JP2007003238A - Liquid drop discharge head, liquid drop discharge device, and discharge method of mixed liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for mixing two or more kinds of trace liquids quickly and sufficiently. <P>SOLUTION: This liquid drop discharge head capable of mixing and discharging two or more kinds of liquids has the first liquid storage part 16 equipped with a supply port for supplying the liquid, the second liquid storage part 17 connected to the first liquid storage parts 16 to the number of two or more by each independent passage 13, a pressurizing chamber 22 connected to the second liquid storage part by a passage and having a pressurizing means, and a nozzle hole 26 for discharging the liquids pressurized in the pressurizing chamber. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a droplet discharge head suitable for mixing and discharging a liquid at a predetermined ratio, a droplet discharge apparatus using the droplet discharge head, and a mixed liquid discharge method.

  In recent years, a method for detecting and measuring a target substance in a sample by using a so-called microarray in which a biological substance such as nucleic acid, protein, or cell is immobilized on a substrate as a probe, and utilizing the specificity of binding between biomolecules Is widely used.

  In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-187900 (Patent Document 1), as a method for producing such a microarray, a liquid containing a probe is ejected onto a solid surface by an ink jet method, and the probe is attached to the solid surface. Is disclosed.

  In addition, in order to detect a target substance with high throughput, it is necessary to immobilize many types of probe molecules at a high density in a micro area. In response to such a need, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-160904 (Patent Document 2) independently communicates with a first substrate having a plurality of liquid storage portions and the plurality of liquid storage portions. An inkjet head comprising a second substrate having a plurality of flow paths and one or a plurality of head chips each having a plurality of nozzles that communicate with the plurality of flow paths independently and discharge droplets is disclosed. Yes.

  On the other hand, in the field of biotechnology, in particular, there is a need for a technique for controlling the concentration and volume of a minute amount of liquid in microliter units. Even in the production of a microarray, it is necessary to find optimal conditions by changing the concentration and composition of the liquid containing the probe in various ways.

Thus, in order to mix the liquid at an arbitrary ratio, a micro-dispensing device has been conventionally used. As a dispensing device, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-169771 (Patent Document 3) discloses a dispensing device that is moved to a sample container, a microorganism container, and a mixing container by a support arm and capable of sucking and discharging a liquid. An apparatus having a probe and control means for controlling the dispensing amount is disclosed.
JP 11-187900 A JP 2004-160904 A JP 2001-169771 A

  However, in the above-described dispensing apparatus, the probe must reciprocate between the container (sample container and microorganism container) containing the solution to be mixed and the mixing container, and this movement takes time. In addition, when a plurality of liquids to be mixed are sequentially dispensed into a mixing container, the liquids may be separated vertically depending on the type of liquid, and may not be sufficiently mixed.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the method of mixing 2 or more types of trace amount liquid rapidly and fully.

  In order to solve the above problems, a droplet discharge head according to the present invention is a droplet discharge head capable of mixing and discharging two or more liquids, and includes a first supply port for supplying a liquid. A liquid reservoir, a second liquid reservoir connected to the two or more first liquid reservoirs by independent channels, and a pressurizing means connected to the second liquid reservoir and the channels. And a nozzle hole through which the liquid pressurized in the pressurizing chamber is discharged.

  With such a configuration, the liquids stored in the two or more first liquid storage parts flow into the same second liquid storage part through independent flow paths and are mixed there. Since each liquid flows into the second liquid storage part from an extremely narrow flow path, each liquid is sufficiently mixed without being separated and flows into the pressure chamber as a uniform mixed liquid. Pressurized by the means and discharged from the nozzle hole. Thus, according to the liquid droplet ejection head according to the present invention, it is possible to quickly and sufficiently mix a small amount of liquid without preparing a mixed liquid in advance.

