JP5771083B2 - Nozzle tip transfer device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a nozzle chip transport device, and more particularly to an apparatus having a function of separating two fitted (connected) nozzle chips.

  In the medical field, an apparatus for dispensing a liquid sample such as blood, urine, a reagent or the like contained in a container into another container is widely used. Such a dispensing apparatus has a nozzle for sucking and discharging a liquid sample. After aspirating the liquid (parent sample) contained in the dispensing source container, the nozzle moves to the position of the dispensing destination container and injects the liquid (child sample) into the container.

  When dispensing, it is not preferable that the liquid dispensed in the previous step is mixed, that is, contamination is not preferable. Therefore, a nozzle composed of a nozzle body and a nozzle chip attached to the nozzle body is used. The nozzle tip is generally replaced with an unused one each time dispensing is performed. Thus, some dispensing devices include a nozzle tip transport device that supplies unused nozzle tips.

  The nozzle chip transport device transports the nozzle chip 10 through a chip transport path 100 as shown in FIG. The nozzle chip 10 has a body part and a chip head 10a. The diameter of the chip head 10a is larger than the diameter of the body part. The chip transport path 100 is composed of a pair of transport plates 102 disposed so that the plate surfaces are opposed to each other, and the lower surface of the chip head 10 a of the nozzle chip 10 between the pair of transport plates 102 is supported by the upper side of each transport plate 102. To do. Mechanical vibration is applied to the chip transport path 100, and the nozzle chip 10 is transported along the chip transport path 100 by mechanical vibration. In Patent Documents 1 and 2 below, an apparatus using such a chip transport path is described.

  The nozzle chip transfer device is provided with a mechanism for setting the nozzle chip 10 in the chip transfer path 100. However, depending on the structure of this mechanism, as shown in FIG. 8, the tip of another nozzle chip 10 is fitted through the opening of the nozzle chip 10 that is directly supported by the chip transport path 100, and these two nozzle chips 10 are inserted. May fit. The upper nozzle chip 10 fitted to the lower nozzle chip 10 hinders the conveyance of the lower nozzle chip 10. Therefore, the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a path for holding the nozzle chip fitted on the upper side, and drops the lower nozzle chip by its own weight to separate the lower nozzle chip from the upper nozzle chip. To do.

JP 2003-83987 A JP 2000-19182 A

  The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 uses the weight of the lower nozzle tip. Therefore, when the upper nozzle tip and the lower nozzle tip are strongly fitted, it may be difficult to separate the lower nozzle tip from the upper nozzle tip.

  An object of the present invention is to reliably separate two fitted nozzle chips.

The present invention provides a chip conveyance path for conveying a nozzle chip, and a chip that is provided above a delivery area where the nozzle chip is delivered from the chip conveyance path and supports a fitting nozzle chip fitted on the nozzle chip. A support portion and a protruding portion that protrudes in the lateral direction, and the upper surface of the nozzle tip sent out from the chip conveying path is brought into contact with the pressing lower surface of the protruding portion from above, and the nozzle tip is fitted to the fitting nozzle and a chip separating member for separating from the chip, the chip separating member is driven in the vertical direction, the protrusions following the nozzle tip the chip carrier of the chip carrier path in lowered position of the chip separating member characterized Rukoto which having a stop surface to temporarily stay in the road.

In the present invention, if the fitting nozzle chip is generated when the nozzle chip is delivered from the chip conveyance path, the fitting nozzle chip is supported by the chip support portion. When the tip separation member is driven downward in this state, the pressing lower surface of the protrusion comes into contact with the upper end of the nozzle tip in the delivery region from above. This ensures that the lower nozzle tip is separated from the fitting nozzle tip. Furthermore, in the present invention, when the chip separating member is in the lowered state, the stop surface in the protruding portion temporarily retains the next nozzle chip on the chip transport path in the chip transport path. In the protrusion, for example, a lower pressing surface is formed on the lower side, and a stop surface is further formed on the tip. As a result, the function of separating the nozzle chip from the fitting nozzle chip and the function of temporarily retaining the next nozzle chip on the chip conveyance path on the chip conveyance path can be provided in one chip separation member. The configuration of the chip transfer device is simplified.

