JP3733124B2 - Liquid reservoir - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid to be dispensed by a dispensing device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some dispensing apparatuses include a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid such as a reagent to be dispensed into another container. A liquid reservoir in a conventional dispensing device uses a reagent bottle as it is (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
However, the liquid reservoir described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the capacity is determined by the size of the reagent bottle, and the capacity cannot be freely set (particularly the capacity is increased), and the opening diameter of the bottle is limited. Therefore, there is a problem that a plurality of nozzles (multiple nozzles) cannot be inserted simultaneously.
[0004]
Further, if a plurality of reagent bottles are installed in order to increase the capacity, there is a problem that a large installation space is required. In addition, depending on the position of the reagent bottle, the distance to the dispensing container is increased, so that there is a problem that the processing time (processing capacity) is lowered due to the long movement time of the nozzle.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-295317 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The object of the present invention is that the nozzle of the dispensing device can surely suck the liquid even when the amount of stored liquid is small, and is suitable for increasing the capacity and responding to multiple nozzles. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid storage unit capable of improving the processing efficiency (processing capacity) of the apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Such an object is achieved by the present inventions (1) to (6) below.
[0008]
(1) A liquid storage unit having a liquid storage tank for storing a liquid to be dispensed by a dispensing device having a nozzle for sucking and discharging liquid and a nozzle moving mechanism for moving the nozzle,
The liquid storage tank has a portion where the depth gradually increases from one end portion toward the other end side, and a portion where the depth gradually increases from the other end portion toward the one end portion side, and the deepest Part is unevenly distributed on one end side,
The dispensing device includes a plurality of nozzles arranged in a direction that is perpendicular and horizontal to a direction connecting the one end and the other end of the liquid storage tank,
The shape of the bottom surface of the liquid storage tank is continuous in a certain shape along the arrangement direction of the nozzles,
The dispensing device sucks liquid into the nozzle at the deepest position of the liquid storage tank, and discharges the sucked liquid into a container outside the one end side of the liquid storage section. A liquid reservoir.
[0009]
(2) The liquid storage part according to (1), wherein a bottom surface of the liquid storage tank is substantially V-shaped in a side view.
[0010]
(3) The liquid storage unit according to (1) or (2), further including a storage unit that has a bottom corresponding to the bottom of the liquid storage tank and detachably stores the liquid storage tank.
[0011]
(4) The liquid storage unit according to (3), wherein the storage unit functions as a thermostatic chamber that holds the temperature of the liquid in the liquid storage tank.
[0012]
(5) The liquid storage tank has a substantially transparent portion in at least a part of the side wall, and the storage portion visually recognizes the liquid level in the liquid storage tank from the side through the transparent portion. The liquid storage unit according to (3) or (4), which has a possible liquid level confirmation window.
[0013]
(6) The liquid storage part according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the liquid storage tank is installed in a state where an upper end opening part thereof is horizontal.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the liquid storage part of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing an embodiment of a liquid reservoir of the present invention. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the left side in FIG. 1 is referred to as “one end” and the right side is referred to as “the other end”. 1 is the “y-axis direction”, the direction perpendicular to the y-axis direction is the “x-axis direction”, and the vertical direction is the “z-axis direction”. Say.
[0017]
The liquid storage unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 stores a liquid F such as a reagent. The liquid F stored in the liquid storage unit 1 is dispensed into the test tube (container) 300 by the dispensing device 50. First, the dispensing device 50 will be described.
[0018]
The dispensing device 50 is a multiple-nozzle type dispensing device having a plurality of nozzles, and is detachably attached to the plurality of tip mounting portions 200 arranged in a line along the x-axis direction and each tip mounting portion 200. Nozzle tip (nozzle) 100. The number of nozzles of the dispensing device 50 is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 2 to 50, more preferably about 4 to 16.
In addition, although the nozzle chip 100 is normally disposable, in the present invention, the nozzle may not be disposable.
[0019]
In addition, the dispensing device 50 includes a moving mechanism (not shown) that moves each nozzle tip 100 and the tip mounting portion 200, and the operation of the moving mechanism moves each nozzle tip 100 and the tip mounting portion 200 in the z-axis direction ( It is movable in the vertical direction) and the y-axis direction. In addition, this moving mechanism may move each nozzle chip 100 and the chip | tip mounting part 200 together, or may move independently.
[0020]
A pump (not shown) is connected above the tip mounting portion 200, and the dispensing device 50 sucks the liquid F into the nozzle tip 100 or the liquid F in the nozzle tip 100 by operating the pump. Or discharge.
[0021]
A test tube rack (test tube holder) 400 is placed outside the one end 21 side of the liquid storage unit 1, and a plurality of test tubes 300 are standing on the x-axis in the test tube rack 400. It is held in a line in the direction. The arrangement interval of the plurality of test tubes 300 in the test tube rack 400 is the same as the arrangement interval of the nozzle tip 100 and the tip mounting portion 200 in the dispensing device 50.
