JPH08211073A - Autosampler using system controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To extremely reduce the load of processing capacity applied to a system controller since working environment can be set by the large display and input parts of the system controller, operability can be improved at the time of setting, and dispensing procedure data set by the system controller can be managed and controlled by an automatic sampler. CONSTITUTION: A setting screen corresponding to a model discriminated by a model discrimination part 34 appears on a display 28, the work environment of an automatic sampler 14 is inputted and set by an input part 26 on the display screen, and at the same time a system controller 10 is used to transfer the set work environment data from a work environment setting part 36 of the system controller 10 to a work environment memory part 20 of the automatic sampler 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic sampler using a system controller, and more particularly to improvement of an operating environment setting mechanism and an operating control mechanism of the automatic sampler.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An analyzer such as a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) is composed of many devices such as a pump, a column, a column oven and a detector. And recently, the set values (analysis conditions) of these devices
An analyzer equipped with a system controller that centrally controls a computer by an apparatus control program (system program) is widely used. Further, in the case of measuring a large number of samples, an autosampler is used as a sample injector of the analyzer, and continuous measurement is performed by automatically injecting samples into the column sequentially according to preset operation of the autosampler. Is performed.

In order to determine the operation of the autosampler, there are those which are set as operating environment parameters such as a needle stop position, a sample suction speed, and a washing solvent suction / discharge speed. The individual basic operations are controlled by the set values of the operating environment parameters. In addition to the operating environment parameters, there is a method of controlling the operation of the autosampler as an injection procedure in the flow of measurement. That is, it is set as an injection procedure program (analysis sequence) such as injection amount, injection frequency, sample number, analysis time, delay time and the like. The delay time is the time from the start of the suction operation of the auto sampler to the injection, and the delay time is taken during the previous sample analysis (analysis time) in order to improve the measurement efficiency. Is common.

Then, the autosampler starts the suction operation at the scheduled suction start time (analysis time end time-delay time) based on the above-mentioned injection procedure program, and sets the next sample to a set value (injection amount, sample number, etc.). ) And aspirate. As described above, the operation control of the autosampler is roughly performed by the operating environment parameter and the injection procedure program. In the conventional analyzer, the input setting mechanism or the control content management mechanism is as follows. It was like this. First, the operating environment parameter has a predetermined set value or is input and set by an input key provided on the main body of the autosampler. Then, the management is performed only in the main body of the autosampler for the single set value which is actually input, and the change of the set value requires re-input of a new set value by the input key.

On the other hand, the injection procedure program is set in the system controller, and the system controller also performs management control based on the set value. That is, the injection procedure program is necessary to control the fully automatic continuous operation of the system including the autosampler by the system controller, and is set and managed by the analysis procedure setting program (analysis sequence) of the system controller. It For this reason, the contents of the injection procedure program are inevitably managed by the system controller side, and the above-mentioned commands such as suction start and injection must be sent from the system controller to the autosampler each time each sample is measured. Control its operation by.

That is, the system controller instructs the autosampler to suck the next sample to be injected (sample number, injection amount, etc.) at the scheduled suction start time (analysis time end time-delay time) for each measurement. Then, the auto sampler aspirates the sample based on the command and waits in a ready-to-inject state. Furthermore, the system controller sends an injection command to the autosampler when the analysis time ends, and the autosampler injects the aspirated sample. In this way, the autosampler always had a single sample injection information and operated completely dependent on the system controller.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned conventional operating environment parameter and injection setting program input setting mechanism or management control mechanism respectively have the following problems. Problems related to operating environment parameters In the case of HPLC, etc., a variety of samples are measured with one system, but in order to improve the reliability of each measurement, the operating environment of the autosampler should be set to the optimum value for each sample. It is necessary to change the operating environment parameter frequently.