In addition, the present invention supports a tip transfer path for transferring a nozzle tip and a delivery area where a nozzle tip is sent out from the tip transfer path, and supports a fitting nozzle tip fitted on the nozzle tip. And a fitting chip conveyance path that conveys the fitting nozzle chip in the lateral direction with the tip thereof facing down, and a protrusion that projects in the lateral direction, and the nozzle chip that is delivered from the chip conveyance path A tip separating member for bringing the pressing lower surface of the protruding portion into contact with the upper end surface from above and separating the nozzle tip from the fitting nozzle tip, and the tip separating member is a slit provided in the protruding portion. And it has the slit which the at least lower end part of the said fitting nozzle chip conveyed by the said fitting chip conveyance path passes, It is characterized by the above-mentioned .

A fitting chip conveyance path conveys a fitting chip, for example above a chip separation member. The chip separating member has a slit through which at least the lower end portion of the fitting nozzle chip conveyed by the fitting chip conveyance path passes. Thereby, the course of the fitting nozzle tip is ensured, and the collision of the fitting nozzle tip with the tip separating member is avoided. Moreover, according to such a structure, only a fitting nozzle chip can be continuously conveyed separately, separating a nozzle chip from a fitting nozzle chip.

In addition, the present invention supports a tip transfer path for transferring a nozzle tip and a delivery area where a nozzle tip is sent out from the tip transfer path, and supports a fitting nozzle tip fitted on the nozzle tip. A tip support portion, a tip separation member that separates the nozzle tip delivered from the tip transport path from the fitting nozzle tip, and has a main body and a protruding portion that protrudes laterally from the main body, A tip separating member for bringing the pressing lower surface of the protruding portion into contact with the upper end surface of the nozzle tip delivered from the tip conveying path from above and separating the nozzle tip from the fitting nozzle tip, and the main body comprises: A chip guide surface facing the end of the chip transport path, wherein the pressing lower surface is below a position in contact with the main body, and the chip plan Surface guides the nozzle tip sent from the chip carrier path downward, characterized in that.

The chip separating member includes, as the main body, for example, a columnar main body whose longitudinal direction is the vertical direction. The protruding portion is formed, for example, in a shape protruding from the upper end portion of the columnar body toward the chip conveyance path side, a lower pressing surface is formed on the lower side, and a chip guide surface is formed on the chip conveyance path side of the columnar body below the protruding portion. Is done. As a result, the function of separating the nozzle chip from the fitting nozzle chip and the function of adjusting the direction of the nozzle chip delivered from the chip transport path and guiding it downward can be provided in one chip separating member. The configuration of the chip transfer device is simplified.

Further, in the nozzle chip transport device according to the present invention, desirably, the chip support portion transports the fitting nozzle chip in a lateral direction with a tip of the fitting nozzle chip facing down. The chip separating member has a slit through which at least a lower end portion of the fitting nozzle chip conveyed by the fitting chip conveying path passes, and the slit is provided in the protrusion and the chip guide surface. It has been .

In the nozzle chip transport device according to the present invention, preferably, the protruding portion temporarily stops the next nozzle chip on the chip transport path in the chip transport path when the chip separating member is lowered. Have In addition, the nozzle chip transport device according to the present invention preferably includes a drive mechanism that drives the chip separating member in the vertical direction and a sensor that detects the fitting nozzle chip, and the drive mechanism includes the sensor. When the fitting nozzle tip is detected by the above, the tip separating member is driven downward .

