JPH0322592B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a washing and drying device for an automatic chemical analyzer.

As is well known, an automatic chemical analyzer dispenses a large number of serum samples one by one into a reaction container, then injects a reaction reagent for the chemical component to be analyzed into the reaction container to proceed with the reaction, and collects the reacted sample. Analyze by measuring the amount of transmitted light by exposing it to light (called colorimetric method)
This is a device that performs By the way, examples of the reaction vessel washing and drying apparatus used in this process include those shown in FIG. 1 or 2. That is, in the case of the one shown in FIG.
is attached to a drive member 2 such as a countless chain, rotated endlessly in the direction of arrow X, the reaction vessel 1 is inverted and stands upside down, and at the position where the opening 1a opens downward, cleaning water is sprayed from the nozzle 3. A wiper 4 is inserted into the reaction container 1 to wipe off residual water, or a blower nozzle 5 blows hot air to dry it. However, in this type of apparatus, since the reaction vessel 1 is inverted, an extra reaction vessel 1 is required at the inverted position, resulting in disadvantages such as an increase in the overall size of the apparatus. In addition, when forced drying using hot air is used, there are drawbacks such as traces of components in the cleaning solution left inside the reactor.

In addition, in the case of the one shown in FIG. 2, the reaction vessel 1 is attached to a drive member 2 such as an endless chain so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow Y so that the opening 1a of the reaction vessel 1 is always positioned upward, and the drive Washing water is injected into the member 2 at an arbitrary location, for example, at position C, using the washing nozzle 7 via the injection pump 6. After injection, the washing water in the reaction vessel 1 is sucked via the suction pump 8, and at position D, the washing water is injected into the reaction vessel 1 using the vacuum pump 10. Dry through nozzle 9
The remaining amount of washing water in the reaction vessel 1 is suctioned by the vacuum cleaner. However, this type of reaction vessel 1 has the disadvantage that it cannot be completely washed only by injecting and suctioning washing water into the reaction vessel 1.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and is directed to an automatic chemical analyzer that can improve cleaning efficiency, has an extremely simple configuration, and can supply products with extremely high reliability at low cost. The object of the present invention is to provide a washing and drying device.

This invention will be described with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the washing/drying device in the automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention;
The figure is a perspective view of the same device, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cleaning nozzle. In each figure, 30 is a washing/drying device in an automatic chemical analyzer, and this washing/drying device 30 has an opening 11a always positioned upward via a driving member 12 such as an endless chain.
The reaction vessel 11 is disposed at an arbitrary position (for example, at the positions shown in FIG. 3A to D) of the reaction vessel 11, which is provided so as to be rotatable in the directions. This washing/drying device 30 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
A movable body (hereinafter referred to as a nozzle holder) 13 is provided which can be reciprocated in the direction of arrow Z2 via a guide rod 14 by a drive member 27 as shown in the figure. This nozzle holder 13 has first and second cleaning nozzles 15A and 15B spaced apart from each other in the transport direction.
is attached by appropriate means. This first
As shown in FIG. 5, the second cleaning nozzles 15A and 15B have a suction tube 17 inserted and held in the cleaning water supply tube 16, and the lower end 17b of the suction tube 17 is inserted from the lower end of the cleaning water supply tube 16. It stands out. Further, the upper end portion 17a is connected to a suction pump 19 via a connecting pipe 18. In addition, the cleaning water supply pipe 16
A drain port 20b is provided near the bottom end, and a supply port 20a is provided near the top end. A water injection pump 22 is connected to this supply port 20a via a connecting pipe 21, and when the nozzle holder 13 is lowered by a driving member 27, water is supplied to the reaction vessel 11 via the injection pump 22 and the washing water supply pipe 16. After cleaning, inject into suction tube 1.
7. The cleaning water in the reaction container 11 is sucked through the suction pump 19.