  In the liquid droplet ejection head according to the present invention, the flow paths connecting the two or more first liquid storage portions and the second liquid storage portion have different lengths, and a longer flow rate. It is preferable that the liquid contained in the first liquid storage unit connected to the second liquid storage unit by a path has a smaller amount contained in the discharged mixed liquid. If the length of the flow path connecting the first liquid storage part and the second liquid storage part is different, a difference occurs in the flow velocity, and the amount flowing into the second liquid storage part within the same time changes. Using this, the amount of liquid to be mixed can be controlled. Specifically, the shorter the flow path, the faster the flow rate. Therefore, the liquid contained in the first liquid storage part connected to the second liquid storage part by the longer flow path is included in the mixed liquid. Less

  In the liquid droplet ejection head according to the present invention, the flow paths connecting the two or more first liquid storage portions and the second liquid storage portion have different thicknesses, so It is also preferable that the liquid contained in the first liquid storage unit connected to the second liquid storage unit by a path has a smaller amount contained in the discharged mixed liquid. When the thickness of the flow path connecting the first liquid storage part and the second liquid storage part is different, a difference occurs in the flow velocity, and the amount flowing into the second liquid storage part in the same time changes. Using this, the amount of liquid to be mixed can be controlled. Specifically, the thicker the flow path, the faster the flow rate. Therefore, the liquid contained in the first liquid storage part connected to the second liquid storage part by the thinner flow path is included in the mixed liquid. Less

  Moreover, it is preferable that the supply port of the liquid droplet ejection head according to the present invention is provided so as to protrude from the main surface facing the main surface in which the nozzle holes are formed. According to such a configuration, the liquid and the first liquid storage unit can be communicated by directly immersing the supply port in a liquid prepared in another microtiter plate or the like. In this state, for example, by sucking from the nozzle side, the liquid can be sucked up and directly supplied to the liquid reservoir. When the inner diameter of the supply port is sufficiently thin, the liquid is also sucked up by capillary action. In addition, since each supply port is provided so as to protrude from the nozzle hole forming surface, it is easy to be immersed in a solution in a small sample container, and the first liquid reservoir and the nozzle hole forming surface are in contact with the sample solution and contaminated. The effect that it is not done is also acquired.

  In the droplet discharge head according to the present invention, it is also preferable that the supply port and the liquid storage part are integrally formed in a tube shape. The structure in which the supply port and the liquid holding part are integrally formed is simple and easy to manufacture, and it is easy to suck up the liquid.

  The present invention also provides a droplet discharge device that is used by mounting the droplet discharge head whose supply port projects from the nozzle hole forming surface. This droplet discharge device is in close contact with the fixing means for fixing the droplet discharge head and the main surface on which the nozzle hole is formed so as to cover the nozzle hole of the droplet discharge head. And suction means capable of sucking gas or liquid from the nozzle.

  With such a configuration, the droplet ejection head according to the present invention is attached to the fixing means, and the nozzle hole is operated by bringing the suction means into close contact with the nozzle hole forming surface while the supply port is in contact with the liquid. The liquid can be sucked into the liquid storage part.

  In the liquid droplet ejection apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the fixing unit is capable of rotating the liquid droplet ejection head in a plane including the vertical direction. With such a configuration, the nozzle hole can be fixed upward or downward. If the nozzle hole is fixed upward, the supply port on the opposite side is directed downward, so that the supply port can be easily brought into contact with the liquid surface in the sample container. Further, when discharging the liquid onto the substrate, the droplet discharge head may be reversed and fixed so that the nozzle hole faces downward.

  The present invention also provides a method of mixing a liquid using the above-described droplet discharge head according to the present invention. In this liquid mixing method, the liquid to be mixed is supplied from the supply port to the first liquid storage unit, and the liquid is sucked from the nozzle hole of the droplet discharge head to fill the liquid to the tip of the nozzle hole. And a step of operating the pressurizing means of the pressurizing chamber to discharge the liquid.

  According to such a method, the liquid supplied to each of the first liquid reservoirs is efficiently drawn into the first liquid reservoir through the flow path by being sucked from the nozzle holes, Therefore, since it is mixed, it is not necessary to prepare a liquid mixture in advance and supply it to the liquid reservoir. The liquid flowing into the second liquid reservoir from the fine flow path is further mixed by the momentum due to suction.

