JPS627501B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention utilizes a method in which a sample such as serum is coated on a support and electrical current is applied to separate proteins into each component. Dispensing in electrophoresis equipment that allows cleaning of jigs such as quantitative dispenser nozzles and applicator tips, as well as sample dispensing plates, etc., in an electrophoresis equipment that can be done rationally and quickly using as little water as possible. This invention relates to cleaning equipment for dishes, jigs, etc.

Normally, in an automatic electrophoretic analyzer for serum proteins, etc., after a certain amount of a sample such as serum is collected from a container, a dispenser is used to dispense the sample into a dispensing dish. Applicator tools are used to apply the coating onto the support, but the nozzles of these dispensers, the jigs at the tip of the applicator tools, and the dispensing trays must be thoroughly cleaned before and after each processing step. It is required to keep it.

For this reason, in the past, water was constantly supplied especially to the cleaning tank in preparation for cleaning the jigs and dispensing plates, etc., but this method used an extremely large amount of cleaning water and was extremely uneconomical. Furthermore, since the jigs remain immersed in the water tank, it is not always possible to clean them effectively.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional type.
The following description will be made based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, 1 is a dispenser nozzle, and the dispenser nozzle 1 can be moved vertically and horizontally between a sample container for serum, etc., a dispensing dish and a washing tank, which will be described later. attached to the means of movement in the direction. Reference numeral 2 denotes the tip of a serum applicator, and the applicator tip 2 is attached to vertical and lateral transfer means in order to be similarly movable between the dispensing plate, the support holder, and the washing tank. Ru.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a water supply tank that constitutes a part of the cleaning device, and the water supply tank 3 is divided by providing a drainage tank 4 in the center thereof, and a cleaning tank 5 and an applicator tip for the dispenser nozzle 1 and an applicator tip. 2, respectively. These cleaning tanks 5 and 6
The water supply pipe 7 is connected to the lower surface of the drain tank 4, and a water supply pipe 7 is installed in the communication portion so that the cleaning water flows approximately equally to the cleaning tanks 5 and 6.
is provided through a water supply channel A, and a bubble generating pipe 8 is provided within the cleaning tank 6 via an air supply channel. A drain port 9 is provided at the bottom of the drain tank 4, and an overflow port 10 is provided at the top of the drain port 9, which are connected to respective drain channels D and E connected to the septic tank 11.

In the drainage tank 4, a water level detection device is attached to a portion forming a partition wall between it and the applicator cleaning tank 6, and the water level detection device includes a detector a,
b, detectors c, d, and e on the drain tank 4 side, and detectors f and g on the dispensing plate plate section, which will be described later, and the detector b is installed at approximately the same height as the partition wall section. The detector e is located at approximately the same height as the upper end of the overflow port 10.

Further, in the drain tank 4, a plurality of dispensing dishes 12 and a recess for supplying and discharging washing water to the dispensing dish 12 are provided at the upper part of the part forming a partition between the dispensing tank 5 and the dispensing tank 5. A dispensing pan plate 14 having a groove 13 is removably attached, and a hot air blower 15 is installed near the dispensing pan plate 14.
Place. This concave groove portion 13 is formed in a band shape along the arrangement direction of the dispensing pans 12, and is provided with the above-mentioned detector g, while a detector f is also attached to the side wall of the dispensing pan plate 14. In addition, the above water level detector a
to g are connected to a control device, and the operations of various functional means are controlled by commands from the control device based on the detection output of each detector. An opening is formed at the end of the water supply and drainage groove 13, and the water outlet is connected to the water supply channel B and the drainage channel C through the dispensing plate water supply and drainage channel 16 in the side wall. An overflow hole 17 is formed in the lower part for guiding overflow water from the cleaning tank 5 to the drain tank 4.

On the other hand, for the cleaning tanks 5, 6, drain tank 4, etc., a solenoid valve 18 is connected to the water supply channels A, B as means for supplying and draining the cleaning water, and a solenoid valve 18 is connected to the water supply channel A and B, and a rear valve and a filter are connected to each other via a solenoid valve 19. , connected to water supply facilities consisting of pressure reducing valves, pressure gauges, etc. In addition, the water supply channel B is branched from the middle, and one of them is connected to a drainage channel C, which is connected to the septic tank 11 through a pump 20 and a solenoid valve 21, and similarly, a drainage channel D is connected to a septic tank 11 after passing through a pump 22 and a solenoid valve 23. , coupled to the septic tank 11.

Next, to describe its operation based on the above configuration, all water supply/drainage means are stopped and closed at the beginning, and the solenoid valve 18 opens the water supply channel A side and closes the water supply channel B side. . Now, after opening the valve and creating a constant pressure at the water facility,
When the solenoid valve 19 is opened, water passes through the water supply channel A on the open side of the solenoid valve 18 and is supplied from the water supply pipe 7 to the dispenser cleaning tank 5 and the applicator cleaning tank 6.
In this way, when the water level in the water tank rises and conduction occurs between the detectors a and b, a signal indicating that the cleaning tanks 5 and 6 are full and ready for cleaning is sent to the control device, and the control device based on this detection signal According to instructions from
The drive devices for the dispenser nozzle 1 and the applicator tip 2 are activated, and the respective jigs are lowered into the respective cleaning tanks to begin cleaning.

During this cleaning process, in the case of the dispenser nozzle 1, it is immersed in water at a certain depth, and bubbles are generated intermittently from the dispenser nozzle 1 itself several times to clean the inside of the nozzle. and clean the outer periphery. In the case of the tip 2 of the applicator, air bubbles are generated from the bubble generating pipe 8 by means of air blowing means while the tip of the tip remains immersed, and cleaning is performed for a predetermined period of time.

