JPH0323870B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cleaning device for an automatic biochemical analyzer.

An automatic biochemistry analyzer, for example, dispenses a large number of serum samples one by one into a reaction container, then injects a reaction reagent for the chemical component to be analyzed into the reaction container to proceed with the reaction, and then collects the reacted sample. This is a device that performs analysis by measuring the amount of transmitted light by exposing it to light. By the way, the cleaning apparatus used for cleaning the reaction vessel has conventionally been configured to supply cleaning water to the reaction vessel for cleaning.

However, in this type of cleaning equipment,
Since water is used, it takes a relatively long time for washing and drying, which has the disadvantage of reducing the efficiency of the analysis and washing processing cycle by the automatic biochemical analyzer.

The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for an automatic biochemical analyzer that can efficiently clean and dry a reaction container.

The present invention uses volatile cleaning liquids (e.g. methanol,
The purpose is to achieve the above object by using an aqueous methanol solution, ethanol, etc., and by preventing the volatile cleaning liquid and its vapor from scattering or filling a wide area.

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main parts of the device. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a reaction vessel conveying member, for example, an endless chain, in which a plurality of reaction vessels 2 are arranged at a predetermined pitch. This endless chain 1 has a plurality of link plates 3 each having a bent portion 3a at a predetermined pitch, and the bent portion 3 of each link plate 3.
One end of the holder 4 is rotatably supported on the holder 4, and the holder 4 has a mounting portion 4a in the middle thereof that fits with the outer circumference of the reaction container 2 and allows the reaction container 2 to be attached thereto. In addition, the other end of the holder 4 is provided with a first engaging portion, for example, a convex portion 4b having a flat surface. The endless chain 1 thus constructed is intermittently rotated at a predetermined pitch in the direction of the arrow A in the figure via the drive section 5. At the predetermined rest position of the reaction container 2, the sample is sequentially dispensed, analyzed, and reacted into the reaction container 2 using a dispensing device, an analyzer, a sample collection device, etc. built into the automatic biochemical analyzer (not shown). Samples are collected from the container 2. After this sample collection device (not shown), there is a reaction vessel 2 in which the sample is collected.
A cleaning chamber 6 is provided for accommodating and cleaning the inside. This cleaning chamber 6 is provided with an inlet 6a and an outlet 6b along the conveyance path of the reaction container 2, and an escape notch 6c for allowing the holder 4 to escape on the second right wall surface facing from the inlet 6a. is provided in communication from the entrance 6a to the exit 6b, and the other portions are almost surrounded by walls (in FIG. 2, a part of the ceiling is shown with a cutaway). The inlet 6a, the outlet 6b, and the relief notch 6c are provided with blocking members, for example, the inlet 6a is provided with a second
Entrance shield 7a that can slide in directions B and B′ shown in the diagram
The outlet 6b is provided with an outlet shielding plate 7b that is slidable in the directions C and C' shown in the second figure, and the relief notch 6c is provided with a silicone rubber seal (not shown) that does not hinder the passage of the base end of the holder 4. ) is provided. In this way, the inside of the cleaning chamber 6 is configured to be almost isolated from the outside. A nozzle 8a for spraying a volatile cleaning liquid such as methanol and a supply pipe 8b for supplying methanol to the nozzle 8a are attached to the ceiling of the cleaning chamber 6, and the floor surface is equipped with a nozzle 8a for spraying a volatile cleaning liquid such as methanol, and a supply pipe 8b for supplying methanol to the nozzle 8a. A recovery pipe 9b for recovery is attached to the waste liquid treatment device 9a. Also, the entrance 6a of this cleaning chamber 6
A motor shaft 10a of a braked motor 10 is arranged on the second left wall surface as viewed from the drawing so as to be inserted into the cleaning chamber 6.
A joint 11 having a second engaging portion, such as a recessed portion 11a, that engages with the convex portion 4b of the holder 4 is attached to the tip of the holder a. In order to hold the reaction container 2 attached to the holder 4 substantially vertically, a guide rail 12 that engages with the lower surface of the convex portion 4b of the holder 4 is extended outside the cleaning chamber 6 along the endless chain 1. furthermore, the convex portion 4 of the holder 4
A guide chip 13 is provided inside the cleaning chamber 6 to ensure that the sample b is introduced into the recess 11a of the joint 11.
is located. Also, the outlet 6b of the cleaning chamber 6
At the front end, a wiping member such as a sponge rod 14 for wiping off liquids such as the sample and methanol adhering to and remaining in the reaction container 2 is provided so as to be movable back and forth in the directions D and D' in FIG. There is. As a driving source for the inlet shielding plate 7a, the outlet shielding plate 7b, and the sponge rod 14, for example, a cylinder unit 15a for the inlet shielding plate and a cylinder unit 15 for the outlet shielding plate are used.
b and a sponge rod cylinder unit 15c, and a supply pump 17 for supplying methanol from a methanol storage tank 16 to the supply pipe 8b. The operation timings of these cylinder units 15a to 15c and supply pump 17 are controlled by a central control section 18 together with the drive section 5 of the endless chain 1 and the braked motor 10. That is, the endless chain 1 is intermittently rotationally driven via the drive unit 5 by the control signal S ₁ from the central control unit 18, and when the endless chain 1 is rotationally driven, the reaction conveyed by the endless chain 1 The central control unit 18 is configured to accommodate the container 2 in the cleaning chamber 6.
The cylinder unit _15a for the inlet shielding plate is driven by the control signal S2 from the central control unit 18, and the outlet shielding plate is driven by the control signal _S3 from the central control unit 18 in order to send out the reaction container 2 housed in the cleaning chamber 6. cylinder unit 15b is driven and both shielding plates 7
a, 7b are opened and closed, and when the endless chain 1 is at rest, the supply pump 1 is controlled by a control signal _S4 from the central control section 18.
The timing is controlled so that when the sponge rod 7 is activated, the plated motor 10 is driven one rotation by the control signal _S5 , and at the same time, the sponge rod cylinder unit _15c is activated by the control signal S6. . Among the members described above, the members that come into contact with volatile cleaning liquids such as methanol, such as the cleaning chamber 6, are made of materials that are not attacked by methanol, such as styrene resin or polyethylene resin other than acrylic resin.