[0022]
The dispensing device 50 as described above operates as follows. First, the dispensing device 50 moves each nozzle tip 100 to the position of the liquid storage unit 1, and in a state where each nozzle tip 100 is lowered until the tip is submerged below the liquid level, the liquid is placed in each nozzle tip 100. Inhale F. Next, each nozzle tip 100 is raised, moved to the position of the corresponding test tube 300, each nozzle tip 100 is inserted into the corresponding test tube 300, and the sucked liquid F is discharged into each test tube 300. .
[0023]
Although not shown in the figure, the test tube 300 further extends to the left side (one end side) in FIG. 1 and is arranged in a plurality of columns (matrix). The dispensing device 50 repeats the same operation as described above, and dispenses the liquid F to the test tubes 300 in each row.
[0024]
Alternatively, instead of arranging the test tubes 300 in a matrix, transport means (not shown) such as a belt conveyor for transporting the test tube rack 400 in the x-axis direction is provided, and a plurality of test tube racks 400 are provided by the transport means. The dispensing operation similar to that described above by the dispensing device 50 may be performed on the test tubes 300 of each test tube rack 400 one after another.
[0025]
Hereinafter, the liquid storage part 1 of this invention is demonstrated.
The liquid storage unit 1 has a liquid storage tank 2 that stores (puts in) the liquid F. The liquid storage tank 2 has a depth increasing section 23 in which the depth of the tank gradually increases from one end 21 toward the other end 22 side, and a tank depth from the other end 22 toward the one end 21 side. It has a gradually increasing depth increasing portion 24.
[0026]
Between the depth gradually increasing portion 23 and the depth gradually increasing portion 24 is a deepest portion 25 having the deepest depth. Thereby, when the liquid storage amount in the liquid storage tank 2 decreases, the slightly remaining liquid F gathers at the deepest portion 25 due to the inclination of the depth gradually increasing portion 23 and the depth gradually increasing portion 24. The deepest portion 25 is unevenly distributed on the one end portion 21 side. That is, the deepest portion 25 is positioned closer to the one end 21 than the other end 22.
[0027]
Further, the shape of the bottom surface of the liquid storage tank 2 (the surface on the side in contact with the liquid F) is continuous in a constant shape along the x-axis direction. Accordingly, the plurality of nozzle tips 100 of the dispensing device 50 can simultaneously suck the liquid F in the liquid storage tank 2 and increase the capacity of the liquid storage tank 2. The length of the liquid storage tank 2 in the x-axis direction is substantially the same as or larger than the length of the dispensing device 50 in the arrangement direction of the nozzle tips 100.
[0028]
Such a liquid storage tank 2 is installed with the upper end opening 26 in a horizontal state (attitude). That is, the liquid storage tank 2 is not installed at an inclination, but the tank itself has the shape as described above.
[0029]
When the dispensing device 50 sucks the liquid F in the liquid storage tank 2, each nozzle tip 100 is performed in a state (the state shown in FIG. 1) in the position of the deepest portion 25 in the horizontal direction. . Accordingly, even when the amount of liquid stored in the liquid storage tank 2 is small, the liquid F is collected in the deepest portion 25, so that the liquid F can be reliably sucked into each nozzle chip 100.
[0030]
Further, in the present invention, since the deepest portion 25 is at a position offset toward the one end portion 21 side, the distance to the test tube 300 can be shortened as compared with the case where it is at the center. Therefore, since the moving distance and moving time of each nozzle tip 100 in the y-axis direction can be shortened in the dispensing operation of the dispensing device 50, the cycle time can be shortened, and the processing efficiency (processing capacity) of the dispensing device 50 can be improved. Can be improved.
[0031]
The ratio of the distance from the deepest 25 until end portion 21 (the length indicated by L ₁ in FIG. 1), the distance from the deepest 25 to the other end 22 (the length indicated by L ₂ in Fig. 1) L ₁ : L ₂ is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 2: 3 to 1:50, and more preferably about 1: 5 to 1:20. Thereby, the processing efficiency (processing capacity) of the dispensing device 50 can be further improved while ensuring a large capacity of the liquid storage tank 2.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, each of the depth gradually increasing portions 23 and 24 is formed of an inclined surface whose depth gradually increases at a constant rate, and the deepest portion 25 is formed at a position where the two intersect. Yes. That is, the bottom surface of the liquid storage tank 2 is substantially V-shaped in a side view. Thus, even when the amount of liquid stored in the liquid storage tank 2 is particularly small, the liquid F is concentrated by the deepest portion 25, so that the liquid F can be reliably sucked into the nozzle chip 100. Moreover, the shape of the liquid storage tank 2 becomes relatively simple, and manufacture is easy.
[0033]
It does not specifically limit as a constituent material of the liquid storage tank 2, Various resin materials, various glass, various metal materials, etc. can be used. Moreover, it is preferable that at least a part of the liquid storage tank 2 is substantially transparent, and it is more preferable that the whole is substantially transparent. Thereby, the liquid level (liquid storage amount) in the liquid storage tank 2 can be easily visually recognized from the side.
[0034]
The liquid storage unit 1 of the present embodiment further includes a storage unit 3 that stores and holds the liquid storage tank 2. The liquid storage tank 2 is detachably attached to the storage unit 3.