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

<First Embodiment>
(Inkjet head)
FIG. 1 shows an inkjet head 10 which is an example of a droplet discharge head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a schematic perspective view, and FIGS. 1B and 1C are cross-sectional views taken along lines IB-IB and IC-IC, respectively, in FIG. 1A.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the inkjet head 10 is provided with 32 reservoirs 16 that are liquid reservoirs symmetrically. In the present embodiment, the supply port of the inkjet head 10 refers to the opening of the reservoir 16, and therefore the description will be made without distinguishing between the reservoir 16 and the supply port. Here, for convenience of explanation, only the four reservoirs 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d are particularly numbered.

  In the inkjet head 10, two reservoirs (for example, the reservoirs 16 a and 16 b) arranged in the Y direction in the drawing are connected to the same second liquid reservoir by independent flow paths 13 in each of the left and right halves. . This state will be described with reference to FIGS. 1B and 1C. First, as shown in FIG. 1B, the reservoir 16a is connected to the reservoir 17a corresponding to the second liquid reservoir by the flow path 13a, and the reservoir 16d is connected to the second liquid reservoir by the flow path 13d. It is connected to the corresponding reservoir 17b. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1C, the reservoir 16b is connected to the reservoir 17a by a flow path 13b, and the reservoir 16c is connected to the reservoir 17b by a flow path 13c. The flow path 13a and the flow path 13b, and the flow path 13c and the flow path 13d are formed in the same layer, but as shown in FIG. 1A, they are formed independently with a slight shift in the X direction in the figure. ing. On the other hand, since both the flow path 13a and the flow path 13b communicate with the reservoir 17a, the liquid that has passed through the flow paths 13a and 13b is mixed in the reservoir 17a. Similarly, the liquids that have passed through the flow paths 13c and 13d are mixed in the reservoir 17b.

  The reservoirs 17a and 17b are connected to pressurizing chambers 22a and 22b (described later) provided in the head chip 20 by flow paths 18a and 18b, respectively, and the pressurizing chambers 22a and 22b communicate with the nozzle holes 26a and 26b, respectively. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C, the ink jet head 10 having such a structure is formed by laminating substrates 30 to 35 provided with through holes and grooves, and is further shown in FIG. The head chip 20 can be formed by bonding. In FIG. 2, the schematic plan view of the board | substrates 30-35 which comprise the inkjet head 10 is shown.

  FIG. 2A is a schematic plan view of the substrate 30. The substrate 30 is provided with 32 through holes 40, and the through holes 40 form the reservoir 16 by bonding the substrate 31 to the lower side of the substrate 30. By arranging the through holes 40 in this way, as will be described later, the flow paths connecting the reservoir 16 (first liquid reservoir) and the reservoir 17 (second liquid reservoir) have different lengths. It becomes. The reservoir 16 can have a desired volume by changing the diameter of the through hole 40 and the thickness of the substrate 30.

  FIG. 2B is a schematic plan view of the substrate 31 disposed on the lower side of the substrate 30. The substrate 31 is provided with through holes 41 at the same pitch (formation interval) as the through holes 40 of the substrate 30. The through-hole 41 is extremely thin, and even if a liquid is supplied to the reservoir 16 in a state where the substrate 30 and the substrate 31 are stacked, the liquid does not easily flow into the through-hole 41.

  FIG. 2C is a schematic plan view of the substrate 32 disposed below the substrate 31. The substrate 32 is provided with 32 linear grooves 42, and the grooves 42 are formed by stacking the substrate 31 and the substrate 32, thereby forming a part of the flow path 13 (see FIG. 1B and the like). Form. The end of the groove 42 outside the substrate has the same pitch as the through hole 41 of the substrate 31, and the through hole 41 and the flow path 13 are connected by bonding the substrate 31 and the substrate 32. On the other hand, a through hole is provided at the inner end of the substrate of the groove 42, and the flow path is connected to the through hole serving as the reservoir 17 provided in the substrate 33. In FIG. 2C, as shown by the dotted line in the position of the reservoir 17 (that is, the through hole 43) when the substrate 33 is bonded, in this embodiment, two grooves 42 forming the flow path 13 are provided. Connect to one reservoir 17.

