 6 starts its suction operation, and the required amount of liquid is sucked out from the container.

When the suction operation of the pump 6 is completed, the elevating guide rod 40 rises, and the two-step moving body 20 at the second lowering position 11f rises to the first lowering position Me, and the magnetic body 50° of the one-step moving body 30 moves upward. This first descending position fie
The l-step and two-step moving bodies 30.20 in
After returning to the original position, the pipette P1 is intermittently transferred by 90° to the liquid discharge position via the Holter transfer device 80.

When the pipette P reaches the liquid discharge position 1b, the extrusion pump 8 operates to discharge the liquid and dispenses the liquid into another container (not shown).

Thereafter, when the pipette P reaches the cleaning position W, the cleaning paddy pump 9 operates to supply cleaning liquid to the pipette P, and the inside of the pipette PI is cleaned.

Further, the pipettes P2 to P4 also perform liquid suction, discharge, and cleaning operations in sequence according to the same procedure as the pipette P.

In the above embodiment, the case where the magnetic body 50° 50° is made up of a permanent magnet has been explained as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, it can be made up of an electromagnet. It is also possible.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, in this invention, the amount of descent of the pipette at the liquid suction position and the liquid discharge position corresponds to the installation height and liquid level height of the sample container, reaction container, etc. Since it can be adjusted automatically, it is possible to perform suction and discharge operations of liquid reliably, and it can also be applied to different liquid containers, making handling convenient. It has many excellent effects, such as being able to fully automate everything from blood collection to analysis in biochemical analyses.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show a liquid weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and No. 1I2!1 is a sectional view showing the structure of the liquid weighing device, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the liquid weighing device operated to the second lowered position; FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the correspondence between the stator and the rotor. . (Explanation of symbols) A...Liquid weighing device H...Holder M...Drive control device P, ・p, ・Ps, Ps...Bipette, R...Rotor S... - Stator a...Liquid suction position b...Liquid discharge position C...Cleaning position e...First lowering position f...Second lowering position 20...2 step moving body 30.-1 Step moving body 40...Elevating guide rod 50, 50'...Magnetic body 60...Rack and pinion device 80...Holder transfer device Patent applicant Nitte Co., Ltd. Figure 1 Figure 3 figure

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of pipettes, a plurality of holders each holding at least one of these plurality of pipettes, and a drive control that sequentially rotates and transfers these pipettes from a liquid suction position to a liquid discharge position to a cleaning position. A liquid weighing device comprising: a two-step moving body that rotatably fits and holds each holder at a liquid suction position; A 1-step moving body rotatably fitted and held, a lifting guide rod operatively connected to these 1-step and 2-step moving bodies, and a magnetic material that attracts and holds the lifting guide rod and the 1-step moving body. and a drive device for moving the lifting guide rod up and down, and in the first descending movement of the lifting guide rod, the 1-step and 2-step moving bodies simultaneously descend to a first lowering position,
In the second downward movement of the lifting guide rod from the first lowering position to the second lowering position, the attraction state between the first step moving body and the lifting guide rod due to the magnetic body is released, and only the second step moving body moves to the second lowering position. 2. A liquid weighing device characterized in that it is configured to descend to a lowering position. (2) The liquid weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic body is a permanent magnet. (3) The liquid weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic body is an electromagnet.