  According to the present invention, the two fitted nozzle chips can be reliably separated.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the nozzle chip conveying apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of a chip separation apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of a chip | tip separation member. It is a figure which shows the state which the chip | tip separation member is pressing down the nozzle chip | tip. It is a figure which shows the state which the chip | tip separation member was located in the lowest part. It is a figure which shows the state by which a conveyance object nozzle chip is conveyed in the state which the nozzle chip is not fitting. It is a figure which shows the structure of a drive mechanism. It is a figure which shows a mode that a nozzle chip is conveyed by the chip conveyance path.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of a nozzle chip transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The nozzle tip transport device is used as a device that supplies unused nozzle tips to a dispensing device, for example.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle tip receiving portion 12 is formed in a container shape and accommodates the nozzle tip 10 refilled by the user. The conveyor 14 conveys the nozzle chip 10 accommodated in the nozzle chip receiving unit 12 upward, and drops the nozzle chip 10 onto the chip guide 16 from the uppermost part of the conveyor 14. The tip guide 16 has a pair of guide plates whose plate surfaces are diagonally opposed so that the interval becomes narrower downward, and the nozzle tip 10 is set in the supply tip transport path 18. A first vibration source 30 is provided in the supply chip transport path 18. The nozzle chip 10 on the supply chip conveyance path 18 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 32 by the mechanical vibration given to the supply chip conveyance path 18 from the first vibration source 30 and reaches the chip separation device 20.

  The tip separation device 20 is configured such that when another nozzle tip 10B is fitted on the transfer target nozzle tip 10A supported and transferred directly by the supply chip transfer path 18, the transfer target nozzle tip is driven by a mechanical driving force. 10A is separated from the upper nozzle tip 10B. Then, the transfer target nozzle chip 10 </ b> A is sent to the target chip transfer path 22, and the upper nozzle chip 10 </ b> B is sent to the fitting chip transfer path 28. On the other hand, when there is no nozzle chip 10B fitted on the transfer target nozzle chip 10A, the chip separating apparatus 20 sends out the transfer target nozzle chip 10A to the target chip transfer path 22. The detailed configuration and operation of the chip separating apparatus 20 will be described later.

  A second vibration source 34 is provided in the target chip transport path 22. The nozzle chip 10 on the target chip transport path 22 is transported in the direction of the arrow 36 to the chip array mechanism 24 by mechanical vibration applied to the target chip transport path 22 from the second vibration source 34.

  A third vibration source 38 is provided in the fitting chip transport path 28. The nozzle chip 10 on the fitting chip conveyance path 28 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 40 by the mechanical vibration applied to the fitting chip conveyance path 28 from the third vibration source 38 and returns to the chip receiving unit 12. The nozzle chip 10 returned to the chip receiving unit 12 is again conveyed by the conveyor 14 and is conveyed toward the chip arrangement mechanism 24.

  In the chip rack 26, holes into which the nozzle chips 10 are inserted are arranged. The chip arrangement mechanism 24 inserts the conveyed nozzle chip 10 into the hole of the chip rack 26. The nozzle tips 10 arranged in the tip rack 26 are taken out from the tip rack 26 and attached to the nozzle body in the process of dispensing.

  The chip arrangement mechanism 24 may employ a manipulator that inserts the nozzle chips 10 sequentially conveyed by the target chip conveyance path 22 into the chip rack 26 one by one. There are manipulators that move to the position of a hole where no other nozzle tip 10 is inserted and insert the nozzle tip 10, and those that fix the position where the nozzle tip 10 is inserted. In the case where a nozzle chip 10 is inserted at a fixed position, a chip rack driving mechanism that moves the chip rack 26 in the horizontal direction is employed. The tip rack driving mechanism moves the tip rack 26 so that the position of the nozzle tip 10 to be inserted by the manipulator matches the position of the hole into which the nozzle tip 10 is inserted.

  According to the configuration of such a nozzle chip transfer device, when the nozzle chip 10B is fitted on the transfer target nozzle chip 10A in the supply chip transfer path 18, the nozzle chip 10B is transferred from the fitted upper nozzle chip 10B. After the target nozzle chip 10A is separated by the mechanical driving force, the transfer target nozzle chip 10A is transferred to the chip arrangement mechanism 24. Further, the upper nozzle chip 10 </ b> B is transported to the chip receiving unit 12 and transported toward the chip array mechanism 24 again.

  Here, the fitting chip conveyance path 28 is configured to convey the nozzle chip 10 to the chip receiving unit 12. In addition to such a configuration, the fitting chip conveyance path 28 may be configured to convey the nozzle chip 10 to a separate collection box.

