JPH11248714A - Dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To release a nozzle chip from a nozzle base smoothly in the case where the nozzle chip is detachably placed to the nozzle base. SOLUTION: When a nozzle part 10 is lowered from upward, the tip edge of the first protruding plate 22A comes into contact with the taper part 14A of a nozzle chip 14 to generate the first horizontal pressing force A as a consequence. After this, when the nozzle part 10 is horizontally moved, the tip edge of the second protruding plate 22B comes into contact with the nozzle chip 14 to generate the second horizontal pressing force B as a consequence. When the nozzle part 10 is pulled upward finally, an ejecting plate 16 is hooked at a chip head 15 to remove the nozzle chip 14 from a nozzle base 12 as a consequence.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to a nozzle tip removing mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A dispensing device is a device for subdividing a liquid sample (sample) such as blood into a plurality of containers. In a conventional general dispensing apparatus, a nozzle for performing suction and discharge includes a nozzle base and a nozzle tip detachably mounted on the nozzle base. The nozzle base is generally formed of a pipe-shaped metal, and the nozzle tip is formed as a resin-formed product. Here, the head of the nozzle tip is formed slightly enlarged, and the nozzle base is fitted and inserted into a hole formed in the center of the head.

In such a dispensing device, after dispensing, the nozzle tip is removed from the nozzle base and replaced with a new one. At the time of removal, a so-called chip remover is used. The tip remover has a ball-shaped hole that connects a large hole and a small hole, by inserting a nozzle into the large hole and pulling it out from the small hole side,
The upper surface of the chip head is caused to collide with the periphery of the hole to separate the nozzle chip from the nozzle base.

[0004]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional method, the nozzle tip is simply pulled in the nozzle axis direction, so that a relatively large detaching force (nozzle lifting force) is required. For this reason, there is a problem that a mechanical load increases. Further, when the sample is scattered due to an impact at the time of detachment of the chip, there is a problem that the sample is unnecessarily attached to the tip of the nozzle base and contamination occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to smoothly remove a nozzle tip from a nozzle base in a dispensing apparatus.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a dispensing apparatus in which a nozzle tip is detachably mounted on a nozzle base and dispensing is performed by a nozzle formed by the nozzle tip. And a swing mechanism for applying a horizontal pressing force to the nozzle tip when the nozzle tip is detached from the nozzle base.

[0007] According to the above structure, a horizontal pressing force is applied to the nozzle tip by the oscillating mechanism to loosen the coupling state between the nozzle tip and the nozzle base, thereby achieving a smooth separation between the two. In particular, when the coupling state is loose, air enters the nozzle tip, and the internal pressure approaches the atmospheric pressure, so that the liquid sample left inside when the nozzle tip is separated can be prevented from scattering.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the swing mechanism contacts the tapered portion of the nozzle tip from the first horizontal direction during the downward movement of the nozzle, and contacts the nozzle tip with the downward movement. A first extruding means for applying a first horizontal pressing force to the nozzle tip during a horizontal movement after the lowering of the nozzle, the nozzle tip contacting the nozzle tip from a second horizontal direction different from the first horizontal direction; And a second pushing means for applying a second horizontal pressing force to the nozzle tip. According to this configuration, the connection between the nozzle tip and the nozzle base can be loosened by effectively utilizing the elevation and horizontal movement of the nozzle and the form of the tapered surface. Therefore, the swinging motion of the nozzle tip can be performed in the existing dispensing apparatus only by adding a new and simple configuration.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the oscillating mechanism comprises: a first pushing means for applying a pressing force to the nozzle tip from a first horizontal direction; It includes a second pushing means for applying a pressing force from a second horizontal direction different from the horizontal direction, and a driving means for sequentially driving the first and second pushing means. Preferably, a retracting means is provided for retracting the first and second pushing means from the nozzle tip falling path when the nozzle tip is detached. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the nozzle chips from being clogged in the middle of the drop which occurs in the falling chamber of the nozzle chips.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a main configuration of a dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.

A nozzle unit 10 for sucking and discharging a liquid sample
Is composed of a metal pipe-shaped nozzle base 12 and a nozzle tip 14 made of a resin or the like which is detachably attached to the nozzle base 12. This nozzle part 1
Numeral 0 is supported by the nozzle head 13, and the nozzle head 13 and the nozzle unit 10 are driven by the nozzle transport mechanism 20 in the vertical and horizontal directions.

