JPH0569465B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to an electrophoresis box of an electrophoresis apparatus, and more particularly to a membrane correction device for a support membrane in the electrophoresis box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electrophoresis is widely used in clinical laboratories of medical institutions to test serum proteins. As is well known, in this electrophoresis method, the serum to be tested is coated on a membrane-like support such as a cellulose acetate membrane, and then electricity is applied to form an image of the serum.The energized sample is then treated with a staining solution. This is a method of staining and then decolorizing the parts other than the serum and quantifying the resultant 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 that can perform various steps of electrophoresis continuously and automatically.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, conventional automated equipment does not have a means to correct the bent support that is displaced during the previous wetting process, and the support is transported into the electrophoresis chamber as it is.
The configuration required serum to be applied to the device as it was and electrophoresis to be performed. Therefore, the support carried into the electrophoresis box is always misaligned with respect to a predetermined position and is set in a bent state, and the steps from serum application to electrophoresis processing are performed in this state. become. As a result, the resulting migration pattern is similarly displaced and bent with respect to the support membrane. Further, at this time, the electrophoresis process is performed with the support membrane being bent. Therefore, when measuring the density of a fractional image in this state, the optical system of the measurement unit scans diagonally with respect to the electrophoresis pattern, resulting in inaccurate and unreliable data, and the measurement This will have a negative impact on the results. Furthermore, since the supporting membrane is off the center line and misaligned in the electrophoresis tank, it cannot be transported smoothly to the next process, causing problems such as the membrane interfering with peripheral equipment and jamming. easy.

A technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 72338/1983 is known as a technique for correcting the above-mentioned positional deviation of the membrane support. However, the prior art disclosed in this publication moves only one tank body in the lateral direction,
Since the support body is pulled only to one side, it is easy to cause the support body to shift to one side, and there is no automatic centering function for centering, which may cause the support body to shift from the center. The problem is that it cannot be done. Furthermore, the prior art disclosed in the publication has the disadvantage that when the support body is tilted at an angle with respect to the center line, there is no function to correct the tilt/inclination, and the tilt cannot be corrected.
Furthermore, as mentioned above, since the mechanism pulls only in one direction, when tension is applied to the support, the support may be displaced in one direction or tilted with respect to the center line. Problems can easily occur. Therefore, a two-step correction of applying tension and correcting misalignment of the support is required each time, making setting the support extremely difficult. Moreover, it is impossible to simultaneously correct the positional deviation and inclination of the support at all, and accurate and reliable correction cannot be expected.

This invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and it is possible to simultaneously correct the positional deviation of the support and the inclination with respect to the center line, and to perform electrophoresis processing by always correctly positioning the support at a predetermined position. The purpose is to make it possible.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a drive motor mounted at a predetermined position in the electrophoresis box, and a drive motor mounted on both sides of the electrophoresis box. A vertical movement mechanism is connected to each shaft via a transmission mechanism and is moved upward or downward in synchronization with each other by the drive of a drive motor. A pair of slide blocks connected to the mechanism via a connecting body and supported so as to be movable toward or away from each other in conjunction with the upward or downward movement of the vertical movement mechanism, and a pair of slide blocks on both sides. two plate-shaped membrane correction members that are respectively supported on the slide blocks and that move symmetrically towards or away from each other with the support carried in interlocking with the approach or separation movement of each pair of slide blocks; The support body is sandwiched from both sides by the close movement of the two membrane correction members.

Function: When the support is placed on a conveyance table and transported to a predetermined position in the electrophoresis box, the drive motor is driven in response to the movement, and the two membrane correction members are moved toward each other in the direction closer to the support. Move symmetrically. This approximation action causes both sides of the support to be pinched simultaneously and symmetrically about the centerline. As a result, the displacement of the support and the inclination with respect to the center line are simultaneously corrected, and the support is correctly aligned at a predetermined position.

Embodiments Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 and 6 show an electrophoresis box of an electrophoresis apparatus according to the present invention.

This electrophoresis box 10 includes a transport platform 1 on which a membrane support A is placed and carried into the interior, and carried out to the next process.
1, and a serum application pedestal that is provided so as to be movable integrally with the carrier 11 and is moved up and down with respect to the carrier 11 when the carrier is moved, serum application, electrophoresis, etc. 12.

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 the side edges thereof are formed into raised ribs. Support A rests on its side edges. A rectangular concave attachment recess 111 that is long in the longitudinal direction is formed in the center of the upper surface of the conveyor table 11 . The coating holder 12 is fitted into the mounting recess 111 so as to be slidable up and down. The coating pedestal 12 is in contact with the bottom of the mounting recess 111,
Its upper surface is flush with the upper surface of the conveyor table 11, and is located one step lower than the side edges.

