JP3718064B2 - Sample liquid separator - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sample liquid sorting apparatus that collects a sample liquid from a microorganism culture apparatus or an enzyme reaction apparatus, and more particularly to a sample liquid sorting apparatus that can automate the collection of a sample liquid.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a series of operations such as the work of collecting a sample from a microorganism culture apparatus or oxygen reaction apparatus at a predetermined time, and the management cleaning work after the collection are performed by a pump or valve provided by the engineer in the sample collection apparatus. It is done by operating.
[0003]
Since the sample solution needs to be collected every predetermined time, the conventional method of manual sample collection requires engineers to work at night and on holidays, which is a harsh labor. It is. In addition, since it depends on the manpower, there may be a problem in the collection time, the collection amount, the collection quality, and the like.
[0004]
[Problems that the Invention is to Solve
Therefore, a sample liquid sorting device shown in FIG. 3 is considered. As shown in the figure, the sample liquid sorting device 30 communicates with a bottom side in a sealed measuring container 31, a bottom side in a culture solution tank 32, and a transport pipe 33, and an upper part in the measuring container 31. Is connected to a supply / exhaust pump 36 via a supply / exhaust pipe 35 having a filter 34, a second transport pipe 37 is branched from the transport pipe 33, and a first pinch valve 38 is provided in the middle of the second transport pipe 37. A second pinch valve 39 is provided on the upstream side (culture medium tank side) of the branch portion of the transport pipe 33, the first pinch valve 38 is opened, and the second pinch valve 39 is closed. A fixed amount of sample solution is collected from the culture solution tank 32 by the pressure drop in the measuring container 31, and the first pinch is placed with the tube end of the two transport pipe 37 facing the inlet of the collection container such as the test tube 8. The valve 38 is closed and the second pinch valve 39 is opened. After, the paper is a sample liquid by the liquid surface the pressure of the weighing container 31 by the discharge pump 36 is transferred either obtain device into a test tube 8, when the collection of the specimen solution, the closing timing of the second pinch valve 38, the culture solution The liquid level in the measuring container 31 tends to increase more than the fixed amount due to the difference in viscosity and the inertial rotation of the supply / discharge pump 36, which makes it difficult to set the fixed amount of the sample liquid.
[0005]
Therefore, there is a technical problem that can be solved in order to automatically correct the sample liquid level of the sample liquid to the fixed liquid level and collect an accurate sample liquid in the measuring container. It aims at solving.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned object, and the invention according to claim 1 includes an upper side in a sealed measuring container and a bottom side in a sample liquid tank for storing a sample liquid. The first transport pipe made of silicon tube communicates with the second transport pipe made of silicon tube for transporting the sample liquid from the measurement container to the sample liquid collector at the bottom of the measurement container. A first pinch valve and a second pinch valve for opening and closing are provided in the pipe and the second transport pipe, respectively, and the liquid level of the sample liquid in the measuring container is detected in the measuring container to give a signal when the liquid level is fixed. Provide a sensor to output,
Further, a suction pump for discharging the atmosphere in the container from the upper part of the measuring container and a pressure pump for pressurizing the liquid level of the sample liquid in the measuring container are connected to the measuring container through a filter for cleaning and sterilization . In the sample liquid sorting device, the height position of the outlet in the measuring container of the first transport pipe is equal to the liquid level of the fixed amount of culture solution collected in the measuring container, and When the sample start signal is input by the timer, the first pinch valve is opened, the second pinch valve is closed, and the suction pump is output until the signal is output from the sensor. collected specimens liquid to the metering container by operating the, when a signal from the sensor is output, the suction pump is stopped, the suction upon collection of the sample solution was started at the same time the pressurizing pump predetermined time Pont The excess culture solution due to the inertia of this is pushed back into the culture solution tank, and the supply of the culture solution to the first transport tube is made when the outlet of the first transport tube meets the air in the measuring container at a fixed liquid level. Is cut and a fixed amount of culture solution is collected in a measuring container. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the first pinch valve is closed and the second pinch valve is opened, and then the pressure pump is operated. The sample liquid is transferred from the measuring container to the sample liquid collection container, and then the first pinch valve is opened, the second pinch valve is closed, and the pressure pump is operated to cultivate the remaining liquid in the first transport pipe. Blow back into the tank, and keep the first pinch valve closed and the second pinch valve open for a predetermined time, operate the pressurizing pump and dry the second transport pipe. Take-off device,