[0035]
The storage unit 3 has a thermostat 31 and heat blocks 32 and 33 installed on the bottom side of the thermostat 31 and functions as a thermostat that keeps the liquid F in the liquid storage tank 2 warm. It is.
In addition, the accommodating part 3 is not restricted to what functions as a thermostat, What may have another function, and may hold | maintain the liquid storage tank 2 simply.
[0036]
The constant temperature bath 31 has a bottom portion (bottom surface) having a shape corresponding to the bottom portion of the liquid storage tank 2. That is, the bottom of the thermostatic chamber 31 has an asymmetric shape between the one end side and the other end side, like the liquid storage tank 2. Thereby, when the storage tank 2 is mounted in the storage portion 3, it cannot be mounted even if trying to mount the storage tank 2 in the opposite direction, so it is ensured that the operator erroneously mounts the storage tank 2 in the reverse direction. Can be prevented.
[0037]
On the side wall of the thermostat 31, a liquid level confirmation window 311 constituted by a notch is formed. Thereby, a part of the side surface of the liquid storage tank 2 mounted in the thermostat 31 is exposed from the liquid level confirmation window 311. At least the exposed portion of the liquid storage tank 2 is substantially transparent. From the liquid level confirmation window 311, the liquid level in the liquid storage tank 2 can be viewed from the side through the transparent portion. It has become. Therefore, even if the storage tank 2 is stored in the storage unit 3, the amount of stored liquid in the storage tank 2 can be confirmed from the side. The liquid level confirmation window 311 may be formed on a side wall of the thermostatic chamber 31 that is parallel to the y-axis direction.
[0038]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view showing another configuration example of the liquid storage tank.
In the liquid storage tank 2A shown in FIG. 2A, the deepest portion 25A formed between the depth gradually increasing portion 23 and the depth gradually increasing portion 24 has a certain length in the y-axis direction. The depth is constant in the area.
[0039]
In the liquid storage tank 2B shown in FIG. 2B, the bottom on the one end 21 side is formed in a semicylindrical shape, and the deepest portion 25B is formed by this semicylindrical portion.
[0040]
In the present invention, the shape of the liquid storage tank 2 may be similar to the liquid storage tank 2A or the liquid storage tank 2B described above. The liquid storage tank 2A and the liquid storage tank 2B are the same as the liquid storage tank 2 except for those described above.
[0041]
As mentioned above, although the liquid storage part of this invention was demonstrated about embodiment of illustration, this invention is not limited to this, Each part which comprises a liquid storage part is arbitrary structures which can exhibit the same function. Can be substituted. Moreover, arbitrary components may be added.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the nozzle of the dispensing device has the deepest portion at the position where the liquid is sucked, the nozzle can reliably suck the liquid even when the liquid storage amount is small. it can. Moreover, since the deepest part is unevenly distributed on the side where the container of the dispensing destination is present, the moving distance and moving time of the nozzle can be shortened, so that the processing efficiency (processing capacity) of the dispensing apparatus can be improved. Furthermore, it is suitable for use in combination with a multi-nozzle type dispensing device or for large capacity.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing an embodiment of a liquid reservoir of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view showing another configuration example of the liquid storage tank.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid storage part 2, 2A, 2B Liquid storage tank 21 One end part 22 Other end part 23, 24 Depth increase part 25, 25A, 25B Deepest part 26 Upper end opening part 3 Storage part 31 Constant temperature tank 32, 33 Heat block 50 minutes Injection device 100 Nozzle tip 200 Tip mounting part 300 Test tube 400 Test tube rack F Liquid

Claims (6)

A liquid storage section having a liquid storage tank for storing liquid to be dispensed by a dispensing device having a nozzle for sucking and discharging liquid and a nozzle moving mechanism for moving the nozzle;
The liquid storage tank has a portion where the depth gradually increases from one end portion toward the other end side, and a portion where the depth gradually increases from the other end portion toward the one end portion side, and the deepest Part is unevenly distributed on one end side,
The dispensing device includes a plurality of nozzles arranged in a direction that is perpendicular and horizontal to a direction connecting the one end and the other end of the liquid storage tank,
The shape of the bottom surface of the liquid storage tank is continuous in a certain shape along the arrangement direction of the nozzles,
The dispensing device sucks liquid into the nozzle at the deepest position of the liquid storage tank, and discharges the sucked liquid into a container outside the one end side of the liquid storage section. A liquid reservoir.   The liquid storage part according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the liquid storage tank is substantially V-shaped in a side view.   The liquid storage part according to claim 1, further comprising a storage part that has a bottom part corresponding to the bottom part of the liquid storage tank and that detachably stores the liquid storage tank.   The liquid storage unit according to claim 3, wherein the storage unit functions as a thermostatic chamber for keeping the temperature of the liquid in the liquid storage tank.   The liquid storage tank has a substantially transparent portion on at least a part of a side wall, and the storage portion is a liquid that allows the liquid surface in the liquid storage tank to be visually recognized from the side through the transparent portion. The liquid storage part of Claim 3 or 4 which has a surface confirmation window.   The liquid storage part according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the liquid storage tank is installed in a state where an upper end opening part thereof is horizontal.

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