JPH0230294B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Application) The present invention is applicable to dyeing baths prepared by mixing and adjusting various dyes or chemicals, sample solutions such as chemical samples (hereinafter referred to as
The present invention relates to a device for the purpose of mixing and adjusting a solution (simply referred to as a solution), and particularly relates to a solution preparation method characterized by a method of cleaning a suction/discharge device used in this device.

(Prior Art and its Problems) As an apparatus for mixing and preparing this type of solution, one has already been proposed in JP-A No. 57-66171.

As shown in FIG.
A pump 1 for taking out the stock solution is provided between the second group, and the suction and discharge capacity of this pump is made variable, and the correspondence between this pump and each stock solution container and each sample container can be changed, so that a predetermined The amount of stock solution set by the program is taken out from each stock solution container.

In this device, the pump 1 is installed at a fixed position, and the stock solution container group 21 and the sample container group 22 are moved according to a predetermined program, and when a specific sample container and a specific stock solution container match the pump, the movement begins. stops, the pump 1 is activated by a predetermined signal, and a predetermined amount of a specific stock solution is taken out into the sample container 22. After that, the pump 1 is moved to correspond to the cleaning liquid tank and the drain liquid tank, each of which has a suction port and a discharge port in a fixed position, and is stopped at this position.In this stopped state, multiple pumps are operated to pump the pump. Clean the inside and move on to the next operation.

By repeating this process, the samples in each sample container have a predetermined combination of stock solutions, and are prepared at a constant mixing ratio.

However, in this device, since a reciprocating piston type pump 1 is used as the stock solution extraction means, the accuracy of the extraction volume cannot be sufficiently increased.

In this pump, the extraction capacity is adjusted by adjusting the stroke of the piston 11.
Since the stroke of step 1 can be set accurately, the suction and discharge capacity by the piston 11 has sufficient accuracy. This is because the amount of the stock solution remaining in these parts also varies greatly.

Therefore, in order to eliminate this inconvenience, the stock solution extraction means is a pipette-type suction-discharge device as disclosed in JP-A-58-216733, or a similar syringe-type suction-discharge device, that is, from one port. It is conceivable to use a suction and discharge device that sucks and discharges the stock solution.

When this suction/discharge device is used as the stock solution extraction means, the amount of stock solution remaining in the suction/discharge device upon completion of one suction/discharge operation is extremely small, and the suction/discharge amount becomes stable.

However, when the stock solution extraction means in the prior art solution preparation apparatus shown in FIG. 6 is simply replaced with the above-mentioned suction/discharge device, there is a problem that the solution preparation time required to clean the stock solution extraction means becomes longer than necessary. be.

When the stock solution extraction means is a suction/discharge device, the stock solution extraction means is moved from above the stock solution container (stock solution suction position) to above the sample container (stock solution discharge position).
This is because it is necessary to move it within a range above the cleaning tank (cleaning liquid suction and discharge position). In other words, if the cleaning tank section is fixedly arranged at a specific position as in the prior art, depending on the position of the undiluted solution extraction means after discharging the undiluted solution, it may take a long time to move to the washing tank section. This is because it requires
As a result, the time required for solution preparation work cannot be sufficiently shortened.

(Technical Problem) The present invention provides the following advantages: ``Under conditions in which a stock solution retrieval means is interposed between a stock solution container group and a sample container group, and a correspondence relationship between a specific stock solution container, a sample container, and the stock solution removal means is specified. While taking out a specific stock solution into a specific sample container, changing these correspondence relationships in a predetermined order,
A solution preparation method in which the stock solution extraction means is adapted to the cleaning tank section and the inside of the tank is cleaned as necessary.''
In order to shorten the time required for the cleaning process of the undiluted solution extraction means, a specific issue to solve this problem is to shorten the relative movement distance between the undiluted solution extraction means and the cleaning tank part in the cleaning process. do.

(Means) The technical means of the present invention taken to solve the above problem is as follows: ``The stock solution extraction means is a suction and discharge device of a type that sucks and discharges the stock solution from one port, and the suction and discharge device is movable up and down. The holder held in the holder is equipped with a cleaning tank, and the cleaning tank and the suction/discharge device are related to each other so that they can be moved relative to each other in the horizontal direction. In other processes, the cleaning tank section is retracted from the area below the suction/discharge device.

(effect) The above technical means works as follows.

The stock solution extraction means is a suction and discharge device that sucks and discharges the stock solution from one port. During solution preparation operation, this suction and discharge device is in the stock solution suction position and its port faces a specific stock solution container. Then, the stock solution is sucked by the suction operation of the suction/discharge device, and then,
While remaining in the suction state, the stock solution is relatively moved to a discharge position opposite to the other sample container, and is discharged from the port into a specific sample container.

