JP4101193B2 - Liquid dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing apparatus that dispenses a liquid sample in a liquid analysis apparatus that uses a liquid, such as a liquid chromatography analysis apparatus, an ion chromatography analysis apparatus, and an electrophoresis analysis apparatus.

  In a liquid sample analyzer, a sample bottle or a well plate is generally used as a holding container for a liquid sample. A plurality of these holding containers are set in a holding container tray that is removable from the liquid dispensing apparatus, and the holding container tray is set in the liquid dispensing apparatus.

  When the analysis is started, the needle is moved into the sample holding container by the moving mechanism of the liquid dispensing device, or the sample holding container is moved to the needle position, whereby the sample is sucked and discharged.

  The reference value of the moving coordinate at this time is a design value determined based on the physical dimensions of the sample holding container and the holding container tray, but strictly differs depending on the apparatus due to the accumulation of component dimensional errors and assembly errors. Therefore, it has parameters that allow fine adjustment of the reference value. In particular, the reference value in the vertical direction that determines the distance between the needle tip and the bottom surface of the sample holding container is important.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the liquid suction / discharge means includes a pipe 14, a nozzle support means 13, and a needle 8. The initial position of the liquid suction / discharge means is the tip position of the needle 8. The distance from the bottom surface of the sample container 2 is Z + ΔZ.

  When the liquid sample 1 is sucked from the sample container 2, the needle 8 is lowered in the direction of the container 2 and stopped from the bottom surface of the container 2 at a position ΔZ. If the needle 8 is moved to the vicinity of the bottom surface of the sample container 2, as shown in FIG. 8B, the fine liquid sample 15 can be reliably sucked.

  Here, if the distance between the tip of the needle 8 and the bottom surface of the sample container 2 is too large, a precious sample will remain in the sample holding container. On the other hand, the tip of the needle 8 and the bottom surface of the sample container 2 are in contact with each other. If this happens, the tip of the needle 8 is deformed and the sample cannot be sucked correctly.

  For this reason, as described above, the reference value in the vertical direction that determines the distance between the tip of the needle and the bottom surface of the sample holding container is important, and it is necessary to set the reference value in advance by visual inspection. It is important that the reference value can be set by observing the inside of the sample container while being held in the container holding tray.

  Here, the sample container is made of a colorless, transparent or translucent material such as glass, polypropylene, polystyrene, etc., which is excellent in chemical resistance. The state of the tip of the needle and the bottom surface of the sample holding container can be confirmed.

  However, it is technically difficult to manufacture the sample container holding tray with the same material and thickness as the sample container, and it is very expensive. Therefore, a colored material has been used. Therefore, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, if the notch for observation is formed in the sample container holding tray, the inside of the sample container can be observed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-19160

  By the way, the sample container holding tray can arrange the sample containers two-dimensionally so that a large number of sample containers can be held. It is difficult to manufacture the bottom shape of the sample container holding tray uniformly due to individual manufacturing errors and the like, and distortion of the bottom shape occurs for each holding tray.

  Since the bottom shape of the holding tray is distorted, when a plurality of sample containers are set on the holding tray, the positions of the bottom surfaces of these sample containers are also different.

  Therefore, if the tip of the needle is lowered and the lowest position is set for each of the sample containers arranged two-dimensionally on the holding tray, the needle contacts the bottom surface of the sample container regardless of the distortion of the bottom shape of the holding tray. The liquid sample can be reliably aspirated without any trouble.

  However, since the sample containers are two-dimensionally arranged, the inside of the sample arranged on the outer periphery of the holding tray can be observed, but the inside of the sample containers arranged at other positions is difficult to observe. is there.

  In addition, it is very troublesome to perform the setting operation of the lowest position of the needle for each individual sample container, which requires a long time and affects the analysis efficiency of the sample.

  An object of the present invention is to realize a liquid dispensing device capable of suppressing the occurrence of contact with a container bottom or sample suction failure by simple position adjustment of a needle tip.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.
(1) The liquid dispensing apparatus of the present invention sucks and discharges the liquid in the liquid holding container from the tip of the nozzle in order to dispense a liquid sample and a holding container tray in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged. Liquid suction / discharge means, and a housing in which the holding container tray is disposed.