A squeezing member 23 is attached to the nozzle holder 13 in the middle of the cleaning nozzles 15A, 15B. This straining member 23 is attached to the lower end of the support rod 23a with a straining material 2 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the reaction vessel 11 and having water absorbency and flexibility.
3b is attached by appropriate means. When the nozzle holder 13 is reciprocated by the driving member 27, the squeezing member 23 is inserted into the reaction vessel 11, and the squeezing material 23b is inserted into the reaction vessel 11 to scrub the entire inner surface of the reaction vessel 11 to clean dirt attached to the inner wall surface. It's summery.

Further, a drying nozzle 24 is provided on the tip end side of the nozzle holder 13 in the conveyance direction. This drying nozzle 24 has a drying member 24b having chemical resistance and air permeability attached to the lower end of the support tube 24a. A connecting pipe 2 is provided at the upper end of the support pipe 24a.
A vacuum pump 26 is connected via 5. and the first and second cleaning nozzles 15A, 1
5B, when the nozzle holder 13 is lowered by the drive member 27, the squeezing member 23 and the drying nozzle 24 are inserted separately into the reaction vessel 11 at the lower positions A to D to perform their respective functions, and then As the nozzle holder 13 rises, the reaction vessel 1
He will leave from within 1. As a result, the reaction vessel 11 undergoes the steps of washing, squeezing, cleaning, and drying in an orderly manner.

Next, the operation of the above will be explained.

After dispensing a large number of serum samples one by one at predetermined positions in the reaction container 11, a reaction reagent for the chemical component to be analyzed is injected into the reaction container 11 to proceed with the reaction, and the reacted sample is The amount of transmitted light is measured and analyzed by exposing the sample to light, and the sample in the reaction container 11 after the analysis is discharged through a suction nozzle (not shown).The reaction container 11 is placed under the cleaning nozzle 15A. When it stops at position A, the drive member 27 operates to move the nozzle holder 13 toward the guide rod 1.
4, the cleaning nozzles 15A, 15
B, the reaction vessel 1 with the squeezing member 23 and the drying nozzle 24 located at A to D below them respectively;
1. Next, washing water is supplied into the washing water supply pipe 16 by the dispensing pump 22, and the washing water is supplied into the reaction vessel 11 at the position A through the supply port 20b for washing. After washing, the washing water in the reaction container 11 is sucked through the suction pipe 17 and the suction pump 19. After the cleaning water in the reaction container 11 is sucked, the driving member 27 is activated to move the nozzle holder 1
3 rises along the guide rod 14, and cleaning nozzles 15A, 15B provided in the nozzle holder 13,
The squeezing member 23 and the drying nozzle 24 are respectively removed from the reaction vessel 11.

Next, the reaction vessel 11 is moved by one space in the direction of arrow C, and the washed reaction vessel 11 at position A is located at position B below the next squeezing member 23, and the reaction vessel 11 at position A is located at position A below the cleaning nozzle 15A. A new reaction vessel 11 will be located at that position. Thereafter, the nozzle holder 13 is lowered by the driving member 27, and the cleaning nozzles 15A, 15B, the squeezing member 23, and the drying nozzle 24 are fitted into the reaction vessel 11, and are operated.
Clean the invisible dirt adhering to the inner wall of the reaction vessel 11 at the position, and also clean the cleaning nozzle 15.
With A, the inside of the reaction vessel 11 at the position A is cleaned in the same manner as described above. After cleaning, raise the nozzle holder 13 and move one reaction container 11 in the direction of arrow C.
move in the direction and stop. As a result, the reaction vessel 11 at position B cleaned by the squeezing member 23 is placed at position C below the second cleaning nozzle 15B, and at position A cleaned by the first cleaning nozzle 15A. In addition, a first cleaning nozzle 15 is installed at a position B below the reaction vessel 11 and the laddering member 23.
Another new reaction vessel 11 is placed at the position of A below A.
will be located.