  A detailed configuration of the chip separating apparatus 20 will be described. 2A and 2B are a perspective view and a side view of the chip separating apparatus 20, respectively. The chip separating apparatus 20 includes a nozzle chip sensor 42, a chip separating member 48, a chip guide 50, a controller 54, and a driving mechanism 56.

  The supply chip conveyance path 18 and the fitting chip conveyance path 28 are composed of a pair of conveyance plates that are arranged with their plate surfaces facing each other. The fitting chip transport path 28 has a start end above the end of the supply chip transport path 18 or upstream of the end of the supply chip transport path 18 and passes above the end of the supply chip transport path 18. To the chip reception unit 12.

  The fitting chip transport path 28 is provided with a nozzle chip sensor 42 that detects the nozzle chip 10B. The nozzle chip sensor 42 outputs a detection signal to the controller 54 that controls the drive mechanism 56 when the nozzle chip 10B conveyed by the fitting chip conveyance path 28 arrives at a predetermined detection position. Here, the detection position is a position where the nozzle chip 10B enters the slit in the protrusion of the chip separating member 48, as will be described later.

  As the nozzle chip sensor 42, for example, a sensor including a light emitting unit 44 that emits light and a light receiving unit 46 that receives light is used. In this case, the light emitting unit 44 is arranged on one conveyance plate forming the fitting chip conveyance path 28, and the light receiving unit 46 is arranged on the other conveyance plate forming the fitting chip conveyance path 28. When the nozzle chip 10B passes between the light emitting unit 44 and the light receiving unit 46, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 44 and received by the light receiving unit 46 is blocked. In response to this, the light receiving unit 46 outputs a detection signal to the controller 54.

  The tip separating member 48 is disposed in a region where the nozzle tip 10 </ b> A is sent out from the supply tip transport path 18. The chip separating member 48 generally has a shape that is long in the vertical direction, and is driven in the vertical direction by the drive mechanism 56. 2A and 2B show a state where the chip separating member 48 is located at the top.

  FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are a perspective view, a top view, a front view, and a side view of the chip separating member 48, respectively. However, the figure which made the conveyance direction of the nozzle chip 10 the depth direction is a front view. Also, coordinate axes are defined with the right direction in the front view as the x-axis direction, the depth direction as the y-axis direction, and the upward direction as the z-axis direction.

  The chip separating member 48 is made of a highly rigid material such as metal or resin. The chip separating member 48 includes a columnar main body 58 extending in the z-axis direction, a protruding portion 60 protruding horizontally from the upper end of the columnar main body 58 toward the y-axis negative direction (supply chip conveyance path 18 side), and y-axis positive / negative The slit 64 is open in the direction and opened in the positive z-axis direction.

  It is preferable that the depth d of the protruding portion 60 is approximately the same as or slightly shorter than the diameter of the tip head of the nozzle chip 10. The slit 64 passes the nozzle chip 10 </ b> B conveyed by the fitting chip conveyance path 28, has a width in the x-axis direction wider than the diameter of the body portion of the nozzle chip 10, and the diameter of the chip head of the nozzle chip 10. The width in the x-axis direction is narrower than that. A chamfered surface 62 is formed at the lowermost portion of the slit 64 with the corners of the edge on the supply chip transport path 18 side being flattened.

  Since the guide surface 66 facing the supply chip transport path 18 side of the columnar main body 58 and the front end surface 68 and the lower surface 70 of the protrusion 60 function as surfaces for guiding the transport target nozzle chip 10A as described later, they are flat. Has been processed. In the present embodiment, the back surface and the top surface of the chip separating member 48 can have any shape.

  The shape and size of the tip separating member 48 are adapted to the shape and size of the nozzle tip used. Therefore, a plurality of types of chip separating members 48 having different shapes and sizes may be prepared in advance, and the chip separating members 48 may be replaced according to the shape and size of the nozzle chips used. Further, the protrusion 60 may have a structure that can be replaced with a different size, or a mechanism that adjusts the width of the slit 64 may be employed.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the chip guide 50 and the target chip transport path 22 are provided below the chip separation member 48. The target chip transport path 22 is composed of a pair of transport plates disposed so that the plate surfaces are opposed to each other, and starts at a position below the end of the supply chip transport path 18 or below the end of the supply chip transport path 18. Have The target chip conveyance path 22 reaches from the start end to the chip arrangement mechanism 24 that is the conveyance destination of the nozzle chip 10.

