JPH0330108B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an autosampler, and particularly to an autosampler with an improved suction nozzle.

The present inventor has previously invented the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58-1993 to solve the problems of conventional autosamplers.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2 in Publication No. 9072,
A pair of switching valve bodies A and B that slide while being in liquid-tight contact with each other due to the fitting of the respective convex portions a and concave portions b.
Of these, the switching valve body A is formed with a communication hole 3 in which a packing member 2, into which a suction nozzle 1 having the same overall diameter is fluid-tightly and slidably inserted, is attached to the inner wall, and a pair of channels C and D. , the other switching valve body B has a sample storage tank 4 with the suction nozzle 1 disposed below.
A communication hole 5 that can be freely inserted up to
A pair of communication holes 10, 11 that communicate with the reagent liquid storage tank 9 via the sample holding tube 12, a communication hole 13 that communicates with the suction nozzle 1 via the sample holding tube 12, and a communication hole that communicates with the measuring cylinder 14 via the tube 6c. A hole 15 is formed, and the communication hole 3 flows between the communication hole 5 or 8 and the flow path C flows between the communication holes 8 and 10 or between the communication holes 10 and 13 by sliding between the switching valve bodies. The passage D allows selective communication between the communication holes 13 and 15 or between the communication holes 15 and 11, respectively. This autosampler does not waste samples and has a simple operation process.
This is an extremely superior autosampler that dramatically improves analysis accuracy and reduces the number of device parts.

However, in the autosampler, the suction nozzle 1 is moved up and down by the holding arm 1' and constantly slides on the inner circumference of the packing member 2 in the communication hole 3, so that the suction nozzle and the packing member are subject to wear and tear. It was easily damaged and was not suitable for long-term use.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and a suction nozzle is inserted into one of the switching valve bodies of a pair of switching valve bodies that slide while being in liquid-tight contact with each other, through which a suction nozzle is inserted. The other switching valve body has a communication hole through which the suction nozzle can be freely inserted, a communication hole that communicates with the column through the tube, and a pair of flow paths through which the suction nozzle can be inserted. A pair of communication holes communicating with the reagent liquid storage tank, a communication hole communicating with the suction nozzle via the sample holding tube, and a communication hole communicating with the measuring cylinder via the tube are formed, and the switching valve bodies are slidably connected to each other. Due to the movement, the communication hole and flow path of the one switching valve body are connected to the communication hole of the other switching valve body,
Alternatively, in an autosampler formed so that communication holes can be selectively communicated, the tip of the suction nozzle has a diameter that allows the tip of the suction nozzle to be inserted into the communication hole of the one switching valve body through a packing member in a fluid-tight manner. However, this is an autosampler characterized by the main body being formed with a smaller diameter than the tip, and its purpose is to avoid wasting the sample and to make it easier to operate, similar to the autosampler for which we applied for a patent earlier. It is an autosampler that has a simple process, dramatically improves analysis accuracy, and can reduce the number of parts in the device.Moreover, the suction nozzle and packing parts do not easily wear out or break, and can withstand long-term use. Our goal is to provide an autosampler that will help you get the job done.

The present invention will be described in detail below based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. In the description, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those of the autosampler described above.

A pair of switching valve bodies A and B are in liquid-tight contact with each other in a state in which a convex part a and a concave part b are fitted, and are driven by an air cylinder drive method using a solenoid valve or a motor using a Geneva mechanism, for example. The drive system (both drive systems are not shown to simplify the drawing) enables relatively liquid-tight sliding. In this case, switching valve body B
may be slid by a corresponding distance between the communicating hole 5 and the communicating hole 8, which will be described later, or alternatively, instead of the switching valve body B, the switching valve body A may be relatively slid in the opposite direction by the same distance. The same effect can be achieved even if the

One communication hole 3 and flow paths C and D are opened on the circumference around the protrusion a as shown in FIG. are doing. These channels may take the form of holes drilled inside the switching valve body A, or may take the form of surface grooves provided on the surface of the switching valve body A.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the suction nozzle 1 is fitted into the communication hole 3 so as to be able to move forward and backward, and a packing member is inserted between the inner peripheral wall of the communication hole 3 and the outer peripheral wall of the suction nozzle 1. 2 is interposed and communicates with one end of the sample holding tube 12 via the suction nozzle 1.