According to a second aspect of the present invention, one end of the first transport pipe extending from the outlet in the measuring container to the exposed portion outside the measuring container is formed of a metal pipe, and a thin metal rod is provided in the measuring container. Extending upward from the bottom side and penetrating the ceiling of the weighing container,
2. The sample liquid according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured by electrically connecting one of the metal rod and the metal tube as an anode or a cathode and electrically connecting the other as a cathode or an anode to corresponding contacts. A sorting device is provided.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention applied to a culture solution sorting apparatus will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Figure 1 shows the preparative culture partial device as a device preparative sample liquid fraction. As shown in FIG. 1, the culture solution sorting apparatus 1 uses a long and narrow sealed glass container as a measuring container 2, and a culture solution tank (sample solution tank) that stores the culture solution in the upper part of the measuring container 2. ) The bottom side of 3 is communicated with a first transport pipe 4 made of silicon tube, a long and narrow discharge pipe part 5 is formed on the bottom part of the measuring container 2, and a second transport made of silicon tube is formed on the discharge pipe part 5. A tube 6 is connected, and a discharge port 7 at the tip of the second transport tube 6 faces an inlet 9 of a test tube 8 as a sample liquid collection container. Then, the culture solution stored in the glass culture solution tank 3 is sucked into the measuring container 2 by suction negative pressure, and after measurement, pressurized air is supplied into the measuring container 2 and the liquid level is maintained at the predetermined pressure. The first pinch valve 11 is connected to the first transport pipe 4 and the second pinch valve is connected to the second transport pipe 6 in order to transport the culture solution from the inside of the measuring container 2 to the test tube 8 by pressurizing. 12 are attached, and the first transport pipe 4 and the second transport pipe 6 are configured to be openable and closable. Here, the first pinch valve 11 and the second pinch valve 12 are closed by pressing the first transport pipe 4 and the second transport pipe 6 along the radial direction from the outside and crushing them. It is a valve that opens when released. For this reason, the inside and outside of the first transport pipe 4 and the second transport pipe 6 can be easily sterilized .
Then, the metering container to the second upper and discharging the container atmosphere in weighing container 2, a tubular pipe connecting portion 13 for supplying pressurized air at a predetermined pressure in the metering container 2 is integrally formed An intake / exhaust pipe 15 having a filter 14 for cleaning and sterilization is attached to the pipe connection section 13. The end of the intake / exhaust pipe 15 is bifurcated, and each branch pipe 16, 17 is a suction pump. 18 and a pressure pump 19 are connected.
[0008]
Therefore, the second transport pipe 6 is closed by closing the second pinch valve 12, and the first transport pipe 4 is opened by opening the first pinch valve 11. Thereafter, only the suction pump 18 is operated to When the atmosphere in the measuring container 2 is discharged to the outside, the culture solution in the culture solution tank 3 can be sucked into the measuring container 2 according to the pressure drop in the measuring container 2, and conversely, the second pinch valve 12 is opened, the second transport pipe 6 is opened, and when the first pump pipe 19 is closed by closing the first pinch valve 11, the pressurizing pump 19 is operated, so that the pressurized air acting on the liquid level is reduced. The culture medium in the measuring container 2 can be transferred to the test tube 8 via the second transport tube 6 by the pressure.
[0009]
And the height position in the measurement container 2 of the outlet 20 in the measurement container 2 of the 1st transport pipe 4 is equal to the liquid level of the fixed quantity culture solution extract | collected by the said measurement container 2, and the fixed quantity culture solution It is set to come into contact with the liquid level. Accordingly, when the pressurizing pump 19 is operated while the first pinch valve 11 is opened and the second pinch valve 12 is closed, the excess of the culture solution is pushed back to 3 in the culture solution tank, and the fixed amount liquid is obtained. by the outlet 20 of the first transportation flue 4 encounters the air in the weighing container 2 in position, the supply of the culture liquid to the first transport tube 4 is cut off, the weighing container 2 results in quantitative culture The liquid will be collected. As described above, in this embodiment, the height position in the measuring container 2 of the outlet 20 in the measuring container 2 of the first transport pipe 4 is equal to the liquid level of the fixed amount of culture solution collected in the measuring container 2. In addition, by setting so as to be in contact with the liquid level of the fixed amount of the culture solution, excess timing of the culture solution caused by the closing timing of the pinch valves 11 and 12, the viscosity difference of the culture solution, and the inertia of the pump 16 By using suction, and also utilizing the inability to transmit pressure due to the air in the measuring container 2 and the outlet 20 of the first transport pipe 4 meeting each other, it is possible to collect a fixed amount of culture solution. .