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

The transport table 11 that carries the support A from the previous step to the serum application position in the migration box 10 is
By driving the up-and-down mechanism 30, both ends of the support together with the coating pedestal 12 and the moving mechanism 20 are lowered to a position where they come into contact with the surface of the filter paper 46 in the electrophoresis tanks 44, 44 installed in the migration box 10. At the same time, the coating pedestal 12 is moved upward until it comes into contact with the support A surface. When the filter papers 46, 46 are energized during electrophoresis, the conveying table 11 and the coating receiving table 12 are further lowered together with the moving mechanism 20 so as to separate from the support A.

An upper base is supported on a base 40 installed inside the electrophoresis box 10. An installation base 42 is supported above it at a fixed height. The installation base 42 has an electrophoresis tank 4 filled with a buffer solution.
4 and 44 are installed on both sides of the movement path of the conveyor table 11 at intervals commensurate with the length in that direction. An energizing filter paper 46 placed on a filter paper stand 45 is placed in the buffer solution of the electrophoresis tanks 44 , 44 .

The carrier 11 is guided between the opposing walls of the electrophoresis tanks 44 and 44, and is reciprocated in the loading/unloading direction of the support A. There is a space between the migration tanks 44, 44 below, and the moving mechanism 20 for the transport platform 11 is disposed vertically through the installation base 42 corresponding to the space.

The moving mechanism 20 includes a drive motor 22 attached to one outer wall of a support frame 21, a pulley 23 attached to a drive shaft protruding into the support frame, and a shaft located at an interval between the upper support frame 21. Pulleys 25 attached to the supported shafts 24, 24, respectively, and a belt 26 stretched around the pulleys 23, 25, 25.
It is made up of The driving force of the motor 22 is driven by a belt.
It is transmitted to shafts 24, 24 via pulleys 23, 25, 25, and pinions 27 attached to these shafts 24, 24 are driven to rotate in forward and reverse directions. The pinions 27, 27 mesh with a rack 28 provided along the longitudinal direction at the center of the bottom surface of the conveyor table 11 at intervals in the longitudinal direction. The conveyance table 11 is reciprocated in the direction of loading and unloading the support body A by forward and reverse driving of the motor 22.

The support frame 21 supports the conveyor table 11 and the coating tray 12
The conveyor table vertical shaft 33 of the vertical mechanism 30 that raises and lowers the
It is supported by 1,331. That is, the moving mechanism 20 is supported on the base 40 via the conveyor table vertical shafts 331, 331. As a result, the rack 28 that meshes with the pinions 27, 27 is placed on top of the pinions 27, 27.
The conveyor table 11 will be supported via. Now, by driving the vertical mechanism 30, the transport table vertical axis 3
31 and 331 move up and down, the conveyance table 11 moves up and down together with the moving mechanism 20. The vertical mechanism 30 is configured as follows.

A drive motor 31 is mounted on the upper pace 41 of the base 40.
0 is set. A cam drive shaft 311 is rotatably supported between the left and right side plates of the base 40 in parallel to the drive shaft of the motor 310. The drive shaft of the motor 310 and the cam drive shaft 311 are connected to gears 312A, 312B and an intermediate gear 312 attached to the motor 310 and the cam drive shaft 311, respectively.
Connected by C mesh.

The cam drive shaft 311 has a pair of cams 313 for raising and lowering the conveyance table on the inner side at intervals in the axial direction.
313, and a pair of cams 31 for raising and lowering the conveyor table on the outside thereof.
3, 313, and a pair of coating tray up and down cams 314, 314 are attached to the outside thereof. A detection means 320 is mounted on the cam drive shaft 311 to detect the rotational position of the cam. Detection means 320
The photo sensor 321 includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a rotating disk 322 attached to the cam drive shaft 311. A plurality of slits (not shown) are formed in the rotating disk 322 in the circumferential direction, and by detecting the positions of the slits, the rotational phases of the cams 313 and 314 are detected. Then, the motor 310 is driven and controlled based on the detection signal. As a result, the transport table 11 and the application receiving table 12 can be
It is moved up and down at a predetermined timing depending on the electrophoresis process and the like. The timing is set by setting the arrangement of the cam rows and selecting the timing of drive control of the motor 310.