  In the liquid dispensing apparatus, an opening is formed in the side surface portion of the holding container tray so that the bottom portion of the holding container arranged on the side surface portion of the holding container tray can be visually observed. A transparent window is formed on the side surface of the housing so that the bottom of the holding container arranged on the side surface portion of the container tray can be seen.

(2) Preferably, in (1) above, the operation control means for controlling the operation of the liquid suction means for sucking liquid from the liquid holding container on the holding container tray disposed in the housing; A lowest position of the nozzle tip of the liquid suction means, the lowest position setting means of the nozzle tip that can be set for each liquid holding container on the holding container tray, the lowest position setting means of the nozzle tip, The lowest descending position of the nozzle tip of one or two sample containers arranged on one side surface of the holding container tray, and one or two sample containers arranged on the other one side surface of the holding container tray. Three lowest positions, the lowest position of the nozzle tip, are set, and the nozzles at all container arrangement positions arranged on the holding tray from these three lowest positions and the coordinate information of the holding container tray are set. To set the lowest position of the end.
(3) A holding container tray in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged, a liquid suction / discharge means for sucking and discharging the liquid in the liquid holding container from the tip of the nozzle in order to dispense a liquid sample , In a liquid dispensing apparatus having a holding container tray in which a liquid holding container can be disposed and a housing in which the holding container tray is disposed, the bottom of the holding container arranged on the side surface of the holding container tray can be visually observed. In addition, an opening is formed in the side surface of the holding container tray.
(4) A holding container tray in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged, a liquid suction / discharge means for sucking and discharging the liquid in the liquid holding container from the tip of the nozzle in order to dispense a liquid sample , In a liquid dispensing apparatus having a holding container tray in which a liquid holding container can be disposed and a housing in which the holding container tray is disposed, the bottom of the holding container arranged on the side surface of the holding container tray can be visually observed. In addition, a transparent window is formed on the side surface of the holding container tray.
(5) A holding container tray in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged, a liquid suction means for sucking the liquid in the liquid holding container from the tip of the nozzle in order to dispense a liquid sample, and the holding container tray In a liquid dispensing apparatus having a housing disposed on
An opening is formed in the side part of the holding container tray so that the bottom part of the holding container arranged on the side part of the holding container tray can be seen, and the opening is arranged on the side part of the holding container tray arranged in the casing. A transparent window is formed on the side surface of the housing so that the bottom of the holding container can be seen.
( 6) Preferably, in (1) above, the operation control means for controlling the operation of the liquid suction means for sucking the liquid from the liquid holding container on the holding container tray disposed in the casing; A lowest position of the nozzle tip of the liquid suction means, the lowest position setting means of the nozzle tip that can be set for each liquid holding container on the holding container tray, the lowest position setting means of the nozzle tip, The lowest descending position of the nozzle tip of one or two sample containers arranged on one side surface of the holding container tray, and one or two sample containers arranged on the other one side surface of the holding container tray. Three lowest positions, the lowest position of the nozzle tip, are set, and the nozzles at all container arrangement positions arranged on the holding tray from these three lowest positions and the coordinate information of the holding container tray are set. Set the lowest position of the tip.
(7) A holding container tray in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged, a liquid suction means for sucking the liquid in the liquid holding container from the tip of the nozzle in order to dispense a liquid sample, and the holding container tray In the liquid dispensing apparatus having the casing disposed in the opening, an opening is formed in the side surface of the holding container tray so that the bottom of the holding container arranged on the side surface of the holding container tray can be seen.
(8) A holding container tray in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged, a liquid suction means for sucking the liquid in the liquid holding container from the nozzle tip in order to dispense a liquid sample, and a plurality of liquid holding containers In a liquid dispensing apparatus having a holding container tray that can be disposed and a housing in which the holding container tray is disposed, the holding container is provided so that the bottom of the holding container arranged on the side surface of the holding container tray can be visually observed. A transparent window is formed on the side surface of the tray.