[0010]
However, in order to control the opening and closing timing of the pinch valves 11 and 12 and the operation timing of the pumps 18 and 19, a certain standard is required. For this purpose, a sensor for detecting the liquid level of the culture solution in the measuring container 2 Is required.
[0011]
Here, as a sensor, it is possible to use a float type sensor that opens and closes contacts using buoyancy. However, due to the limitation of the capacity in the measuring container 2, the cleanliness and the difficulty of sterilization are reduced. Adopting is difficult if you think about it.
[0012]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, one end portion of the first transport pipe 4 that extends from the outlet 20 in the measuring container to the exposed portion outside the measuring container is constituted by the metal tube 21 and the thin metal rod 22 is provided in the measuring container. 2 extends upward from the bottom side, penetrates the ceiling portion of the weighing container 2, and one of the metal rod 22 and the metal tube 21 serves as an anode or cathode and the other serves as a cathode or anode, respectively. It is configured to be electrically connected to a contact (not shown) and to input a signal when the contact is closed to the controller 23.
[0013]
Therefore, the sensor 24 composed of the metal tube 21 and the metal rod 22 is excellent in cleanliness and sterilization as compared with the float type sensor, and has a very small influence on the volume of the measuring container 2, and is simple and inexpensive. It becomes. Further, when the metal tube 21 is used as it is as a part of the sensor 24, it is possible to sense all the liquid levels above the fixed liquid level, and to expand the detection accuracy and the detection range.
[0014]
The controller 23 comprises a well-known sequencer or microcomputer, and automatically opens and closes the pinch valves 11, 12 and the pumps 18 for automatically collecting the culture solution in the measuring container 2 and then transferring it to the test tube 8. , 19 is configured to control operation / stop.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing basic control of the controller 23. As shown in the figure, in this control, the controller 23 first activates a timer for managing the year, date, and time when a switch-on input for starting a sample is received. Then, a standby mode is entered, and the system waits until the time (year, day, time) set by the timer (step 0).
[0016]
When the set time is reached by the timer, the first pinch valve 11 is opened, the second pinch valve 12 is closed, and then the pressurizing pump 19 is started for a predetermined time (about 10 sec) (step 1).
[0017]
With the pressure of the pressurized air, all the deposits in the first transport pipe 4 are blown back to the culture solution tank 3, and all the high-viscosity culture solution due to the growth of microorganisms in the tube is also discharged out of the tube. Thereby, the inside of the first transport pipe 4 is cleaned, and the culture solution tank 3 is agitated so that its viscosity becomes uniform. Of course, depending on the setting of the cleaning time, the microorganisms can be uniformly distributed by this stirring.
[0018]
Next, in order to collect the culture solution, the first pinch valve 11 is held open and the second pinch valve 12 is held closed, and the suction pump 18 is started until an energization signal is input from the sensor 24. (Step 2).
[0019]
When the culture solution is sucked into the measurement vessel 2 from the culture solution tank 3 due to the pressure drop of the measurement vessel 2, and both the metal tube 21 and the metal rod 22 come into contact with the culture solution and are electrically connected to each other, the controller 23, assuming that the collection of the culture solution in the measuring container 2 is completed, stops the suction pump 18, and simultaneously opens the first pinch valve 11 and holds the second pinch valve 12 closed, 19 is activated for a predetermined time (about 10 seconds).
[0020]
As a result, an applied pressure acts on the liquid level of the culture solution collected in the measuring container 2, and an excess of the culture solution is pushed back to the culture solution tank 3 by this pressure (step 3).
[0021]
After a predetermined time (about 10 seconds), a drive signal is output to the rotational drive device (step motor or the like) 26 of the support base 25 that supports the test tube 8, and the discharge port 7 of the second transport tube 6 is connected to the test tube 8. After reaching the inlet 9, a drive signal is output to an actuator (not shown) to open a slide shutter (not shown), thereby opening the inlet 9 of the test tube 8.
[0022]
After opening, the pressure pump 19 is operated, the first pinch valve 11 is kept closed, the second pinch valve 12 is opened, and the culture is performed by the pressure of the pressure pump 19 acting on the liquid level. The liquid is transferred to the test tube 8 (step 4).
[0023]
Then, the operation of the pressurizing pump 19 and the opening of the first pinch valve 11 and the closing of the second pinch valve 12 are closed for a predetermined time (about 5 seconds), and the remaining liquid in the first transport pipe 4 is blown into the culture tank 3. In this way, the inside of the first transport pipe 4 is cleaned (step 5).