  FIG. 2D is a schematic plan view of the substrate 33 disposed below the substrate 32. As shown by a dotted line in FIG. 2C, 16 through holes 43, which are half of the reservoir 16, are formed. By bonding the substrate 34 to the lower side of the substrate 33, the through hole 43 is formed in the reservoir 17. Form. The volume of the reservoir 17 can also be freely controlled by changing the diameter of the through hole 43 and the thickness of the substrate 33. FIG. 2E is a schematic plan view of the substrate 34 disposed on the lower side of the substrate 33, and 16 through holes 44 serving as flow paths are provided at the same pitch as the through holes 43 of the substrate 33. ing.

  FIG. 2F is a schematic plan view of the substrate 35 disposed on the lower side of the substrate 34. As shown in the drawing, 16 grooves 45 are formed in the substrate 35, and the end portions of the grooves 45 outside the substrate have the same pitch as the through holes 44 of the substrate 34. By bonding, the groove 45 forms the flow path 18. A through hole is provided at the end of the groove 45 on the inner side of the substrate, and this through hole is connected to a flow path of the head chip 20 (described later). By using the substrate 35, the liquid accommodated in the through-hole 43 (that is, the reservoir 17) formed at a certain distance to secure the volume can be discharged at a high density to a minute region. It becomes.

  The substrates 30 to 35 described above can be formed of a material such as glass or resin, and the grooves and through holes can be formed by a method suitable for the material such as etching or injection molding. After the substrates 30 to 35 are stacked and bonded by a method using thermal welding or an adhesive, a head chip is further bonded to the center of the substrate 35 to complete the inkjet head 10. In the present embodiment, the electrode 108 and the diaphragm 109 correspond to the pressurizing unit. Note that a groove is formed in the electrode substrate 121 from the lower surface in the drawing, and the electrode 108 is formed on the ceiling portion thereof. Therefore, a slight gap (air gap) is formed between the electrode 108 and the diaphragm 109. ) Is formed. The material of the pressurizing chamber substrate 122, the nozzle substrate 123, and the electrode substrate 121 is not particularly limited, but glass, silicon, or the like is suitable when the liquid to be discharged includes a biological sample.

By bonding the head chip 20 having such a configuration to the central portion of the substrate 35, the through hole provided in the electrode substrate and the pressurizing chamber substrate 122 is connected to the through hole of the substrate 35, and a reservoir (not shown) and The pressurizing chamber 22 is communicated to complete the ink jet head 10. For example, the inkjet head 10 is used by being mounted on a droplet discharge device 200 as illustrated in FIG. 7. The droplet discharge device 200 will be described later.
(Liquid mixing method)
FIG. 4 is a process diagram illustrating the liquid mixing method according to the present invention. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views taken along line IB-IB in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line IC-IC in FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the liquid to be mixed is supplied to each of the reservoirs 16. At this time, for example, the reservoirs 16a and 16d are connected to the reservoir 17a or 17b through the channel 13 longer than the reservoirs 16b and 16c. The reservoirs 16b and 16c will contain more liquid than the derived liquid. As described above, considering that the amount contained in the mixed solution depends on the length of the flow path 13 connecting each reservoir 16 and each reservoir 17, any liquid is supplied to any reservoir 16. Determine and supply.

  Since the flow path 13 is extremely thin, the liquid supplied to the reservoir 16 does not flow into the flow path 13 as it is. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1A, the liquid is sucked from the nozzle hole 26 using the suction means 50 that covers the nozzle holes 26a and 26b and is in close contact with the nozzle forming surface.

  FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C show the state after suction. The suction means 50 includes a gas-liquid separation filter 52. When the suction means 50 is brought into close contact with the nozzle forming surface, the gas-liquid separation filter 52 seals the nozzle hole 26. Since the gas-liquid separation filter 52 allows only gas to permeate and does not allow liquid to permeate, the liquid that reaches the tip of the nozzle hole by suction does not flow out of the nozzle hole 26. By aspirating for a certain time, the liquid in the reservoir 16 flows into the reservoir 17 by a predetermined amount depending on the length of the flow path 13.