  The chip guide 50 has a pair of guide plates 52 whose plate surfaces face each other so that the width is narrowed downward. The lower side of one guide plate 52 is bonded to the upper side of one transfer plate forming the target chip transfer path 22, and the lower side of the other guide plate 52 is bonded to the upper side of the other transfer plate forming the target chip transfer path 22. Has been.

  Next, the operation of the chip separating apparatus 20 will be described. Here, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, it is assumed that the transfer target nozzle chip 10 </ b> A is sent out from the supply chip transfer path 18 in a state where the nozzle chip 10 </ b> B is fitted on the upper side.

  The transfer target nozzle tip 10 </ b> A sent out from the supply tip transfer path 18 reaches under the protruding portion 60 of the tip separation member 48. At this time, when the transport target nozzle chip 10A comes into contact with the guide surface 66 of the chip separating member 48, the transport target nozzle chip 10A is adjusted by the guide surface 66 so that the tip is directed downward. The nozzle tip 10 </ b> A to be conveyed is sent out from the supply chip conveyance path 18, and the upper nozzle chip 10 </ b> B is conveyed by the fitting chip conveyance path 28 and passes through the slit 64 of the chip separation member 48.

  When the upper nozzle chip 10B enters the slit 64 in the protrusion 60 of the chip separating member 48, the nozzle chip sensor 42 detects the upper nozzle chip 10B and outputs a detection signal to the controller 54. The controller 54 controls the drive mechanism 56 according to the detection signal, and drives the chip separating member 48 downward.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which the chip separating member 48 is driven downward. When the chip separating member 48 is driven downward, the lower surface 70 of the projecting portion 60 comes into contact with the upper surface of the chip head of the conveyance target nozzle chip 10A and presses down the upper surface of the chip head of the conveyance target nozzle chip 10A. As a result, the transfer target nozzle tip 10A is separated from the upper nozzle tip 10 and dropped.

  As described above, a chamfered surface is provided on the supply chip transport path 18 side at the lowermost portion of the slit of the chip separating member 48. Thereby, when the conveyance target nozzle tip 10A comes into contact with the lowermost part of the slit, the orientation of the conveyance target nozzle tip 10A is prevented from being disturbed.

  The transfer target nozzle chip 10A separated and dropped from the upper nozzle chip 10B is guided by the chip guide 50, set in the target chip transfer path 22, and transferred by the target chip transfer path 22. On the other hand, the upper nozzle chip 10B is continuously conveyed by the fitting chip conveyance path 28 even after the conveyance target nozzle chip 10A is separated.

  In FIG. 5, the chip separating member 48 is positioned at the lowermost position, the transfer target nozzle chip 10 </ b> A is transferred by the target chip transfer path 22, and the upper nozzle chip 10 </ b> B is transferred by the fitting chip transfer path 28. It is shown. After this state, the chip separating member 48 is driven upward and returns to the top.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the tip separation member 48 is located at the lowest position, the tip surface 68 of the protrusion 60 is located near the end of the supply tip transport path 18, Block it. The next nozzle chip 10 toward the end of the supply chip transport path 18 has a side surface of the chip head that contacts the front end surface 68 of the protrusion 60 and stays before the end of the supply chip transport path 18. This prevents the next nozzle tip 10 from being flipped up when the tip separating member 48 is driven upward.

  Thus, the protrusion 60 of the chip separating member 48 has a function of pressing down the upper surface of the chip head of the transfer target nozzle chip 10 </ b> A and the next nozzle chip 10 toward the end of the supply chip transfer path 18. 18 has a function of temporarily staying on the surface 18. If the structure has these functions, the protrusion 60 may extend upstream from the end of the supply chip transport path 18 or may not extend to the end of the supply chip transport path 18.