In addition, the other switching valve body B has six communication holes 5,
8, 10, 11, 13, and 15 are open at the contact surface with the switching valve body A. These holes are centered around the recess b, and are connected to the communication hole 3 and the flow path C,
They are positioned at equal intervals on the circumference having the same radius as D. The communication hole 5 is connected to the suction nozzle 1.
is formed so that it can be inserted freely, the communication hole 8 communicates with the column 7 via the tube 6a, and the communication hole 10
communicates with the reagent liquid storage tank 9 via the tube 6b and a metering pump 16 provided in the middle, and the communication hole 13 communicates with the tube 6b and the sample holding tube 12.
communicates with the suction nozzle 1 through the communication hole 15.
communicates with the measuring cylinder 14 via the tube 6c, and the communication hole 11 communicates with the reagent solution storage tank 9, such as an eluent, via the tube 6d.

The suction nozzle has a large diameter tip 1a as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and is liquid-tight when the tip 1a is fitted inside the packing member 2 as shown in FIG. The diameter of the main body part 1b is
is formed with a diameter such that it can be inserted into the inside of the packing member 2 with a gap, and the bulge from the main body portion 1b toward the tip portion 1a is for smooth sliding with the packing member 2. It becomes gentle.

Although the outline of the configuration has been explained above, the details will be clarified through the explanation of the operating functions shown below.

The reagent solution storage tank 9 is set as an eluent storage tank as shown in FIG.
is between the communication holes 8 and 10, and the flow path D is between the communication holes 13 and 1.
The switching valve body A is rotated to a position that communicates between the measuring cylinder 14 and the sample storage tank 4, and the measuring cylinder 14, tube 6, A flow path consisting of the communication hole 15, flow path D, communication hole 13, sample holding tube 12, and suction nozzle 1 is completed, and the inside of the flow path is filled with an eluent.

Next, in this state, the suction nozzle 1 is lowered by the operation of a motor or the like via the holding arm 1', and its tip 1a is immersed in the sample 4a of the sample storage tank 4, as shown in FIG.

Next, the piston 14 of the metering cylinder 14
A is lowered by the operation of a motor or the like, and a predetermined amount of the sample 4a is sucked and held inside the flow path from the suction nozzle 1 to the sample holding tube 12, as shown by the broken line in FIG.

Next, the suction nozzle 1 is raised via the holding arm 1' to a position where its tip 1a cannot prevent the switching valve body A from rotating (see FIG. 5).

Next, when the switching valve body A is rotated to the left in the drawing by a distance corresponding to the distance between the communication holes 5 and 8, the state shown in FIG. 6 is obtained.

In the state shown in FIG. 6, there are connections between the reagent solution storage tank 9 and the column 7, as shown by the two-dot chain line. A flow path leading to the column 7 via the hole 13, the sample holding tube 12, the suction nozzle 1, the communication hole 8, and the tube 6a is completed.

Therefore, when the pump 16 is operated, the eluent flows through the channel, pushes out the sample 4a held in the suction nozzle 1 and the sample holding tube 12, and introduces it into the column 7, where it is analyzed. will be carried out. As shown in FIG. 5, the sample 4a retained using the eluent can be introduced into the column because the inner peripheral wall of the communication hole 3 and the outer peripheral wall of the tip 1a of the suction nozzle 1 are connected to each other. This is because the communication hole 3 is held completely liquid-tight with respect to the outside of the switching valve body A by the packing member 2 interposed therebetween, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. The retained eluent is introduced into the column 7 by pushing out the entire amount of the retained sample 4a as shown by the broken line.