In the base 40, conveyor table vertical shafts 331, 331 and coating tray vertical shafts 341, 341 are inserted and supported so as to be vertically movable. Each vertical axis 33
The lower ends of the cams 1,331 and 341,341 are in sliding contact with the cam surfaces of the cams 313, 314 via the cam follower 7. Transport table vertical axis 331,
331, the moving mechanism 20 is supported via the support frame 21. Application tray vertical axis 34
The upper end of 1,341 faces the bottom surface of the coating tray 12 through the bottom portion of the conveyor table 11 so as to be able to come into contact with the bottom surface of the coating tray 12 .

Cams 313 and 31 are used when loading and unloading the support body A.
3 and 314, 314 are in the position shown in FIG. 2, and the conveyance table 11 is supported in a lifted state by the upward movement of the vertical shafts 331, 331.
Further, the coating receiving table 12 returns down into the mounting recess 111 of the conveying table 11 and is separated from the support surface.
This state is the initial position for starting serum application, and the transport table 11 is in a movable state.

A mounting base 51 is arranged on one side of the installation base 42, and a lid 52 for opening and closing the upper part of the electrophoresis box 10 is supported on the mounting base 51 so as to be openable and closable via a hinge. The lid 52 is opened and closed via belt pulleys 54, 55, and 56 by driving a lid opening/closing motor 53 mounted below the installation base 42.

After the previous wetting step is completed, the support A is sent onto the conveyor table 11 by a feed roller or the like,
Positioned and placed.

The electrophoresis box 10 is equipped with a membrane correction device 100 that corrects misalignment, bending, etc. of the support A placed on the transport table 11.

As will be described later, the membrane correction device 100 includes a single drive motor 201, and two sets are arranged in a left-right symmetrical structure corresponding to the migration tanks 44, 44. The system is configured as described below.

Above the electrophoresis tanks 44, 44, there is a filter paper stand 45,
45 is slidably disposed so as to move toward and away from the conveyor table 11. This filter paper stand 4
5 and 45, a filter paper 46 is placed astride the filter paper 46. Both ends thereof are inserted into the buffer solution of the electrophoresis tank 44. Both ends thereof are inserted into the buffer solution of the electrophoresis tank 44. A membrane correction plate 101 is mounted on the filter paper table 45 with a filter paper 46 interposed therebetween.
Pins 451, 451 are set on both ends of the upper surface of the filter paper table 45, and attachment holes 101a, 101a formed in the membrane correction plate 101 are attached to the pins 451, 451.
are positioned and fitted. The membrane correction plate 101 is fixed onto the filter paper table 45 by fitting the pin 451 into the mounting hole 101a. The membrane correction plates 101, 101 are mounted on each filter paper table 45 with a filter paper 46 in between.

The membrane correction plates 101 , 101 are moved toward and away from the support A on the transport table 11 together with the filter paper table 45 by driving the moving means 200 . That is,
The membrane correction plates 101, 101 are symmetrical to each other with respect to the longitudinal direction center line Y in FIG. Approach/leave actions are performed symmetrically in the X direction.

The moving means 200 includes a drive motor 201 . The drive motor 201 is arranged at the rear of the lower part of the base 40 (on the rear left side in FIG. 3). A bevel gear 202 is attached to the shaft. Base 4
A rotary shaft 203 is supported below the lower base 41 of 0. The rotating shaft 203 is perpendicular to the axis of the motor 201, and a bevel gear 204 attached to the middle thereof meshes with a bevel gear 202 attached to the shaft of the motor 201. The rotational force of the motor 201 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 203 through the meshing of bevel gears 202 and 204. Both ends of the rotating shaft 203 protrude outward from both sides of the base 40, and cams 205, 205 are attached to the protruding ends.

On the other hand, on both sides of the base 40, a shaft 206 is supported by bearing blocks 207 so as to be movable up and down. The lower end of the shaft 206 is connected to the cam follower roller 2
It is in contact with the surface of the cam 205 via 08. Axis 2
A support block 209 is attached to the upper end protruding from the bearing block 207 of 06.

Guide shafts 210, 210 are installed laterally on both sides of the base 40 above the support block 209, respectively. The guide shaft 210 includes
A pair of slide blocks 211, 211 are slidably mounted. The pair of slide blocks 211, 211 are always urged toward each other by a spring 212 attached to the guide shaft 210.