Next, the operation of the cleaning device will be explained. When the control signal _S1 is output from the central control section 18, the endless chain 1 is intermittently rotated at a predetermined pitch in the direction of arrow A in the figure via the drive section 5. Control signal
S ₂ and S ₃ are output, and when the endless chain 1 is at rest, control signals S ₄ to _{S 6} are output, and each reaction vessel 2
are sequentially cleaned in a fixed cycle. Therefore, for example, to specifically explain the cleaning action of the reaction vessel 2 closest to the front of the cleaning chamber 6 along the transport route, first, a control signal _S2 is outputted from the central control section 18 to the inlet shield plate cylinder unit 15a, The inlet blocking plate 7a moves in the second direction B in the figure to open the inlet 6a and accommodate the reaction vessel 2 in the cleaning chamber 6, and then moves in the second direction B' in the figure to open the inlet 6a.
a is closed. At this time, the base end of the holder 4 holding the reaction container 2 passes through the relief notch 6c provided in the cleaning chamber. The reaction container 2 accommodated in the cleaning chamber 6 in this manner is stopped from being conveyed when the endless chain 1 is stopped. The reaction vessel 2 whose conveyance has been stopped is located below the nozzle 8a, and the reaction vessel 2 is located below the nozzle 8a.
A convex portion 4b provided on the holder 4 holding the joint 11 engages with a concave portion 11a of the joint 11. At this time, a control signal _S4 is outputted from the central control section 18 to the supply pump 17, and methanol is injected from the nozzle 8a for a predetermined period of time, thereby cleaning the reaction vessel 2. After that, when the control signal _S5 is output to the braked motor 10, the link plate 3
The holder 4, which is rotatably supported by the reaction vessel 2, is rotated once while holding the reaction vessel 2, and the waste liquid such as methanol accumulated in the reaction vessel 2 is washed away and sent to the waste liquid treatment device 9a. . When the endless chain 1 is driven again, the central control section 18 controls the exit shield plate cylinder unit 15.
A control signal _S3 is output to b, the outlet shielding plate 7b moves in the second direction C in the figure, the outlet 6b is opened, and the reaction container 2 is carried out to the outside of the cleaning chamber 6, and then the second
The exit 6b is closed by moving in the direction C' in the figure. The conveyance of the reaction container 2 thus carried out is stopped again when the endless chain 1 is next stopped, and the reaction vessel 2 is placed under the sponge rod 14. At this time, a control signal _S6 is outputted from the central control section 18 to the sponge rod cylinder unit 15c, and the sponge rod 14 is moved in the second direction D' in the figure and inserted into the reaction container 2. The remaining liquid such as the sample will be wiped off. The sponge rod 14 is then pulled out in the second direction D in the figure, completing one cycle of cleaning action. In this way, since methanol is injected into the reaction container 2 and wiped off with the sponge rod 14, the reaction container can be washed and dried extremely efficiently, and a sterilization effect can also be obtained. Since the injection is performed within the cleaning chamber 6, it is also possible to prevent methanol from scattering.

In the above embodiment, the endless chain was configured to be able to be driven intermittently in a horizontal plane, but the configuration is not limited to this. In addition to enabling intermittent rotational drive, the reaction vessel is inverted as the endless chain is reversed, and the opening of the reaction vessel is directed downward;
It is also possible to arrange the cleaning chamber and the wiping member at a position where the inverted reaction container can be cleaned and dried. In this case, there is no need to rotatably support the holder that holds the reaction vessel, and there is no need to provide the braked motor or the like. It is also possible to provide a plurality of rows of reaction vessels and configure the cleaning chamber so that a plurality of reaction vessels can be cleaned at once, and various other modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. Needless to say.

As is clear from the above description, the cleaning device for the automatic biochemical analyzer of the present invention has excellent effects such as being able to efficiently clean and dry reaction vessels.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main parts of the device. 1... Reaction container conveying member (endless chain), 2
...Reaction container, 6...Cleaning chamber, 8a...Nozzle,
14... Wiping member (sponge stick).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 In an automatic biochemistry analyzer that sequentially transports a plurality of reaction containers into which reaction reagents and analysis samples are injected by a reaction container transport member and cleans the reaction containers, an analysis completion test carried by the reaction container transport member a cleaning chamber that accommodates a subsequent reaction container through an entrance and exit, and is equipped with a nozzle that injects an alcohol-based volatile cleaning liquid into the accommodated reaction container; and a shielding member that shields the entrance and exit of the cleaning chamber during the cleaning. , a wiping member is provided for wiping off liquid in the reaction container conveyed by the reaction container conveying member and sent out from the cleaning chamber, and the cleaning chamber and the wiping member clean, sterilize, and dry the reaction container. A cleaning device in an automatic biochemical analyzer characterized by: