JPH0355786B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support conveying device in an electrophoresis apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electrophoresis is used in clinical laboratories of medical institutions to test serum proteins. In this electrophoresis method, as is well known, the serum to be tested is applied onto a membrane-like support such as a cellulose acetate membrane, and then electricity is applied to form an image of the serum.
In this method, the energized sample is stained with a staining solution, and then the parts other than the serum are decolorized and the sample is quantified using a densitometer. It would be extremely inefficient to perform all of the electrophoresis steps manually, and the testing process requires a great deal of skill. There will be results. Therefore, various automated devices have been developed and proposed to automatically perform various steps of electrophoresis in a continuous manner.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional automated apparatus, serum is applied onto a support moistened with a buffer using an appropriate serum applicator, and then the support is transferred to the support by a conveying mechanism. Because the structure was such that the serum was transported into the electrophoresis tank and the electrophoresis pattern was fractionated by applying electricity, the support could get caught or sag between the area where the serum was applied and the electrophoresis tank. In addition, the support that has been moistened during this time may dry up, or the electrophoresis process may not be carried out in a uniformly wet state due to uneven wetting. Furthermore, the serum application itself could not be uniformly applied.

The present invention was developed in view of the above points, and allows serum application and electrophoresis steps to be performed in a uniformly moist state at all times without drying the support.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a uniform and good serum application condition at all times.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a support carrier for carrying a membrane support into an electrophoresis box and carrying it out, and a a serum application holder which is provided so as to be able to move integrally with the carrier and which is movable up and down with respect to the carrier; a moving mechanism which reciprocates the support carrier in the direction of loading and unloading the support; , lowering the conveyance table to a position where both ends of the support are in contact with a paper surface installed in an electrophoresis tank, and moving the coating receiving table upward to a position where it is in contact with the support, and when energizing the paper; ,
It is equipped with a vertical mechanism that further lowers the conveyance table and the coating pedestal away from the support, and a structure is adopted in which the conveyance table, the coating pedestal, and the paper surface are on the same surface during serum application.

Operation When the transfer mechanism is activated, the transport table is carried into the electrophoresis box, and the support is brought to the serum application position. It descends to a position where it touches the paper surface installed in the migration tank. At the same time, the coating tray moves upward until the surface of the support comes into contact with the conveyance table. As a result, the support mounting surface of the conveyor table, the application receiving table, and the paper surface become the same surface, and serum application is performed in this state. Therefore, uniform and good serum application is possible. Furthermore, since the support moistened with the buffer solution is carried into the electrophoresis box as it is and the serum is applied, the serum can be applied in a uniformly moist state. Since the electrophoresis process can be performed in this state, it is possible to form a good and clear migration pattern.

Then, when electrophoresis is performed, when the paper is energized, the up-and-down mechanism is driven, and the conveyance table is lowered within a predetermined range so as to separate from the support body together with the coating receiving table. Thereafter, electricity is applied while only the support is placed and supported on the paper, and an image corresponding to the migration pattern is formed.

Embodiments Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a support conveying device according to the present invention.

In the present invention, an electrophoresis box 1 is provided with a membrane support A placed thereon.
A carrier 11 is provided for carrying in and out of the 0, and a carrier 11 is provided so as to be able to move together on this carrier 11. It is equipped with a serum application tray 12 that can be moved up and down.

The transport table 11 is moved back and forth in the loading/unloading direction of the support A by a moving mechanism 20 provided in the electrophoresis box 10 between the exit side of the previous step and the entrance side of the next step at a predetermined stroke. will be moved. Transport platform 1
The upper surface of 1 is flat, and its peripheral edge is formed into a raised rib shape. Support A is placed on its periphery. A rectangular mounting groove 111 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the center of the upper surface of the conveyance table 11, into which the application receiving table 12 is fitted so as to be slidable up and down. The coating receiving table 12 is in contact with the bottom of the mounting groove 111, and its upper surface is flush with the upper surface of the conveying table 11.

Three grooves are formed in the longitudinal direction on the upper surface of the coating tray 12, and a protrusion is formed between them. When applying the serum to the support A, the application holder 12 moves upward from the mounting groove 111 to a position where it contacts the surface of the support A, and when the serum application is finished, returns to the lower position.
This vertical movement is performed by a vertical mechanism 30 provided within the electrophoresis box 10.

When applying the serum, the transport table 11 carrying the support A from the previous stage to the serum application position in the migration box 10 is driven by the vertical mechanism 30 so that both ends of the support are connected to the migration box together with the application receiving table 12 and the moving mechanism 20. It is lowered to a position where it contacts the surface of the paper 46 in the electrophoresis tanks 44, 44 installed in the electrophoresis tank 10. At the same time, the coating pedestal 12 is moved upward until it comes into contact with the support A surface. Further, when electricity is applied to the papers 46, 46 during electrophoresis, the conveying table 11 and the coating receiving table 12 are further lowered integrally with the moving mechanism 20 so as to separate from the support A.

A base 40 is installed inside the electrophoresis box 10. Supports 42, 42 are attached to the corners of the upper base 41.
is erected. An installation base 43 is supported on these supports 42, 42 at a constant height from the upper base 41. A buffer solution 4 is placed on the installation base 43.
The electrophoresis tanks 44, 44 filled with the electrophoresis tank 5 are placed in between the moving path of the carrier 11 and at an interval substantially corresponding to the length in the width direction thereof. Migration tank 4
An energized paper 46 is placed in the buffer solution 4, 44.

The carrier 11 is guided between the opposing walls of the electrophoresis tanks 44 and 44, and is reciprocated in the direction of loading and unloading the support A. There is a space between the electrophoresis tanks 44, 44 below, and the moving mechanism 20 for the transport platform 11 is disposed in the vertical direction through the corresponding installation base 43.

The moving mechanism 20 is configured as follows.

A drive motor 22 is attached to one outer wall of side plates 211, 211 that constitute the support frame 21.
A pulley 2 is attached to the drive shaft protruding into the support frame 21.
3 is installed. The upper side plate 211,
The shafts 24, 2 are supported at intervals between the shafts 211 and 211.
A pulley 25 is attached to each of the pulleys 4 and 4. A belt 26 is stretched around the pulleys 23, 25, 25, and transmits the driving force of the motor 22 to the shafts 24, 24.
A pinion 27 attached to the shafts 24, 24 is driven to rotate in forward and reverse directions. The pinions 27, 27 mesh with a rack 28 provided along the longitudinal direction of the center of the bottom surface of the conveyor table 11 at intervals in the longitudinal direction. The conveyor table 11 is driven by a motor 22 in forward and reverse directions to transport the support body,
It is moved back and forth in the unloading direction.

The support frame 21 supports the conveyor table 11 and the coating tray 12
The conveyor table vertical shaft 34 of the vertical mechanism 30 that raises and lowers the
It is supported by 1,341. In other words, the moving mechanism 20 is supported by the base 40 via the conveyor table vertical shafts 341, 341, and the conveyor table 11 is supported on the pinions 27, 27 via the racks 28 that mesh with the pinions 27, 27. You will be supported. Now, when the conveyor table vertical shafts 341, 341 move up and down by driving the vertical mechanism 30, the conveyor table 1
1 is configured to move up and down together with the moving mechanism 20.

The vertical mechanism 30 is configured as follows.

A drive motor 310 is installed below and behind the upper base 41 of the base 40 . The cam drive shaft 3 is installed between the side plates of the base 40 and is perpendicular to the drive shaft of the motor 310.
11 is rotatably supported. motor 310
The drive shaft and the cam drive shaft 311 are connected to each other by meshing with bell gears 312, 312 provided respectively.

The cam drive shaft 311 has a pair of cams 314 for raising and lowering the conveyance table on the inner side at intervals in the axial direction.
314, and a pair of cams 315, 315 for raising and lowering the coating tray are attached to the outside thereof. A detection means 320 for detecting the rotational phase of the cam is disposed at one end of the cam drive shaft 311.

The detection means 320 includes a photo sensor 321 that includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element attached to the inner surface of the side plate.
and a rotating disk 3 attached to the cam drive shaft 311.
22. Rotating disk 322
A plurality of slits (not shown) are provided in the circumferential direction, and the peripheral portion where the slits are formed is interposed between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the photo sensor 321. By detecting the position of the slit, the rotational phases of the cams 314 and 315 are detected, and the motor 310 is driven and controlled based on the detection signal. As a result, the conveyance table 11 and the coating pedestal 12 are moved up and down at predetermined timings during serum application, electrophoresis, and the like. The timing is selected by setting the arrangement of the cam rows and controlling the drive of the motor 310. It is the detection means 320
This is done using the detection signal of

Each cam 31 of the upper base 41 in the base 40
4, 314 and 315, 315 have holes passing through them, and sleeve-shaped bearings 33 are inserted therein.
1,331 and 332,332 are provided. Bearing 33 on the inside when viewed from the front in FIG.
1, 331, conveyor table vertical shafts 341 are inserted and supported so as to be vertically slidable, respectively. Vertical axis 341, 34
Cam followers 342 that rotate in sliding contact with the cam surfaces of the cams 314 for raising and lowering the conveyor table are attached to the lower ends of the conveyor belts 1 and 1, respectively. The support frame 21 of the moving mechanism 20 is supported on the upper part of the vertical shafts 341, 341 as described above.

Bearing 3 provided on the outside of bearings 331, 331
32 and 332, a coating tray vertical shaft 351 is inserted and supported so as to be vertically slidable. Vertical axis 35
A cam follower 352 is attached to the lower end of the cam follower 351, and rotates in contact with the surface of the cam 315 for raising and lowering the coating tray, so as to follow that surface.

On the other hand, the coating tray vertical shaft 35 of the installation base 43
The position corresponding to 1 is vertically penetrated, and from this through hole, the lower part of the push-up shaft 354 supported by the support base 353 so as to be movable upward protrudes downward, and the vertical shaft 35
It faces the upper end of 1 with a space therebetween. Push up shaft 3
54 is coaxial with the vertical axis 351, and its upper end is connected to the receiving seats 12 provided at both ends of the lower part of the coating receiving table 12.
1,121 so as to be able to come into contact with each other.

Cams 314 and 31 are used when loading and unloading the support body A.
4 and the cams 315, 315 are arranged in the relationship shown in FIG.
1,351 has descended and separated from the push-up shaft 354. Further, the push-up shafts 354, 354 are lowered, and their upper ends are connected to the receiving seats 121, 121 of the application receiving table 12.
It is separated from. In this state, the carrier 11 is lifted and supported. Further, the coating receiving table 12 returns down to the mounting groove 111 of the conveying table 11 and is separated from the support surface. This is the initial position for starting serum application, and the transport table 11 is in a movable state.

A mounting base 51 is installed on one side of the installation base 43, and a lid 52 for opening and closing the upper part of the electrophoresis box 10 is rotatably supported on this by a hinge shaft 53. The lid 52 is opened and closed by driving a lid opening/closing motor 54 mounted below the installation base 43. A pulley 55 is attached to the drive shaft of the motor 54, and a belt 57 is stretched between the pulley 55 and the pulley 55 attached to the hinge shaft 53.

On the other hand, a support feed roller 60 is provided at the front stage on the left side shown in FIG. When it is moved and positioned to the left as shown by , it comes into contact with a feed roller 61 provided at the upper part of one end thereof. Support A
is sandwiched between feed rollers 60 and 61, and roller 60
By the rotational drive of , it is sent out onto the conveyance table 11 and positioned and placed thereon.

In the above configuration, when the support A is carried into the electrophoresis box 10 and positioned at the serum application position, the carrier 11 is moved by the upper and lower mechanism 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Table vertical axis 341,
341. Further, the coating pedestal 12 is connected to the mounting groove 11 from the support surface.
It has returned down to the inner bottom of 1.

When the support A is carried into the migration box 10 and positioned, the motor 310 of the vertical mechanism 30 is then driven, and the cam drive shaft 311 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIGS. 1 and 2. Then, the cams 314, 314
The cams 315, 315 are rotated in the direction of the same arrow, and the conveyor table vertical shafts 341, 341 move downward, and at the same time, the coating tray vertical shafts 351, 351 move upward. As a result, the conveyance table 11 is moved to the support body A.
is lowered to a position where both ends thereof are in contact with the surface of the paper 46 in the migration tanks 44, 44.