  By suction, the liquid stored in the reservoirs 16a and 16b flows into the reservoir 17 vigorously and is mixed. The liquids are sufficiently mixed without being separated by flowing in a small amount from the fine flow paths 13a and 13b and increasing the flow speed by suction. Then, the uniform liquid flows from the reservoir 17 into the pressurizing chamber 22 and reaches the tip of the nozzle hole. By operating the pressurizing means of the pressurizing chamber 22 in this state, the mixed liquid can be discharged.

  As described above, according to the droplet discharge head and the liquid mixing method according to the present embodiment, the mixed liquid can be quickly and easily prepared without preparing the mixed liquid in advance. Further, the mixing ratio is controlled by adjusting the amount of the liquid flowing into the second liquid reservoir by changing the length of the flow path connecting the first liquid reservoir and the second liquid reservoir. It is also possible to do.

<Second Embodiment>
(Inkjet head)
FIG. 5 shows an inkjet head 10 ′ that is a droplet discharge head according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the inkjet head 10 ′, reservoirs are formed at the same pitch as the reservoirs 16 of the inkjet head 10 according to the first embodiment, but the supply ports 15 that supply liquid to the reservoirs protrude from the reservoir forming surface 14. It is provided as follows.

  A cross-sectional view taken along line IVB-IVB in FIG. 5A and a cross-sectional view taken along line IVC-IVC are shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, respectively. As shown in the drawing, in the present embodiment, the supply port 15 and the reservoir 16 are integrally formed in a tube shape. Here, for convenience of explanation, only the four supply ports 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d are particularly numbered.

  In the inkjet head 10 ′, the liquid supplied from the two supply ports (for example, the supply ports 15a and 15b) arranged in the Y direction in the left and right halves is connected to each other by independent channels. It flows into the second liquid reservoir. This state will be described with reference to FIGS. 5B and 5C. First, as shown in FIG. 5B, the supply port 15a is connected to the reservoir 17a, which is the second liquid reservoir, by the flow path 13a, and the supply port 15d is connected to the reservoir 17b by the flow path 13d. It is connected. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5C, the supply port 15b is connected to the reservoir 17a by the flow path 13b, and the supply port 15c is connected to the reservoir 17b by the flow path 13c. The reservoirs 17a and 17b are connected to pressurizing chambers 22a and 22b provided in the head chip 20 by flow paths 18a and 18b, respectively, and the pressurizing chambers 22a and 22b communicate with the nozzle holes 26a and 26b, respectively.

  Such an ink jet head 10 ′ is formed by laminating a substrate 30 ′ provided with a through hole and a groove and substrates 31 to 35 identical to the substrate constituting the ink jet head 10, and further supplying the supply port 15 into the through hole of the substrate 30 ′. And attaching the head chip 20 shown in FIG. Since the substrates 31 to 35 are the same as those used in the inkjet head 10 already described, description thereof is omitted, and only a schematic plan view of the substrate 30 ′ is shown in FIG. 6. Thirty-two through holes 40 'are formed in the substrate 30'. The lower end of the through hole 40 ′ is connected to the through hole 41 of the substrate 31. The through hole 40 ′ has a large inner diameter up to a predetermined depth as shown in FIG. 6 or 5 (B), and the supply port 15 is fitted therein.

  The supply port 15 is preferably formed of a resin such as acrylic, vinyl chloride, or polycarbonate, but may be glass, metal, or the like. The inner surface of the supply port 15 is preferably treated in a lyophilic manner, so that the sample solution can be easily sucked into the supply port 15. As a method for imparting hydrophilicity to the surface, there is a method of coating a polymer that is hydrophilic and has high affinity for biomolecules. Examples of such polymers include hydroxyethyl methacrylate, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, dimethyl acrylamide, glycerol methacrylate, polyethylene glycol methacrylate and the like.

Finally, the head chip (see FIG. 3) is bonded to the center of the substrate 35 in the same manner as the ink jet head 10 to complete the ink jet head 10 ′.
(Droplet discharge device)
Next, FIG. 7 shows a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a microarray manufacturing apparatus 200 as an example of a droplet discharge apparatus according to the present invention. The microarray manufacturing apparatus 200 is suitable for mounting and using the inkjet head 10 ′ according to the present invention described above.