Then, if necessary, the suction/discharge device is caused to perform a cleaning operation, and the above operation is repeated by making the suction/discharge device correspond to another combination of stock solution container and sample container. By repeating this process, the sample solution is set to predetermined conditions.

In addition, in the cleaning process, the cleaning liquid is suctioned and discharged to clean the suction and discharge device, but at this time, the cleaning tank provided in the holder of the suction and discharge device moves relatively and is positioned below the suction and discharge device. The cleaning operation proceeds in this state.

(Effects) Since the present invention has the above configuration, it has the following unique effects.

Since the amount of stock solution remaining in the suction/discharge device upon completion of one suction/discharge operation is extremely small, the variation in the amount of stock solution taken out is reduced, and the accuracy of stock solution removal is improved.

In the process of cleaning the suction/discharge device, simply by horizontally moving the cleaning device provided on the holder relative to the suction/discharge device, the suction/discharge device and the cleaning tank face each other in a state where cleaning operation is possible. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the suction/discharge device to a specific position every time the cleaning process is performed, and the time required for the cleaning process can be shortened. As a result, the time required for solution preparation can be shortened.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 5.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a dye bath preparation apparatus, in which a base 9 and an auxiliary stand 10 are arranged side by side, and stock solution containers 21, 21 containing dye concentrate are placed on the auxiliary stand 1.
On the other hand, a large number of sample containers 22, 22 are arranged on the top surface of the base 9 to accommodate a combination of dye stock solution and diluted solution selectively taken out from these stock solution containers at a predetermined ratio. Ru. (See Fig. 2) A main feeding device 30 is arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of this base 9, and an arm 32 is extended upward from the base 9 from a movable table 31 paired with this main feeding device. A device block 4 consisting of a suction/discharge device and a cleaning tank 5 is movably provided on this protruding arm, and the device block is moved by a sub-feeding device 33 provided on this arm.

Therefore, in this device, the device block 4 is moved in the X-axis direction of the base 9 by the main feeding device, and is moved in the Y-axis direction by the sub-feeding device 33.

Here, the structure of each of the above-mentioned feeding devices consists of a combination of a pulse motor 34 that rotates by a predetermined angle in response to a signal input, and a feed screw 35 that is rotationally driven by the pulse motor 34, and the rotation direction and rotation amount of the feed screw 35 are The moving table 31 or the device block 4 is moved accordingly. Incidentally, the movement/stop timing of each of these parts is set by a computer (not shown).

Therefore, the device block 4 prepares the stock solution container 2 according to a program installed in the computer in advance.
It moves from above 1, 21 to above sample containers 22, 22 and stops at a predetermined position, and furthermore, the operation of the suction/discharge device and the cleaning operation, which will be described later, are similarly performed according to the program.

Next, the details of the device block 4 are as shown in FIG. An elevating table 43 that moves up and down at predetermined timing is provided, and two first and second suction/discharge units 6a, 6 are mounted on this elevating table.
b is installed.

Each suction/discharge device includes a cylinder 62 having a port 61 at the lower end, and a piston 63 inserted into the cylinder 62.
and a pulse motor 66 whose power is transmitted through a pinion 65 to a rack 64 connected to the piston.The stroke of the piston can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of rotation of each pulse motor. The suction and discharge operation progresses through the reciprocating rotation.

Among the two first and second suction/discharge devices, one first suction/discharge device 6a is for large capacity, and the other is for small capacity. The inner diameter of the cylinder of the second suction/discharge device 6b is set to be smaller than that of the other one, making it easier to set the volume to be taken out in the small volume range, and improving the precision of the volume taken out in the small volume range. Therefore, by using these two suction and discharge devices in combination, the stock solution can be extracted with high precision.

Next, the cleaning tank 5 is horizontally rotatably provided below the movable main body 41, and is located below the suction/discharge device at a predetermined timing and retreats therefrom. Therefore, the cleaning tank is connected to the lower end of a rotating shaft 51 that vertically passes through the movable main body 41.
is adapted to be reciprocated by a constant angle at a predetermined timing by a pulse motor 52 attached to the moving main body 41.

Further, the cleaning tank 5 has a double structure of an inner tank 53 and an outer tank 54, and the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid source to the inner tank via a flexible pipe 55, and the cleaning liquid overflowing from the inner tank 53 is drained to the outside. A discharge circuit 5 made of flexible pipe from the tank 54
It is designed to be discharged through 6. Therefore, in this cleaning tank, a flow from the inner tank 53 toward the outer tank 54 occurs.

Next, the operation of the suction/discharge device and the cleaning tank of the above-described embodiment will be explained.