On the other hand, in FIG. 6, there is a space between the measuring cylinder 14 and the reagent liquid storage tank 9, as shown by the three-dot chain line.
A flow path from the measuring cylinder 14 to the reagent liquid storage tank 9 via the tube 6c, the communication hole 15, the flow path D, the communication hole 11, and the tube 6d is completed.

Therefore, the piston 14a of the metering cylinder 14
When the piston is moved in the discharge direction and once it reaches the top dead center (the most extreme part) of the piston and is stopped, the flow path from the cylinder 14 to the reagent liquid storage tank 9 can be filled with the eluent. In this way, it is prepared for the next sample inhalation step.

The rotation operation of the switching valve body A or B, the operation operation of the drive device of the suction nozzle 1, the operation operation of the metering cylinder 14, the operation operation of the pump 16, and the transportation operation of the sample storage tank 4, etc. described above are, for example, This can be done completely automatically using conventional sequence control equipment using known devices such as cam timers.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example of an apparatus has been described in which sample collection and introduction operations are performed by rotating two cylindrical switching valve bodies in liquid-tight contact with each other. It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained by linearly reciprocating plate-shaped (sliding) switching valve bodies in liquid-tight contact with each other instead of the switching valve bodies.

The present invention is constructed as described above, and in particular, the suction nozzle is formed so that the tip part has a large diameter and the main body part has a small diameter, so that when the suction nozzle moves up and down, a gap is created between the packing member and the suction nozzle main body. Therefore, the suction nozzle does not constantly slide inside the packing member as in the conventional case. Therefore, like the autosampler for which we have previously applied for a patent, it does not waste samples, simplifies the operating process and equipment, and improves the accuracy of analysis. It is possible to provide an autosampler that can be used for a long period of time without the need to replace the packing members by preventing wear and damage, thereby improving both economical efficiency and work efficiency. In addition, when a suction nozzle of the same diameter is constantly sliding on the inside of a packing member as in the past, it was necessary to sacrifice some of the liquid tightness of the packing member in order to ensure sliding properties, but the present invention In this case, this is not necessary, and the packing member is smoothly compressed due to the gentle curve of the tip of the suction nozzle, and sufficient liquid tightness can be ensured at the tip. Furthermore, since the suction nozzle does not slide when moving up and down, it has various effects such as improved operability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional autosampler, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the main part of the conventional autosampler, FIGS. 3 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 and 5 are longitudinal sectional views of main parts, and FIG. 6 is an overall schematic diagram. 1 is a suction nozzle, 2 is a packing member, 3 is a communication hole, 4 is a sample storage layer, 5 is a communication hole, 6a to 6d are tubes, 7 is a column, 8 is a communication hole, 9 is a reagent liquid storage layer, 10 is a Communication hole, 11 is communication hole, 1
2 is a sample holding tube, 13 is a communication hole, 14 is a measuring cylinder, 15 is a communication hole, and 16 is a pump.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 One of the switching valve bodies of a pair of switching valve bodies that slide in liquid-tight contact with each other has a communication hole in which a packing member is attached to the inner wall, into which a suction nozzle is inserted so that the suction nozzle can move forward and backward, and a pair of flow holes. A passage is formed in the other switching valve body, a communication hole through which the suction nozzle can be freely inserted, a communication hole communicating with the column via a tube,
A pair of communication holes that communicate with the reagent liquid storage tank via the tube, a communication hole that communicates with the suction nozzle via the sample holding tube, and a communication hole that communicates with the measuring cylinder via the tube, and a switching valve. An autosampler in which a communication hole and a flow path of one switching valve body are formed so as to selectively communicate with a communication hole of the other switching valve body or between the communication holes, respectively, by sliding between the bodies. , wherein the tip of the suction nozzle has a diameter such that it can be fluid-tightly inserted into the communication hole of the one switching valve body via a packing member, and the main body is formed to have a smaller diameter than the tip. Auto sampler.