During cleaning of these jigs, as the cleaning water is supplied through the above-mentioned route, overflowing water from the respective cleaning tanks 5 and 6 flows into the drain tank 4 through the partition wall and the overflow hole 17, and the water level of the water tank rises. When the detectors c and d become conductive, the electromagnetic valve 23 is opened and the pump 22 is driven in response to a command from the control device based on the detection signal, and the pump 22 is driven through the drain D to the septic tank 11.
is discharged. Then, when the water level falls below the position of the detector d, the state becomes non-conducting, and as a result, the solenoid valve 23 is closed after a predetermined period of time, and the pump 22 is closed.
The drive also stops. If the water level rises again to the position of the detector d after this drainage treatment is stopped, the drainage treatment is restarted.

In addition, in this wastewater treatment, if the water level in the drain tank 4 rises abnormally, it will be naturally drained from the overflow port 10, but the water level will still rise and the detector e
When it reaches the position, conduction is established between detectors c and e, and a command from the control device based on the detection signal
The solenoid valve 19 is closed to stop the water supply to deal with an abnormal rise in water level. In this way, the dispenser nozzle 1 and the applicator tip 2
is cleaned for a certain period of time, and when the cleaning process is completed, the solenoid valve 19 is closed by a command from the control device, and the supply of cleaning water is stopped.

After the above cleaning process, the sample is dispensed onto the dispensing plate 12 using the dispenser nozzle 1, and the sample is applied to the support in the dispensing plate 12 using the applicator tip 2. Regarding the subsequent treatment of the sample in the dispensing pan 12, the solenoid valve 19 and the solenoid valve 18 on the water supply channel B side are
When the is opened, the cleaning water passes through the water supply and drainage channel 16,
It is ejected into the concave groove 13 and flows into the dispensing tray 12, and further overflows and flows into the drain tank 4, thereby establishing electrical continuity between the detectors f and g. A signal indicating this overflow state is sent to the control device, and a command based on the detection signal causes the dispenser nozzle 1 to
As shown in FIG. 3, the tip is immersed in a jet of washing water, bubbles are generated from the nozzle, and the sample in the dispensing pan 12 is completely washed away. At this time, the water that has flowed into the drain tank 4 is collected by the detector c, similar to the above treatment operation.
It is discharged by conducting between d.

Then, the dispensing dish 12 is processed for a certain period of time, and when the cleaning is completed, the solenoid valves 18, 19
will be closed and the supply of wash water will be cut off. Furthermore, after washing the dispensing pan 12, in order to hasten the next dispensing cycle, the solenoid valve 23 is opened and the pump 22 is driven in response to a command from the control device to remove the moisture in the pan as quickly as possible. , concave groove part 13
The inside of the dish is forcibly suctioned through the drain channel C.
At the same time, the hot air blowing device 15 is driven to blow hot air, thereby quickly drying the dispensing tray 12.

In this way, in the present invention, by arranging the drainage tank within the tank body, the cleaning tank is divided into two for the applicator tip and the dispenser nozzle, and water is flowed into the cleaning tank approximately equally. Since the water supply pipe is placed in such a position that both tanks are always maintained at the same water level, it is possible to supply water suitable for automated cleaning. In addition, a bubble-generating pipe is installed on the side of the applicator tip cleaning water tank.
The cleaning effect can be further improved by using a water stream and air bubbles in combination.

Furthermore, the dispensing plate has screws 2 on both ends.
It can be detachably attached to the drain tank by simply fixing it with 4 or the like, and a packing member 25 such as an O-ring is inserted around the water passage at the contact part to prevent water leakage. Therefore, if it becomes necessary to replace the dispensing plate for any reason, or if the dispensing plate becomes dirty or damaged due to long-term use, the dispensing plate plate can be easily removed. Therefore, it can be immediately provided for automatic analysis without delay.

In addition, the detectors are placed at the required locations in the cleaning tank, drain tank, and dispensing pan, and the detector on the cleaning tank side is located at approximately the same height as the partition wall of the drain tank.
By communicating between the two cleaning tanks, the water level in both tanks can be detected, and based on the detection signal, the jigs can be washed in both tanks at the same time, so the cleaning water can be separated. Water is supplied for the required time only when cleaning the pouring plate or jig, and it is possible to always effectively supply water with a small amount of water.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings relate to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cleaning device, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the mounting state of the dispensing plate plate and the cleaning state of the dispensing dish in the same device. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the same device. In the drawing, 1 is a dispenser nozzle, 2 is a serum applicator tip, 4 is a drainage tank, 5 and 6 are cleaning tanks, 7 is a water supply pipe, 8 is a bubble generation pipe, 9 is a drain port, and 10 is a water overflow port , 12 is a dispensing plate, 14 is a dispensing plate plate,
15 is a hot air blower, and 16 is a dispensing plate water supply and drainage channel.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electrophoresis device having an automatic coating device and an automatic dispensing device, which consists of an applicator nib, a water tank for cleaning the dispenser nozzle, and a drainage tank to accommodate overflow water, and a plurality of dispensing devices are placed in the upper part of the drainage tank. A dispensing dish plate having a dish is detachably attached, a water channel for supplying washing water is provided on the dispensing dish plate, and a first water detector is installed at the water outlet of this water channel to the dispensing dish plate. A second water detector is installed on one side wall where water overflows from the dispensing dish plate, and when washing the dispensing dish, washing water is supplied to the dispensing dish plate, and the first water detector and the second water detector are provided. Based on both detection signals of the detector, the dispensing nozzle is moved to the top surface of the dispensing pan, and the nozzle is further placed in the water of the dispensing pan, and air is released to cause the generated air bubbles to close the dispensing pan. 1. A cleaning device for dispensing plates, jigs, etc. in an electrophoresis apparatus, characterized in that the cleaning device is configured to clean them.