First, according to a predetermined program, the pulse motors 34, 34 are operated to move the movable table 31 and the movable main body 41 to predetermined positions, and as shown in FIG. 4A, the first and second suction and discharge are performed. Vessels 6a, 6
b is positioned above a specific stock solution container 21. At this time, the lifting platform 43 is in the upwardly moved position (initial position), and the ports 61, 61 are connected to the stock solution container 2.
It is not included in 1. Next, the pulse motor 42
is operated, thereby the lifting table 43 is lowered, and the ports 61, 61 are immersed in the stock solution portion of the stock solution container 21, as shown in FIG. 4B. At this point, the amount of operation of the pulse motors 66, 66 for driving the pistons has been set in advance by a program, and the pulse motors 66, 66 are operated in response to a predetermined signal input to move the pistons backward, and each cylinder 62, 62 A set amount of stock solution is aspirated.

Thereafter, the lifting platform 43 is raised and returned to its original position while maintaining this suction state, and then the device block 4 is positioned above a specific sample container 22 by the cooperation of the main feeding device 30 and the sub feeding device 33. , the pulse motors 66 and 66 of the first and second suction and discharge devices 6a and 6b move by a predetermined amount to advance the pistons and discharge the stock solution in the cylinder into the sample container 22 as shown in FIG. 4D.

For the sample requiring the stock solution in the specific stock solution container 21, the above operation is repeated, and a predetermined amount of the specific stock solution is taken out into each corresponding sample container.

Next, the operation moves on to take out another stock solution, but prior to this, the first and second suction/discharge devices 6a,
6b is washed. This is to prevent one stock solution from mixing with the other stock solution.

This cleaning operation proceeds in the state shown in FIG. That is, with the lifting table 43 in the initial position, the cleaning tank 5 is positioned below the first and second suction/discharge devices 6a and 6b by the pulse motor 52, and then the lifting table 43 is lowered by the pulse motor 42. The ports 61 and 61 are inserted into the inner tank 53 of the cleaning tank as shown in the figure, and in this state, each piston is reciprocated several times by the pulse motors 66 and 66 to repeat suction and discharge, and the cylinder 62 The inside is cleaned.

After this cleaning is completed, the lifting table 43 is returned to the initial position, the cleaning tank 5 is also retracted to the initial position, and the next operation for taking out the stock solution is started.

When these series of operations proceed according to a preset program, a predetermined sample is prepared in each sample container.

Normally, a sample consists of a combination of a plurality of stock solutions and diluted solutions, but in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the diluted solution is collected by a dedicated pump 7. This pump 7 is provided separately on the moving body 41 and is pumped from a diluent source via a flexible tube. This pumping amount is set by the amount of operation of the linear drive means 71 for driving the pump, and this amount of operation is also set to a predetermined amount in advance by a program.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the stock solution extraction operation, washing operation, and dilution operation proceed automatically according to a predetermined program, making it possible to prepare a large amount of samples without requiring any human intervention.

In particular, in this embodiment, the cleaning tank 5 is a double tank as described above, to which the cleaning liquid is supplied and discharged via a flexible tube, so that the cleaning tank can be significantly downsized. Moreover, since this is provided on the moving main body 41 so as to move together with the suction/discharge device, it is not necessary to move the moving main body 41, that is, the suction/discharge device, to a specific position every time cleaning is performed, as in the conventional example described above. Simply moving the cleaning tank so that the cleaning tank 5 and port 61 face each other allows the cleaning system to be set, and the time required for cleaning can also be shortened from this point of view.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the main parts of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an overall diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the device block 4, and FIG. 4 is an explanation of the suction and discharge operation. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the cleaning operation, and FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a conventional example, in which 21... stock solution container, 22... sample container, 30...
...Main feed device, 33...Sub feed device, 5...Cleaning tank, 53...Inner tank, 54...Outer tank, 6a...First
Suction and discharge device, 6b...Second suction and discharge device, 61...
Port, 62...Cylinder, 63...Piston.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A method for dispensing a stock solution between a group of stock solution containers and a group of sample containers, and transferring a specific stock solution into a specific sample container under conditions in which the correspondence between a specific stock solution container, a sample container, and the stock solution removal means is specified. In the solution preparation method, the correspondence relationship between these is changed in a predetermined order, and if necessary, the undiluted solution extraction means is made to correspond to a cleaning tank section to clean the inside thereof. The suction and discharge device is of a type that sucks and discharges stock solution from a port, and a holder that holds the suction and discharge device so as to be able to move up and down is provided with a cleaning tank section, and the cleaning tank section and the suction and discharge device are arranged horizontally relative to each other. In relation to movability, in the cleaning process of the suction/discharge device, the cleaning tank section is positioned below the suction/discharge device to perform the cleaning operation, and in other processes, the cleaning tank section is retracted from the area below the suction/discharge device. Solution preparation method.