In the present embodiment, the nozzle tip 14 is of a disposable type, and the nozzle tip 14 is replaced with a new one at the end of one dispensing. The nozzle tip 14 is held by a tip rack (not shown), and the nozzle tip 14 is press-fitted into the upper opening of the nozzle tip 14 so that they fit together. The chip 14 is mounted.

On the other hand, when the nozzle tip 14 is replaced after dispensing, an eject plate 16 as a tip remover as shown in FIG. 1 is used. FIG. 1A shows a side view of the eject plate 16, and FIG. 1B shows a top view of the eject plate 16. As shown in (B), the eject plate 16 is formed with a large hole having a size enough to allow the chip head 15 of the nozzle tip 14 to pass therethrough and a small hole connected to the large hole. Daruma hole 16A is formed. Then, the nozzle tip 14 is inserted into the darling hole 16A from above, the nozzle tip 14 is moved in the horizontal direction, and then is pulled up, whereby
The tip head 15 is brought into contact with the back side of the eject plate 16, and as a result, the nozzle tip 14
Can be removed. In FIG. 1, the above operations are indicated by reference numerals a to c, where a is the nozzle unit 10.
, A downward movement of the nozzle unit 10 is shown in b, and a upward movement of the nozzle unit 10 is shown in c.

Although the above operation is performed in a conventional dispensing apparatus, in the present embodiment, a swing mechanism 22 is provided, and the swing mechanism 22 Horizontal pressing forces A and B are applied. Thereby, the fitting state of the nozzle tip 14 to the nozzle base 12 is relaxed, and the nozzle tip 14
Can be easily removed, and the air can be allowed to enter the nozzle tip 14, thereby preventing the sample liquid remaining in the nozzle tip 14 from scattering. This will be described in detail below.

FIG. 2 shows the detaching operation of the nozzle tip 14 by the pipetting device of the present embodiment. (A) shows the operation when the nozzle unit 10 descends, (B) shows the operation when the nozzle unit 10 moves in the horizontal direction, and (C) shows the operation when the nozzle unit 10 moves upward. The effect of time is shown.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
2 is substantially the first extruded plate 22A and the second extruded plate 22B
It is composed of Here, each extruded plate 22
A and 22B are provided to protrude in the horizontal direction in the falling chip accommodating chamber 21. As shown in (A),
The first pushing plate 22A is provided so as to come into contact with the tapered portion 14A of the nozzle tip 14 when the nozzle portion 10 descends, and to gradually apply a pressing force to the nozzle tip 14 in the direction A in the drawing as the nozzle portion 10 descends. I have. That is, the leading edge of the first extruded plate 22 </ b> A protrudes from the center axis of the nozzle unit 10 to a position slightly away from the leading end of the nozzle tip 14. As a result, as described above, when the nozzle tip 14 descends, the nozzle tip 14 contacts the tapered portion 14A and then functions to rub the tapered portion. As a result, the inclination of the slope of the tapered portion 14A causes the nozzle tip 14 to move. A horizontal force can be applied to it.

When the nozzle section 10 is moved in the horizontal direction, that is, in the same direction as the direction shown in FIG. A, from the state shown in FIG. As a result, it is possible to apply a biasing force to the nozzle tip 14 in the horizontal direction indicated by reference numeral B. That is, the downward movement and the horizontal movement shown in (A) and (B) allow the nozzle tip 14 to swing about the nozzle base 12.

In some cases, such a swinging movement causes the nozzle tip 14 to be separated from the nozzle base 12 as it is. In general, however, the fitting state of the two is loosened, and as a result, as shown in FIG. When the nozzle portion 10 is pulled up as shown in FIG.
6 are hooked on the back surface, and as a result, the combined state of both is completely released. That is, the nozzle tip 14 falls downward.