A guide groove 209a is formed in the support block 209 in the lateral direction.
A pair of link members 213, 21 that are approximately L-shaped.
3 are fitted via a roller 214 so that they can move relative to each other. The intermediate portions of the link members 213, 213 are pin-coupled 213C to the side portions of the base 40. The other end of the link members 213, 213 is 2
Branched in a fork shape, slide blocks 211, 211
They are respectively engaged with pins 214a protruding from.
The link members 213, 213 are connected to the support block 20.
9 moves up and down via the shaft 206, the rollers 214, 214 at one end thereof perform relative swinging motion within the groove 209a, thereby swinging symmetrically about the pin connection 213c as a fulcrum. and,
The slide blocks 211, 211 are slid toward and away from each other through engagement between the two prongs 213a at the other end and the pin 214a.

A slide shaft 215 is provided vertically upward on the slide blocks 211, 211, respectively.
The slide shafts 215, 215 protrude upward through the hole 42a of the installation base 42, and extend upward along the wall of the migration tank 44. Its upper end is connected to fitting grooves 452, 45 formed at both ends of the filter paper base 45.
2 is fitted and connected. The left and right membrane correction plates 101, 101 are now connected to each pair of slide shafts 215, 215 via the filter paper table 45. As the slide blocks 211, 211 slide, the slide blocks 211, 211 move symmetrically and relatively close to each other via the slide shafts 215, 215.
The detachment operation becomes possible.

A detection means 220 for detecting the rotational phase of the cams 205, 205 is disposed on the rotation shaft 203 connected to the drive motor 201. The detection means 220 includes a rotating disk 221 having a slit attached to the shaft 203, and a photo sensor 222 consisting of a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The motor 201 is driven and controlled by the detection signal, and the timing of the correction operation of the support body A by the correction plates 101 and 101 and the timing of the loading/unloading operation of the support body A is matched.

The moving means 200 includes the left and right membrane correction plates 10
1 and 101, one set each is arranged along both sides of the base 40, and are driven in synchronization with each other by the drive of one motor 201.

In the above-described configuration, after the first wetting process is completed, the support A is transferred to the migration box 10 by the transport table 11.
At the stage where the conveyance table 11 is carried into the interior and positioned at the serum application position, the conveyance table 11 is moved along the vertical shaft 33 of the vertical mechanism 30.
1,331.
Further, the coating tray 12 is lowered and returned from the support surface to the inner bottom of the mounting recess 111.

When transporting the support body A, first, the drive motor 201 of the moving means 200 is driven, and the left and right slide blocks 213 are slid outward via the cam link mechanism. As a result, the film correction plates 101, 101 are attached to the slide shaft 21.
5, 215 and the conveyor table 11 together with the filter paper table 45.
moved in a direction away from. By this,
The support body A placed on the transport table 11 is smoothly carried into the migration box 10. The support body A brought in from the previous stage is bent in the wetting process at the previous stage and is misaligned with respect to a predetermined position. Next, the moving means 200 for the correction plates 101, 101
is driven.

First, by driving the drive motor 201, the left and right slide blocks 211, 211 slide inward via the cam link mechanism. Due to this sliding operation, the membrane correction plates 101, 101 move together with the filter paper table 45 in a direction approaching the conveyance table 11 via the slide shafts 215, 215. This proximity movement causes the film correction plates 101, 101 to
It abuts from both sides so as to sandwich the support A on 1. Due to this contact, the support body A is
1 to a predetermined position and film correction is performed.

That is, the support A supports the left and right membrane correction plates 10.
1 and 101 in a symmetrical manner with respect to the center line Y in FIG.

Next, the motor 310 of the vertical mechanism 30 is driven, and the cam drive shaft 311 is rotated in a predetermined direction. Then, the conveyor table vertical shafts 331, 331 move downward via the cam mechanism, and at the same time, the coating tray vertical shafts 341, 341 move upward via the cam mechanism.

Due to this vertical movement, the conveyance table 11 is lowered to a position where both ends of the support body A are in contact with the surface of the filter paper 46 in the migration tanks 44, 44.

On the other hand, when the coating tray vertical shafts 341, 341 move upward, their upper ends pass through the bottom of the conveyance platform 11 and push up the coating tray 12. This action causes
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 A. Now, the filter paper 4 is placed on the support mounting surface of the conveyor table 11 and the coating tray.
6 is the same plane parallel to the plane of support A.

When the serum application is completed, the lid 52 closes the top of the electrophoresis box 10 by driving the motor 53. As a result, the pressure rollers 57 and 5 provided on the inner surface of the lid 52
At 7, both sides of the support A along the center line Y are pressed and brought into close contact with the filter paper 46. At the same time, the vertical mechanism 3
0 vertical axes 331, 331 and 341, 341
moves downward. Then, the conveyor table 11 moves downward and moves away from the support A, and
In conjunction with this operation, the coating receiving table 12 moves to the conveying table 11.
As it descends into the attachment recess 111, it returns downward and leaves the support A.