  By simply adjusting the position of the needle tip, it is possible to realize a liquid dispensing apparatus that can suppress the occurrence of contact with the container bottom and sample suction failure.

  Therefore, the remaining amount of the sample in the holding container can be minimized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a sample container and a sample container holding tray of a liquid dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the liquid sample 1 is accommodated and held in a sample bottle (transparent sample container) 2 and sealed with a cap 3. The sample bottle 2 holding the sample is set in a sample bottle tray 4 (shown in FIG. 1B) taken out from the liquid dispensing apparatus.

  The sample bottle tray (sample container holding tray) 4 has an opening 5 on the side surface thereof, and the bottom surface of the sample bottle 2 disposed on the outer periphery of the tray 4 is visually observed in a state where the sample bottle 2 is accommodated. It is possible.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the liquid dispensing apparatus 18 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 2, the sample bottle tray 4 in which the sample bottle 2 is set is installed inside the casing of the liquid dispensing apparatus. The liquid dispensing device 18 has a door 6 that can be opened and closed to allow the sample bottle tray 4 to be taken in and out, and this door 6 has a transparent window 7 so that the state where the sample bottle tray 4 is installed can be observed. have.

  FIG. 3 shows an external view (FIG. 3B) of the liquid dispensing device 18 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a sample bottle tray 4 (FIG. 3A) accommodated therein. It is a figure which shows a relationship.

  The sample container holding tray 4 is formed with not only the front opening 5 but also the side opening 16. Moreover, the liquid dispensing apparatus 18 has a transparent window 22 formed on the left side surface portion.

  From the transparent window 22, the bottom surfaces of the sample bottles 19, 20 among the sample bottles 19, 20, 21 arranged at the three corner positions of the sample bottle tray 4 arranged inside can be visually observed. Yes.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram of the liquid dispensing device 18 as viewed from the front, and is an explanatory diagram when adjusting the position of the needle (nozzle) 8 of the liquid suction / discharge means capable of sucking and discharging a liquid sample. First, the needle 8 is inserted into the sample bottle 21 arranged at the corner position of the sample bottle tray 4, and the lowest position of the tip of the needle 8 (the tip of the nozzle) is set visually. This setting operation is executed by moving and stopping the needle using a keyboard, a display, or the like.

  When setting of the lowest lowered position of the needle 8 at the position of the sample bottle 21 is completed, the lowest lowered position of the needle 8 at the arrangement position of the sample bottles 19 and 20 is set via the transparent window 7 or the transparent window 22 on the side surface.

  That is, the needle lowest position at the three corner positions of the quadrangular sample bottle tray 4 is set, and the set position is stored in the storage means. From the three lowest positions (three-dimensional coordinate positions) and the sample bottle arrangement coordinates of the sample bottle tray 4, the lowest position of the needle relative to the sample bottle at another position is calculated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for calculating the lowest position of the needle with respect to the sample bottle at the other position described above.

  In step 100 of FIG. 5, the coordinate positions of the three points of the sample bottles 19, 20, and 21 are p1 (x1, y1, z1), p2 (x2, y2, z2), and p3 (x3, y3, z3). Next, in step 101, the needle 8 is finely adjusted to determine coordinate reference values z1, z2, and z3 in the height direction of the three points of the sample bottles 19, 20, and 21.

  Next, in step 102, the two-dimensional inclination of the sample bottle tray 4 is calculated from the following equations (1) to (5), and the reference value z at each coordinate position of the sample container holding tray 4 is determined.