[0024]
Further, the first pinch valve 11 is closed and the second pinch valve 12 is kept open for a predetermined time (about 10 sec), and the pressurizing pump 19 is operated to dry the second transport pipe 6 (step 6). Subsequently, a drive signal is output to the actuator to close the inlet 9 of the test tube, thereby preventing evaporation of the collected culture medium.
[0025]
Thereafter, a drive signal is output to the rotation drive device (step motor or the like), the support base 25 is rotated by a predetermined angle, that is, the pitch of the test tube 8, and the next test tube 8 is It faces the discharge port 7 of the second transport pipe 12 (step 7) and returns to step 0. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the reflector 40 and the photoelectric switch 41 are used for controlling the rotation angle of the support base 25.
[0026]
As described above, the culture solution sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment simply eliminates the influence of fluid inertia caused by the closing timing of the pinch valves 11 and 12 and the viscosity variation of the culture solution as the sample solution. In addition, the first transport pipe 4 is cleaned, the second transport pipe 6 is cleaned and dried, and the next culture medium is collected, so that the reliability of automatic collection of a constant quality culture medium is possible. It can be improved as much as possible.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, the suction pump 18 and the pressurization pump 19 are provided and purified by the filter 14, respectively. However, the suction pump 18 and the single filter 14 may be used for the purification. The present invention includes such a configuration. In addition, the culture solution sorting apparatus 1 is naturally installed in a temperature-controlled warehouse such as a refrigerator when it is necessary to manage the culture solution at a constant temperature depending on the type of microorganism or the property of the sample solution. Is.
[0028]
Furthermore, the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention naturally extends to the modified ones.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described in detail in the one embodiment, the upper side in the sealed measuring container and the bottom side in the sample liquid tank for storing the sample liquid are arranged in the first made of silicon tube. A second transport pipe made of a silicon tube is provided at the bottom of the measuring container, and a second transport pipe made of a silicon tube for transporting the sample liquid from the measuring container to the sample liquid collector, and the first transport pipe and the second transport pipe Provided with a first pinch valve and a second pinch valve for opening and closing, respectively, and a sensor for detecting the liquid level of the sample liquid in the measuring container and outputting a signal when the liquid level is fixed. Further, a suction pump for discharging the atmosphere in the container from the upper part of the measuring container and a pressure pump for pressurizing the liquid level of the sample liquid in the measuring container are connected to the measuring container through a filter for cleaning and sterilization . A sample liquid sorting device comprising: Height position of the outlet of the metering container of the transport tube, said and equal to the liquid surface of the culture solution of quantification to be taken to the weighing container, and set in contact with the liquid surface of the quantitation of the culture solution, the specimen by a timer When a start signal is input, the first pinch valve is opened, the second pinch valve is closed, and the suction pump is operated until a signal is output from the sensor to collect the sample liquid in the measuring container. When the signal is output from the sensor, the suction pump is stopped, and at the same time, the pressurization pump is started for a predetermined time to collect excess culture medium due to the inertia of the suction pump when collecting the sample liquid. When the outlet of the first transport pipe meets the air in the measuring container at a fixed liquid level, the supply of the culture liquid to the first transport pipe is cut off, and the fixed amount of the culture liquid is placed in the measuring container. Collected facilities And then, after a predetermined time, after the first pinch valve was closed, and the second pinch valve open, and operating the pressure pump to transfer the sample liquid to the sample fluid collecting container from the weighing container, then The first pinch valve is opened, the second pinch valve is closed, the pressure pump is operated, the remaining liquid in the first transport pipe is blown back into the culture tank, and the first pinch valve is closed for a predetermined time. Since the controller that dries the second transport pipe by operating the pressurizing pump while holding the second pinch valve open is provided.
The influence of fluid inertia due to the closing timing of each pinch valve and the variation in the viscosity of the sample liquid is eliminated, and a fixed amount of sample liquid is automatically collected.
In addition, the first pinch valve and the second pinch valve are closed by pressing the first transport pipe and the second transport pipe made of silicon tube along the radial direction from the outside, and crushing them to release the pinching pressure. Therefore, the inside and outside of the first transport pipe and the second transport pipe can be easily sterilized, and the suction pump for discharging the atmosphere in the container from the upper part of the measuring container and the liquid of the sample liquid in the measuring container Since the pressurizing pump that pressurizes the surface is connected via a filter for cleaning and sterilization, the cleanliness and sterility of the measuring container can be maintained by the filter.