Next, the moving means 200 for the correction plates 101, 101
is activated, and as the motor 201 is driven, the slide blocks 211, 211 slide apart via the cam link mechanism. Due to this sliding movement, the filter paper stands 45, 45 are moved to the slide shaft 21.
5, 215, slide outward by several m/m, that is, in a direction away from each other. When the left and right filter paper stands 45, 45 slide outward, the support A, on which both ends are placed, is pulled outward from both sides, and the sag that has occurred in the membrane is removed. At this time, the conveyance table 11 further lowers to the lowest position and separates from the support body A.

Thereafter, electricity is applied between the filter papers 46, 46, and a separated image is formed on the membrane surface of the support A by electrophoresis. The formation of this minute image (migrating pattern) is performed with the support A being stretched straight due to the operation of the membrane correction mechanism.

When the electrophoresis process is finished, the lid 52 is opened, and then the up-and-down mechanism 30 is driven to move the conveyance table 11 back up. Now, the support A is attached to the filter paper 46, 46
The paper is separated from the paper and placed on the conveyor table 11 again. Next, the correction plates 101, 101 are driven by the moving means 200 to slide in a direction approaching the support A, and come into contact with the support A from both sides so as to sandwich it therebetween. This may cause misalignment due to the electrophoresis process,
The bent support A is corrected to a predetermined position.

Thereafter, the support A is sent to the next dyeing/decoloring process by the movement of the conveyor table 11. At this time, the support body A is sent out after correcting and correcting its position to a predetermined position, so that a smoother and smoother feeding operation can be performed.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the present invention, the support carried into the electrophoresis box is sandwiched between the two membrane correction members simultaneously and symmetrically with respect to the center line. Left and right positional deviations and inclinations with respect to the center line can be automatically corrected symmetrically, concentrically, and at the same time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an electrophoresis box according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing its internal structure, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the electrophoresis box with the lid removed, FIG. 4 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 5 is a membrane correction member according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view of essential parts showing one side of two sets of film correction devices. A... Support, 10... Electrophoresis box, 11...
Transport platform, 44, 44...Migration tank, 100,100
... Membrane correction device, 101, 101 ... Membrane correction plate,
200, 200... Means of transportation.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A transport platform on which a membrane-like support is placed and carried into and out of the electrophoresis box, a pair of electrophoresis tanks arranged on both sides of the carrying path of this transport platform, and a pair of filter papers each immersed in a buffer solution in the pair of migration tanks, and when the conveyance table is lowered or raised at the carry-in position, both sides of the support come into contact with or separate from the filter paper. In an electrophoresis box of an electrophoresis device, the electrophoresis box includes a drive motor mounted at a predetermined position in the electrophoresis box, and a drive motor disposed on both sides of the electrophoresis box and connected to the shaft of the drive motor via a transmission mechanism. a vertical movement mechanism that is connected to each other and moved upward or downward in synchronization with each other by the drive of the drive motor, and a connecting body disposed on both sides of the migration box and connected to each of the vertical movement mechanisms. a pair of slide blocks that are connected to each other through the vertical movement mechanism and supported so as to be movable toward or away from each other in conjunction with the upward or downward movement of the vertical movement mechanism; and each pair of slide blocks on both sides of the slide block. two plate-shaped membrane correction members that are respectively supported on the blocks and that move symmetrically towards or away from each other with the loaded support body in between in conjunction with the approach or separation movements of each pair of slide blocks; An electrophoresis box, characterized in that the supporting body is simultaneously and symmetrically sandwiched from both sides by the approaching movement of the two membrane correction members. 2. Attach filter papers to be inserted into the buffer solutions of a pair of migration tanks with a filter paper stand in between, and fix a plate-shaped membrane correction member on this filter paper stand with the filter paper sandwiched therebetween, and The electrophoresis box according to claim 1, wherein the electrophoresis box is supported on each pair of slide blocks via shafts. 3 A pair of presser members are provided to press both sides of the support placed on each filter paper of the pair of migration tanks, and when the two membrane correction members move in the detachment direction with respect to the support, the pair of presser members Claim 1, characterized in that the member presses both sides of the support, and each of the filter papers constitutes a member that applies a symmetrical tensile force to both sides of the support. The electrophoresis box described in Section 2.