  Here, a calculation formula of the reference value z at each coordinate position of the sample container holding tray 4 is shown. Assuming that the coordinates of the sample bottles 19, 20, and 21 are p1 (x1, y1, z1), p2 (x2, y2, z2), and p3 (x3, y3, z3), the equation of the plane passing through the three points is It becomes following Formula (1).

ax + by + cz + d = 0 −−− (1)
However,
a = ((y2-y1) * (z3-z1))-((z2-z1) * (y3-y1) --- (2)
b = ((z2-z1) * (x3-x1))-((x2-x1) * (z3-z1)) --- (3)
c = ((x2-x1) * (y3-y1))-((y2-y1) * (x3-x1)) --- (4)
d = 0-((x1 * a) + (y1 * b) + (z1 * c)) --- (5)
Therefore, the optimum reference value z at an arbitrary coordinate position (coordinate information) p (x, y) can be calculated by the following equation (6).
z = − (ax + by + d) / c −−− (6)
According to the needle lowering position at each position calculated as described above, the operation of the needle 8 is controlled, and the sample is aspirated.

  Although not shown, the liquid dispensing apparatus of the present invention includes a needle 8 drive mechanism, a needle drive mechanism control means, a needle 8 lowest position setting means, an instruction means such as a drive instruction keyboard, and a data storage means. Etc. are provided.

  As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sample bottle tray 4 in which the plurality of sample containers 2 are arranged is housed in the liquid dispensing apparatus, and is located at the corner of the tray 4 from the outside. Three sample bottle bottoms are configured to be visible.

  Then, if the needle lowering position with respect to the sample bottles arranged at the three points is visually set, appropriate needle lowering positions at other arrangement positions are automatically calculated, and according to the calculated individual lowering positions. The sample suction operation of the needle 8 is controlled.

  Therefore, it is possible to realize a liquid dispensing apparatus capable of suppressing the occurrence of contact with the container bottom and suction failure of the sample by simple position adjustment of the needle tip.

  FIG. 6 is a modification of the sample bottle tray 4. The sample bottle tray 4 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 has openings 5 and 16 formed on the front and side surfaces, but is not an opening but a position corresponding to the arrangement position of the sample bottle 2 as shown in FIG. In addition, a plurality of slit-like grooves 9 may be formed on the front and side surfaces of the tray 4.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic external view of the well plate 10 used as a sample container of the liquid dispensing apparatus and its holding tray 11. The tray 11 has a slit-like groove like the opening 12. A plurality of well plates 10 can be supported on the holding tray 11.

  The well plate 10 is made of a transparent member, and can be observed from the outside in a state where the bottom surface that stores the liquid is supported by the holding tray 11. Then, the well plate 10 is disposed in the liquid dispensing apparatus with the support plate 11 being supported, and the lowest position of the needle 8 is set as in the above-described example.

  In the example described above, the lowest descending position of the needle 8 at the three corners of the sample bottle holding tray 4 is adjusted. However, the needles 8 are arranged at one side surface of the holding tray 4 instead of the three corners. Set the lowest lowered position of the nozzle tip at three sample container arrangement positions: one or two sample container arrangement positions and one or two sample container arrangement positions arranged on the other one side surface of the holding tray 4 It can also be configured to.

It is an external view of the sample container and sample container holding tray of the liquid dispensing apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the liquid dispensing apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance which looked at the liquid dispensing apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention from the side surface. It is the figure which looked at the liquid dispensing apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention from the front, and is explanatory drawing in the case of adjusting the position of a needle. It is a flowchart which determines the reference value in each coordinate position of the sample container holding tray in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the modification of the sample container holding tray in one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is an external view of a well plate and its holding tray according to the present invention. It is setting explanatory drawing of the lowest position of the needle in a liquid dispensing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,15 Liquid sample 2 Sample bottle 3 Cap 4 Sample bottle holding tray 5, 16 Opening 6 Door 7, 22 Transparent window 8 Needle 9 Slit groove 10 Well plate 11 Holding tray 13 Nozzle support means 14 Piping 18 Liquid dispensing device 19 , 20, 21 Sample bottle

Claims (8)