On the other hand, when the coating tray vertical shafts 351, 351 move upward, the push-up shaft 354 is urged upward at its upper end, as shown in FIG. Then, its upper end passes through the bottom of the conveyor table 11 and connects to the receiving seats 121 and 12.
Push up the coating tray 12 at the part 1. As a result, the coating receiving table 12 moves upward in conjunction with the downward movement of the conveying table 11, and comes into contact with the surface of the support body A. Now, the support mounting surface of the conveyor table 11 and the application receiving table 12 are connected.
and the surface of the paper 46 are the same plane parallel to the surface of the support A.

Next, the serum application unit 60 is moved and positioned to the serum application position above the support, and the application tip 6 provided at the tip of the applicator 61 is moved and positioned by its upward and downward movements.
2... Serum is applied to the membrane surface of support A.

After that, the serum application unit 60 is applied to the electrophoresis box 1.
Then, the lid 52 is driven by the motor 54 to close the top of the electrophoresis box 10 as shown in FIG. As a result, the presser bars 58, 58 provided on the inner surface of the lid 52 press and hold both ends of the support body A against the papers 46, 46.

At the same time, the vertical shafts 341, 341 of the vertical mechanism 30
and 351,351 move downward. Then, the conveyor table 11 moves downward and moves away from the support body A, and in conjunction therewith, the push-up shaft 3
54 is lowered, and as the coating tray 12 is lowered into the mounting groove 111 of the conveyor table 11, it returns to the lower position.
Leave support A.

Next, electricity is applied between the papers 46, 46, and a separated image is formed on the membrane surface of the support A by electrophoresis.

When the electrophoresis treatment on support A is completed, the lid 5 is closed.
2 is opened in the opposite direction to that described above, and then the conveyor table 11 is moved upward by the drive of the up-and-down mechanism 30 to the positions shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The support body A is now placed on the conveyance table 11 again as shown. Thereafter, the transport table 11 is moved to the next step as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 by driving the moving mechanism 20, and the support body A is carried out. This carried out support A is transported to the feed roller 7
1 and 72, and at that time, it is sent from the conveyor table 11 into the apparatus for the next process.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the apparatus according to the present invention, serum can be applied to the support in a state where the support mounting surface of the transport table, the application receiving table, and the paper surface are on the same surface, so that the application of serum to the support is prevented. It is possible to consistently and uniformly apply the serum without wrinkles or the like. In addition, the serum can be applied in a uniformly moist state without drying out.
Moreover, since electrophoresis can be performed immediately in this state, a clear and good migration pattern can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of the device according to the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a side sectional view along the - line, Figures 3 to 5.
The figure is a partial side sectional view illustrating the operations of carrying in a support, applying serum, and electrophoresis using the apparatus of the present invention. A... Support, 10... Electrophoresis box, 11...
Transport table, 12... Application receiving table, 20... Moving mechanism, 46, 46... Paper, 30... Vertical mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A transport table on which a membrane support is placed and carried into an electrophoresis box and carried out, and a transport table provided so as to be able to move together on this transport table, and with respect to the transport table. a serum application pedestal that is movable up and down; a movement mechanism that reciprocates the carrier in the direction of loading and unloading the support; The transfer table and the coating table are lowered to a position in contact with the paper surface installed in the tank, and the coating table is moved up to a position in contact with the support surface, and when the paper is energized, the transfer table and the coating table are moved away from the support body. A support transport in an electrophoresis apparatus, comprising a vertical mechanism for further lowering the support so as to separate the support, and the support is configured such that the transport table, the application receiving table, and the paper surface are on the same surface during serum application. Device. 2. The moving mechanism includes a drive motor, a power transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the motor, and a rack and pinion mechanism that receives the rotational force from the power transmission means to linearly reciprocate the conveyance platform. A support conveying device in an electrophoresis apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The vertical mechanism includes a drive motor, a cam drive shaft connected to the motor, converts the rotation of the cam drive shaft into a linear vertical motion, and is provided corresponding to the transport table and the coating tray. The paper is characterized by comprising a cam mechanism having a plurality of cam groups, and a cam positioning sensor that detects the rotational phase of the cam of the cam mechanism and controls the positioning according to when serum is applied and when electricity is applied to the paper. A support conveyance device in an electrophoresis apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.