At the time of such a departure, a small amount of air enters the nozzle tip 14 by the above-described swinging motion, and the pressure inside the nozzle tip 14 is substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure. It is possible to effectively avoid the problem that the liquid sample is scattered due to the decompression inside when the 14 is detached.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the extruding plates 22A and 22B are fixed respectively,
The pressing force in the horizontal direction was applied using the contact relationship with A. Of course, each extruding plate was driven electrically or mechanically to cause the nozzle tip 14 to swing as described above. You may do so.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment.
(A) shows the downward movement of the nozzle unit 10, (B) shows the horizontal movement of the nozzle unit 10, and (C) shows the upward movement of the nozzle unit. And
(D) shows a top view of the falling chip storage chamber 21. As shown in (D), a hook plate 32 which is held in a horizontal state in a normal state is provided inside the falling chip storage chamber 21. The hook plate 32 has a groove 32A through which the nozzle tip 14 is inserted.
As shown in FIG.
The nozzle tip 14 is inserted into 2A. Here, groove 3
2A has an elongated groove shape extending in the direction b in the figure, and the movement of the nozzle unit 10 in the direction b is allowed.

In the state where the nozzle portion 10 is moved in the horizontal direction b as shown in FIG. 2B, the hook plate 32 is moved by the driving portion 30 in at least one direction in the directions A and B shown in FIG.
The nozzle tip 14 is reciprocated a plurality of times, preferably a plurality of times, whereby the nozzle tip 14 can be made to perform a swinging motion. As a result, the same operation as described above can be obtained.

Prior to the upward movement of the nozzle portion 10 shown in FIG. 2C, the above-described hook plate 32 is retracted from the inside of the falling chip storage chamber 21 to the outside. The clogging of the chip 14 can be prevented. In this case, the hook plate 32 may be retracted in the horizontal direction, but may be retracted by falling down from a horizontal state, for example.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the concept of still another embodiment. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the first extruded plate 40 is
Further, horizontal pressing forces in the directions A and B in the drawing are applied stepwise by the second pushing plate 42, whereby the nozzle tip 14 can be made to perform a swinging movement as described above. In addition, in FIG. 4, A 'and B' have shown the evacuation movement of the push plates 40 and 42, respectively. By such a retreating movement, it is possible to prevent the nozzle chips from being clogged in the falling chip housing chamber as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, an extruding plate 44 having an elliptical cross section is driven in the horizontal direction. A horizontal pressing force in the A direction can be applied. Even with such a single pressing operation, the nozzle tip 14 can be easily detached from the nozzle base 12 as compared with the related art. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 as well, the extruded plate 44 is retracted to the outside when the nozzle tip falls, so that it is possible to prevent the nozzle chip from being clogged in the falling chip storage chamber.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In the dispensing device, the nozzle tip can be smoothly removed from the nozzle base.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation when a nozzle tip is detached.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation when a nozzle tip is detached in another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an operation when a nozzle tip is detached in another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an operation when a nozzle tip is detached in another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 nozzle, 12 nozzle base, 13 nozzle head, 14 nozzle tip, 15 chip head, 16
Eject plate, 20 nozzle transport mechanism, 22 swing mechanism, 22A, 22B First and second extrusion plates.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A dispensing apparatus in which a nozzle tip is detachably mounted on a nozzle base and dispensing is performed by a nozzle constituted by the nozzle tip, wherein the nozzle tip is detached from the nozzle base. A dispensing apparatus including a swing mechanism for applying a horizontal pressing force to a nozzle tip. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating mechanism contacts a tapered portion of the nozzle tip from a first horizontal direction when the nozzle moves downward, and the nozzle moves as the nozzle descends. A first pushing means for applying a first horizontal pressing force to the tip, and a horizontal movement after the nozzle is lowered from the second horizontal direction different from the first horizontal direction. A second extruding means for contacting and applying a second horizontal pressing force to the nozzle tip. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating mechanism includes: a first pushing unit that applies a pressing force to the nozzle tip from a first horizontal direction; Dispensing, comprising: a second pushing means for applying a pressing force from a second horizontal direction different from the first horizontal direction; and a driving means for sequentially driving the first and second pushing means. apparatus. 4. The dispensing device according to claim 2, further comprising a retreating means for retreating the first and second pushing means from the nozzle tip falling path when the nozzle tip is detached. 5. The dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a hook member that catches on a head of the nozzle tip during rising of the nozzle.