A holding container tray in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged, a liquid suction / discharge means for sucking and discharging the liquid in the liquid holding container from the tip of the nozzle in order to dispense a liquid sample, and the holding container tray In a liquid dispensing apparatus having a housing disposed inside,
An opening is formed in the side part of the holding container tray so that the bottom part of the holding container arranged on the side part of the holding container tray can be seen, and the opening is arranged on the side part of the holding container tray arranged in the casing. A liquid dispensing apparatus, wherein a transparent window is formed on a side surface of the casing so that the bottom of the holding container can be seen.   2. The liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation control means for controlling an operation of the liquid suction means to suck liquid from a liquid holding container on a holding container tray disposed in the housing, and the liquid A nozzle tip lowest position setting means capable of setting the lowest drop position of the nozzle tip of the suction means for each liquid holding container on the holding container tray. The lowest position of the nozzle tip of one or two sample containers arranged on one side surface of the holding container tray, and the nozzle of one or two sample containers arranged on the other one side surface of the holding container tray Three lowest positions, the lowest position of the tip, are set, and from these three lowest positions and the coordinate information of the holding container tray, the nozzle tip at all container arrangement positions arranged on the holding tray Liquid dispensing apparatus characterized by setting the lowermost position of the. A holding container tray in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged, a liquid suction / discharge means for sucking and discharging the liquid in the liquid holding container from the tip of the nozzle in order to dispense a liquid sample, and the holding container tray In a liquid dispensing apparatus having a housing disposed inside,
A liquid dispensing apparatus, wherein an opening is formed in a side surface of a holding container tray so that a bottom of the holding container arranged on the side surface of the holding container tray can be visually observed. A holding container tray in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged, a liquid suction / discharge means for sucking and discharging the liquid in the liquid holding container from the tip of the nozzle in order to dispense a liquid sample, and a plurality of liquid holding containers In a liquid dispensing apparatus having a holding container tray in which the holding container tray can be disposed, and a housing in which the holding container tray is disposed.
A liquid dispensing apparatus, wherein a transparent window is formed on a side surface of the holding container tray so that the bottom of the holding container arranged on the side surface of the holding container tray can be seen. A holding container tray in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged, a liquid suction means for sucking the liquid in the liquid holding container from the tip of the nozzle in order to dispense a liquid sample, and the holding container tray are arranged inside. A liquid dispensing apparatus having a housing
An opening is formed in the side part of the holding container tray so that the bottom part of the holding container arranged on the side part of the holding container tray can be seen, and the opening is arranged on the side part of the holding container tray arranged in the casing. A liquid dispensing apparatus, wherein a transparent window is formed on a side surface of the casing so that the bottom of the holding container can be seen. 2. The liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation control means for controlling an operation of the liquid suction means to suck liquid from a liquid holding container on a holding container tray disposed in the housing, and the liquid A nozzle tip lowest position setting means capable of setting the lowest drop position of the nozzle tip of the suction means for each liquid holding container on the holding container tray. The lowest position of the nozzle tip of one or two sample containers arranged on one side surface of the holding container tray, and the nozzle of one or two sample containers arranged on the other one side surface of the holding container tray Three lowest positions, the lowest position of the tip, are set, and from these three lowest positions and the coordinate information of the holding container tray, the nozzle tip at all container arrangement positions arranged on the holding tray Liquid dispensing apparatus characterized by setting the lowermost position of the. A holding container tray in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged, a liquid suction means for sucking the liquid in the liquid holding container from the tip of the nozzle in order to dispense a liquid sample, and the holding container tray are arranged inside. A liquid dispensing apparatus having a housing
A liquid dispensing apparatus, wherein an opening is formed in a side surface of a holding container tray so that a bottom of the holding container arranged on the side surface of the holding container tray can be visually observed. A holding container tray in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged, a liquid suction means for sucking the liquid in the liquid holding container from the tip of the nozzle in order to dispense a liquid sample, and a holding in which a plurality of liquid holding containers can be arranged In a liquid dispensing apparatus having a container tray and a housing in which the holding container tray is disposed,
A liquid dispensing apparatus, wherein a transparent window is formed on a side surface of the holding container tray so that the bottom of the holding container arranged on the side surface of the holding container tray can be seen.

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