  Next, a case where the transfer target nozzle chip 10A is transferred in a state where the nozzle chip 10 is not fitted on the upper side will be described. In this case, since the nozzle chip 10B is not detected in the fitting chip conveyance path 28, the chip separating member 48 is stopped at the uppermost position as shown in FIG. When the transfer target nozzle chip 10 </ b> A is sent out from the supply chip transfer path 18, it falls below the protrusion 60 of the chip separation member 48 due to its own weight. At this time, when the transport target nozzle tip 10A comes into contact with the guide surface 66 of the chip separating member 48, the transport target chip is guided downward by the guide surface 66 with its tip adjusted to face downward. The Further, a chamfered surface is provided on the supply chip transport path 18 side at the lowermost part of the slit of the chip separating member 48. Thereby, when the conveyance target nozzle tip 10A comes into contact with the lowermost part of the slit, the orientation of the conveyance target nozzle tip 10A is prevented from being disturbed. The dropped transfer target nozzle chip 10 </ b> A is guided by the chip guide 50, set in the target chip transfer path 22, and transferred by the target chip transfer path 22.

  According to the chip separating apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, when another nozzle chip 10B is fitted on the transport target nozzle chip 10A, the transport target nozzle chip 10A is the upper nozzle chip by a mechanical driving force. Separated from 10B. Thus, the transfer target nozzle chip 10A is reliably separated from the upper nozzle chip 10B.

  The nozzle chip 10B fitted on the transfer target nozzle chip 10A is transferred to a fitting chip transfer path 28 different from the target chip transfer path 22 and returned to the chip receiving unit 12. Even if another nozzle chip is fitted on the nozzle chip 10B fitted on the transfer target nozzle chip 10A, the two nozzle chips fitted on the transfer target nozzle chip 10A Is conveyed by the fitting chip conveyance path 28 in a fitted state, and returned to the chip receiving unit 12.

  The chip separating member 48 in the present embodiment has a function of adjusting the direction of the transport target nozzle chip 10A sent out from the supply chip transport path 18 by the guide surface 66 and guiding it downward, and the lower surface 70 of the projecting portion 60 to transport the target nozzle chip. The function of pressing down the upper surface of the 10A chip head, and further, when the chip separating member 48 is located at the lowermost position, the next nozzle chip 10 toward the end of the supply chip transfer path 18 is moved onto the supply chip transfer path 18. It has a function of staying in. As described above, the tip separating member 48 is a single member, but also has a plurality of functions for guiding the nozzle tip 10.

  A configuration example of the drive mechanism of the chip separating member 48 will be described. FIG. 7 shows a drive mechanism for the chip separating member 48. The drive mechanism includes a rail 72, a rail guide 74, a motor 76, a pinion gear 78, and a rack gear 80.

  The rail 72 is attached to the front surface of the chip separating member 48 with the chip separating member 48 aligned in the longitudinal direction. The rail 72 has a shape protruding from the chip separating member 48. The rail 72 is slidable up and down while being fitted to a rail guide 74 fixed to the housing of the chip separating apparatus 20. As a result, the chip separating member 48 can move up and down together with the rail 72.

  The motor 76 is fixed to the housing of the chip separation device 20. The pinion gear 78 is attached to the shaft of the motor 76. The rack gear 80 is attached to the back surface of the chip separating member 48 with the chip separating member 48 aligned in the longitudinal direction. The rack gear 80 meshes with the pinion gear 78 and moves up and down as the motor 76 and the pinion gear 78 rotate. As a result, the chip separating member 48 moves up and down by the rotational driving force of the motor 76.

  The drive mechanism for the chip separating member 48 may be provided with a mechanism for urging the chip separating member 48 upward or downward. In this case, it is only necessary to drive the motor 76 when driving the chip separating member 48 in the direction opposite to the urging direction, so that the control process is simplified. Further, an electromagnetic driving source that generates a linear driving force by an electromagnet, and a mechanism that converts the direction of action of the driving force of such an electromagnetic driving source into a vertical direction and drives the chip separating member 48 may be adopted. Good.