In addition, after the sample liquid is transferred from the measuring container to the sample liquid collection container, the first pinch valve is opened, the second pinch valve is closed, the pressure pump is operated, and the remaining liquid in the first transport pipe is removed. Since the second transport pipe is dried by blowing back into the culture tank and further holding the first pinch valve closed and the second pinch valve open for a predetermined time and operating the pressurizing pump. In addition to eliminating the influence of fluid inertia due to the valve closing timing and variations in the viscosity of the culture medium as the sample liquid, the first transport pipe is cleaned, the second transport pipe is cleaned and dried. In preparation for the collection of the next culture solution, the reliability of automatic collection of a constant quality culture solution is improved as much as possible.
[0030]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, one end of the first transport pipe extending from the outlet in the measuring container to the exposed portion outside the measuring container is formed of a metal pipe. In addition, a thin metal rod is extended upward from the bottom side in the weighing container to penetrate the ceiling portion of the weighing container, and one of the metal rod and the metal tube is an anode or a cathode, and the other is as the cathode or anode, by electrically connected to the corresponding contacts, constituting said sensor, all above the liquid level than the determination of the liquid level and used as part of it sensor portion of the metal tube Since it senses, the detection accuracy can be greatly improved.
Moreover, it is excellent in cleanliness and sterilization, has a very small influence on the volume of the measuring container, is simple in construction and is inexpensive.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a configuration diagram of a culture preparative apparatus according to an embodiment of the sample liquid preparative apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing control contents of a controller.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional sample liquid sorting apparatus that has been studied.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Culture solution collection device (sample solution collection container)
2 Measuring container 3 Culture tank 4 First transport tube
6 Second transport tube 8 Test tube (sample liquid collection container)
11 First pinch valve 12 Second pinch valve
13 Pipe connection part 14 Filter for cleaning and sterilization 18 Suction pump 19 Pressurizing pump 20 Outlet in measuring container 21 Metal pipe 22 Metal rod 23 Controller 24 Sensor

Claims (2)

The upper side in the sealed measuring container and the bottom side in the sample liquid tank for storing the sample liquid are communicated with each other by a first transport pipe made of silicon tube ,
A second transport pipe made of silicon tube for transporting the sample liquid from the measurement container to the sample liquid collector at the bottom of the measurement container;
A first pinch valve and a second pinch valve for opening and closing the first transport pipe and the second transport pipe, respectively;
A sensor for detecting the liquid level of the sample liquid in the measuring container and outputting a signal when the liquid level is fixed is provided in the measuring container,
Further, a suction pump for discharging the atmosphere in the container from the upper part of the measuring container and a pressure pump for pressurizing the liquid level of the sample liquid in the measuring container are connected to the measuring container through a filter for cleaning and sterilization . A sample liquid separator,
The height position of the outlet in the measuring container of the first transport pipe is set to be equal to the liquid level of the fixed amount culture solution collected in the measuring container and to be in contact with the liquid level of the fixed amount culture solution,
When the sample start signal is input by the timer, the first pinch valve is opened,
The second pinch valve is closed and the suction pump is operated until the signal is output from the sensor to collect the sample liquid in the measuring container. When the signal is output from the sensor, the suction pump is Stop ,
At the same time, the pressurization pump is activated for a predetermined time, and when collecting the sample liquid, excess culture liquid due to the inertia of the suction pump is pushed back to the culture liquid tank, and the first transport is carried out to the air in the measuring container at a fixed liquid level. When the outlet of the tube meets, the supply of the culture solution to the first transport tube is cut off, and a fixed amount of culture solution is collected in the measuring container,
After a predetermined time has elapsed, after closing the first pinch valve and opening the second pinch valve, the sample pump is transferred from the measuring container to the sample liquid collection container by operating the pressure pump ,
Thereafter, the first pinch valve is opened, the second pinch valve is closed, the pressure pump is operated, and the remaining liquid in the first transport pipe is blown back into the culture tank.
Further, a sample liquid component is provided, wherein a controller is provided for holding the first pinch valve closed and the second pinch valve open for a predetermined time, operating the pressure pump, and drying the second transport pipe. Taking device. One end of the first transport pipe extending from the outlet in the measuring container to the exposed portion outside the measuring container is configured with a metal pipe,
A thin metal bar is extended upward from the bottom side in the measuring container to penetrate the ceiling part of the measuring container,
Furthermore, according to claim one of the metal rod and the metal tube as the anode or the cathode, while the, as a cathode or anode, by electrically connected to the corresponding contacts, which is characterized by being configured the sensor The specimen liquid sorting device according to 1.

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