  The microarray manufacturing apparatus 200 is for manufacturing a microarray manufactured by arranging a plurality of droplets of a sample solution containing a biomolecule on a substrate 202 such as glass, and is configured so that a plurality of substrates 202 can be mounted. A table 204, a Y-direction drive shaft 206 for moving the inkjet head 10 ′ freely in the Y direction, and an X-direction drive shaft 208 for moving the table 204 freely in the X direction. Further, a fixing unit 210 for fixing the inkjet head 10 ′, a suction unit (suction unit) 212 that is in close contact with the nozzle forming surface of the inkjet head 10 ′ and can be sucked from the nozzle, a fixing unit 210 and a suction unit 212 And a Z-direction drive shaft 207 for freely moving in the Z direction.

Here, FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the fixing means 210 as viewed from the right direction in FIG. 7, taking the case of fixing the inkjet head 10 ′ as an example. The inkjet head 10 ′ is fixed to the fixing means 210 by a rotation shaft 216, and only the inkjet head 10 ′ can be rotated in a plane including the vertical direction around the rotation axis. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the inkjet head 10 ′ is fixed with the nozzle facing downward, and FIG. 8B shows a state in the middle of rotating the nozzle to face upward. In a state where the nozzle is directed upward or downward and the substrate of the inkjet head 10 ′ is horizontal (for example, the state shown in FIG. 8A), the inkjet head 10 ′ can be fixed to the fixing means 210 with a fastener or the like. it can.
(Liquid mixing method)
FIG. 9 is a process diagram illustrating the liquid mixing method according to the present invention. Here, description will be made assuming that the inkjet head 10 ′ is used by being mounted on the droplet discharge device 200 shown in FIG. 9A and 9B are cross-sectional views taken along line IVB-IVB in FIG. 5A, and FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVC-IVC in FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 9A, the inkjet head 10 ′ is fixed to the fixing means 210. Next, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, by rotating the fixing means 210, the inkjet head 10 ′ is turned upside down so that the nozzle holes face upward and the supply port 15 faces downward. Fix it. Subsequently, the X-direction drive shaft and the Y-direction drive shaft are actuated to move the ink-jet head 10 ′ above the microtiter plate 90 on which the sample solution is prepared, and the Z-direction drive shaft is actuated, whereby the ink-jet head Each 10 ′ supply port 15 is immersed in the liquid in each well of the microtiter plate 90. Subsequently, the suction unit 212 is brought into close contact with the nozzle hole forming surface of the inkjet head 10 ′ so as to cover the nozzle hole 26 and is operated. The suction unit 212 includes a gas-liquid separation filter 213, and the gas-liquid separation filter 213 seals the nozzle hole 26 when the suction unit 212 is brought into close contact with the nozzle formation surface. Since the gas-liquid separation filter 213 transmits only gas and does not transmit liquid, the liquid that has reached the tip of the nozzle hole by suction does not flow out of the nozzle hole 26. By sucking for a certain period of time, the liquid in the supply port 15 flows into the reservoir 17 by a predetermined amount depending on the length of the flow path 13.

The liquid sucked up from the supply ports 15a and 16b by suction flows into the reservoirs 17a and 17b vigorously and is mixed. The liquids are sufficiently mixed without being separated by flowing in a small amount from the fine flow paths 13a and 13b and increasing the flow speed by suction. Then, the uniform liquid from the reservoir 17 flows into the pressurizing chamber 22 and reaches the tip of the nozzle hole. In this state, the fixing means 212 again fixes the ink jet head 10 'by turning it upside down and fixes it in the Z direction. The drive shaft is actuated to raise the ink jet head 10 ', and the X direction drive shaft and the Y direction drive shaft are actuated to move the ink jet head 10' above the substrate to be ejected. By operating the Z-direction drive shaft again to fix the inkjet head 10 'to an appropriate height and operating the pressurizing means of the pressurizing chamber 22, a desired mixed liquid can be discharged to a desired position. it can.