  10, 10A, 10B Nozzle chip, 10a chip head, 12 chip receiving unit, 14 conveyor, 16, 50 chip guide, 18 supply chip transport path, 20 chip separation device, 22 target chip transport path, 24 chip array mechanism, 26 chip Rack, 28 Fitting chip transport path, 30 First vibration source, 32, 36, 40 Arrow, 34 Second vibration source, 38 Third vibration source, 42 Nozzle chip sensor, 44 Light emitting section, 46 Light receiving section, 48 chips Separating member, 52 guide plate, 54 controller, 56 drive mechanism, 58 columnar body, 60 protrusion, 62 chamfered surface, 64 slit, 66 guide surface, 68 tip surface, 70 bottom surface, 72 rail, 74 rail guide, 76 motor, 78 pinion gear, 80 rack gear, 100 chip transfer path.

Claims (6)

A chip transport path for transporting nozzle chips;
A tip support portion provided above a delivery region in which nozzle tips are delivered from the tip conveyance path, and supporting a fitting nozzle tip fitted on the nozzle tip;
A protruding portion that protrudes in the lateral direction is brought into contact with an upper end surface of the nozzle tip delivered from the tip transport path from above, and the nozzle tip is separated from the fitting nozzle tip. comprises a chip separating member,
The chip separating member is driven in the vertical direction,
The protrusion has a stop surface for temporarily retaining the next nozzle chip on the chip transport path in the chip transport path in the lowered state of the chip separating member.
Nozzle tip transfer device characterized by the above. A chip transport path for transporting nozzle chips;
Provided above the delivery area where the nozzle tip is delivered from the tip conveyance path, supports the fitting nozzle tip fitted on the nozzle tip, and fits the tip sideways downward. A mating chip conveyance path for conveying nozzle chips ;
A protruding portion that protrudes in the lateral direction is brought into contact with an upper end surface of the nozzle tip delivered from the tip transport path from above, and the nozzle tip is separated from the fitting nozzle tip. comprises a chip separating member,
The chip separating member is
It is a slit provided in the protruding portion, and has a slit through which at least a lower end portion of the fitting nozzle chip conveyed by the fitting chip conveyance path passes.
Nozzle tip transfer device characterized by the above. A chip transport path for transporting nozzle chips;
A tip support portion provided above a delivery region in which nozzle tips are delivered from the tip conveyance path, and supporting a fitting nozzle tip fitted on the nozzle tip;
A chip separating member that separates the nozzle chip delivered from the chip conveyance path from the fitting nozzle chip, and has a main body and a protruding portion that protrudes laterally from the main body, and is delivered from the chip conveyance path. been by pressing the lower surface of the projecting portion on the upper end surface of the nozzle tip is contacted from above, includes a chip separating member for separating the nozzle tip from the mating nozzle tip and,
The main body has a chip guide surface that faces an end of the chip transport path, and has a chip guide surface that is below a position where the pressing lower surface is in contact with the main body,
The tip guide surface guides the nozzle tip sent out from the tip transport path downward.
Nozzle tip transfer device characterized by the above. In the nozzle tip conveyance device according to claim 3,
The chip support portion includes a fitting chip conveyance path that conveys the fitting nozzle chip in a lateral direction with a tip of the fitting nozzle chip facing down.
The chip separating member has a slit through which at least a lower end portion of the fitting nozzle chip conveyed by the fitting chip conveyance path passes.
The slit is provided in the protrusion and the chip guide surface,
Nozzle tip transfer device characterized by the above. In the nozzle tip conveyance device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The protrusion has a stop surface for temporarily retaining the next nozzle chip on the chip transport path in the chip transport path in the lowered state of the chip separating member.
Nozzle tip transfer device characterized by the above. In the nozzle tip conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A drive mechanism for driving the chip separating member in the vertical direction;
A sensor for detecting the fitting nozzle tip,
The drive mechanism, when the fitting nozzle tip is detected by the sensor, drive the chip separating member downward,
Nozzle tip transfer device characterized by the above.

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