Thereafter, the nozzle holder 13 is lowered by the drive member 27, and the first and second cleaning nozzles 15A, 15B, the squeezing member 23, and the drying nozzle 24 of the nozzle holder 13 are fitted into the reaction container 11, respectively. The second cleaning nozzle 15B
Inject cleaning water in the same way as cleaning nozzle 15A,
The reaction container 11 at position C is cleaned by suction, while the squeezing member 23 and the first cleaning nozzle 15
A is the reaction vessel 1 at the position of B and A in the same manner as above.
1 will be washed.

After cleaning, the nozzle holder 13 is raised in the same manner as described above, and the reaction vessels 11 are also moved one by one. As a result, the reaction vessel 11 at position C, which was cleaned by the second cleaning nozzle 15B, is placed at position D below the drying nozzle 24, and the one below the squeezing member 23 is placed at the second cleaning nozzle 15B. Furthermore, below the squeezing member 23 is a first cleaning nozzle 15A.
A new reaction vessel 1 is placed below the first cleaning nozzle 15A.
1 will be located respectively.

After that, the nozzle holder 13 is lowered and the first and second cleaning nozzles 15A, 15B, the squeezing member 23 and the drying nozzle 24 are respectively attached to the reaction vessel 1.
1, respectively. and drying nozzle 24
The residual cleaning liquid generated due to injection and suction through the second cleaning nozzle 23 is sucked in using a vacuum pump, thereby drying the inner surface of the reaction vessel 11 and completely cleaning it. The first and second cleaning nozzles 15
A, 15B and the squeezing member 23 clean the reaction vessel 11 in the same manner as described above.

After cleaning, the nozzle holder 13 is raised in the same manner as described above, and the reaction vessels 11 are also moved one by one. As a result, the reaction vessels 11 that have been dried by the drying nozzle 24 are used for the next inspection, and the others are sequentially moved to the next position.

It should be noted that the above embodiment is merely an example, and it goes without saying that each member can be replaced with another member having the same function.

Since this invention is configured as described above, invisible dirt adhering to the inner wall surface of the reaction vessel can be removed by the squeezing member, and the reaction vessel can be washed and dried cleanly. Convenient for reuse. Further, according to the present invention, the four steps of washing, squeezing, washing, and drying are separated and performed simultaneously, so that it is possible to cope with the washing of reaction lines that move at high speed. Moreover, it has excellent effects such as being able to supply a product with an extremely simple structure and extremely high reliability at a low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of a washing/drying device in a conventional automatic chemical analyzer, FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing another example of the same, and FIG. 3 is a washing/drying device in an automatic chemical analyzer of the present invention. A schematic explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the device, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device.
The figure is a longitudinal sectional view of the cleaning nozzle. 1, 11... Reaction container, 2, 12... Drive member, 3... Nozzle, 4... Wiper, 5... Air blow nozzle, 6, 22... Injection pump, 10, 26...
Vacuum pump, 13... nozzle holder, 15... cleaning nozzle, 19... suction pump, 23... squeezing member, 24... drying nozzle, 30... washing drying device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Sequentially transfer multiple reaction containers containing samples to be analyzed to which reaction reagents, etc. have been added, perform the prescribed analysis, wash the reaction containers, inject the sample to be analyzed again, and perform the above analysis. In the automatic chemical analyzer, the movable body is located opposite to the opening of the reaction vessel after the analysis is completed, and is set for cleaning with a movable body that is movable back and forth by a drive member. A cleaning chamber, which is attached to this moving body and injects cleaning water that is linked to its reciprocating movement,
first and second cleaning nozzles for suction, a squeezing member disposed between the first and second cleaning nozzles of the movable body, and a movable body on the opposite side of the squeezing member with the second cleaning nozzle in between. A cleaning/drying device for an automatic chemical analyzer, characterized in that it is equipped with a drying nozzle made of a sponge and a vacuum pump for suction.