  As described above, according to the droplet discharge head, the droplet discharge device, and the liquid mixing method according to the present embodiment, the supply port of the droplet discharge head is immersed in the sample liquid without preparing the mixed liquid in advance. The liquid mixture can be prepared quickly and easily simply by suction from the nozzle hole. Further, the mixing ratio is controlled by adjusting the amount of the liquid flowing into the second liquid reservoir by changing the length of the flow path connecting the first liquid reservoir and the second liquid reservoir. It is also possible to do.

  As described above, according to the liquid recovery method of the present invention, a mixed liquid can be easily prepared and discharged, so a series of dilution solutions and sample liquids with various mixing conditions are prepared in advance. It can be made quickly without doing so.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the content of embodiment mentioned above, In the range of the summary of this invention, it can change and implement variously. For example, the number and arrangement of the liquid storage units are not limited and can be changed according to the purpose. Further, the pressurizing means may be either an electrostatic drive system or a piezoelectric drive system. Furthermore, the liquid mixing ratio may be changed by changing the length of the flow channel as in the above-described embodiment, or by changing the diameter of the flow channel.

1 is a schematic view of a droplet discharge head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the board | substrate which comprises the droplet discharge head shown by FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of a head chip. It is explanatory drawing which shows a process in the liquid mixing method which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic of the droplet discharge head which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view of one of the substrates constituting the droplet discharge head shown in FIG. 5. It is a schematic perspective view which shows an example of the droplet discharge apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the fixing means of the droplet discharge apparatus shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the liquid mixing method which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Droplet discharge head, 12 ... Nozzle hole formation surface, 13, 18 ... Flow path, 15 ... Supply port, 16 ... Reservoir (1st droplet storage part), 17 ... Reservoir (2nd liquid storage part) 20 ... head chip, 22 ... pressure chamber, 26 ... nozzle hole, 31-35 ... substrate, 40, 41, 43, 44 ... through hole, 50 ... suction means, 52 ... gas-liquid separation filter, 108 ... electrode, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 109 ... Diaphragm, 121, 122, 123 ... Substrate, 200 ... Droplet discharge device, 210 ... Fixing means

Claims (8)

A droplet discharge head capable of mixing and discharging two or more kinds of liquids,
A first liquid storage section comprising a supply port for supplying liquid;
A second liquid reservoir connected by two or more independent first and second liquid reservoirs;
A pressurizing chamber connected to the second liquid reservoir by a flow path and having a pressurizing means;
A liquid droplet ejection head having a nozzle hole through which the liquid pressurized in the pressure chamber is ejected. The flow paths connecting the two or more first liquid storage units and the second liquid storage unit have different lengths, respectively.
The liquid contained in the first liquid storage part connected to the second liquid storage part by a longer flow path, the amount contained in the discharged mixed liquid is reduced, The droplet discharge head according to claim 1. The flow paths connecting the two or more first liquid reservoirs and the second liquid reservoir have different thicknesses, respectively.
The liquid contained in the first liquid storage unit connected to the second liquid storage unit by a narrower flow path has a smaller amount contained in the discharged mixed liquid, The droplet discharge head according to claim 1.   4. The droplet discharge according to claim 1, wherein the supply port is provided so as to protrude from a main surface opposite to the main surface in which the nozzle hole is formed. 5. head.   The droplet discharge head according to claim 4, wherein the supply port and the liquid storage portion are integrally formed in a tube shape. A droplet discharge device that is used by mounting the droplet discharge head according to claim 4 or 5,
Fixing means for fixing the droplet discharge head;
A suction unit that is in close contact with the main surface on which the nozzle hole is formed so as to cover the nozzle hole of the droplet discharge head, and that can suck the gas or liquid in the droplet discharge head from the nozzle. Droplet discharge device.   The droplet discharge device according to claim 6, wherein the fixing unit is capable of rotating the droplet discharge head in a plane including a vertical direction. A method of mixing liquid using the droplet discharge head according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Supplying the liquid to be mixed to the first liquid reservoir from a supply port;
Sucking from the nozzle hole of the droplet discharge head, and filling the liquid up to the tip of the nozzle hole;
Operating the pressurizing means of the pressurizing chamber and discharging the liquid.

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