However, conventionally, the operating environment parameters are changed by the main body of the auto sampler, and in order to reduce the cost and the size of the auto sampler, the operation keys and the display screen must be extremely simple and small. I won't. Therefore, there is a problem that operability is extremely poor when setting the operating environment. Moreover, this setting change has to be done manually each time a sample is changed, which is very time-consuming and troublesome. Problems related to the injection procedure program As a first problem, when the system controller performs all the management control related to the injection procedure program as in the past, the system controller not only controls the measurement system but also manages the sample (the injection amount). , Sample number, etc.) and delay time management (analysis time end time-starting sample suction when the delay time is reached). Therefore, there is a problem that the system controller is required to have an extremely large processing capacity and becomes expensive.

As a second problem, in such a management control that completely depends on the system controller side, the user side needs to be very careful in setting the delay time and the analysis time. That is, the delay time differs depending on the model of the autosampler and the injection mode, and also on the same model and injection mode depending on the injection amount and the sample number. Further, recently, there is a system in which the user can program the injection procedure program and a system in which the operating environment parameters can be freely set. It is extremely difficult to calculate and set the delay time that is complicated and different for each sample by the system controller, and moreover, the delay time calculation procedure for all types of autosampler that can be connected to the system controller (automatic It is virtually impossible to have).

Therefore, the user usually calculates an appropriate delay time and inputs it to the system controller. Here, it is necessary to estimate the expected operation time and set the input delay time to a value with some margin. In other words, if the set value is too small, the autosampler will not be ready for injection even at the scheduled injection start time, and the sample will not be injected.

On the other hand, if the set value is unnecessarily increased,
Since the sample is held in the holding loop for a long time, problems such as alteration and diffusion of the sample occur. Moreover,
If the set value is too large, the injection operation for the next analysis is commanded immediately after the autosampler injection, depending on the set value of the analysis time. The autosampler requires cleaning (1-5 minutes) to return the positions of valves and microsyringes to the initial state after injection, even if the next sample injection is commanded within this time. Since the auto sampler cannot start the suction operation, the sample injection will not be performed. Therefore, in such a setting, it is necessary to pay attention to the analysis time setting, and the total analysis time becomes longer than necessary,
Efficiency is reduced.

As described above, if the delay time and the analysis time are set to inappropriate values, normal injection operation and good measurement / analysis cannot be performed.
In order to find and input this optimum value, considerable knowledge and experience in autosampler and analysis are required, and there is a drawback that only a limited number of people can do it.
Furthermore, as a third problem, if a command regarding aspiration and injection for each sample is performed between the system controller and the auto sampler as in the conventional case, command communication between the system controller and the auto sampler will occur before and after the sample injection time. And data communication between the system controller and the measurement system are concentrated, each communication is delayed, and a communication error due to a processing error or noise of the system controller is likely to occur.

Furthermore, since the sample injection sequence is managed and controlled only by the system controller, even if the command from the system controller does not reach the autosampler due to the processing error or communication error, the normal injection of the autosampler can be performed. The operation is not performed, and serious mistakes such as missing of sample and difference in sample number occur. The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its object is an analyzer capable of easily setting operating environment parameters of an autosampler, and management control of an injection procedure of an autosampler, and a system. An object of the present invention is to provide an analyzer capable of performing normal injection operation without imposing an excessive load on the controller.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, an autosampler using a system controller according to claim 1 of the present invention is an inter-device communication in which the autosampler and the system controller can perform data communication with each other. Connected via means, the autosampler comprises a device number memory unit for storing model identification data provided in the autosampler operating body, and an operating environment memory unit for storing operating environment data, The system controller includes a model discriminating unit connected to the device number memory unit of the auto sampler, and an operating environment setting unit to which an input unit, a display unit and a model discriminating unit are connected. The setting screen corresponding to the model is displayed on the display unit, and the auto support is input from the input unit on the display screen. And inputs setting the puller of the working environment, characterized by transferring the operating environment data the set from the operating environment setting of the system controller to the operating environment memory portion of the autosampler.

In the auto sampler, the operating environment data set and stored on the auto sampler side is
It is preferable that data can be transferred from the operating environment memory unit to the operating environment setting unit of the system controller. Further, in the auto sampler using the system controller according to claim 3 of the present invention, the auto sampler and the system controller are connected via inter-device communication means capable of mutual data communication, and the auto sampler is
Auto sampler operation main body section for performing sample injection operation, operation detection section connected to the operation main body section for detecting the operation of the auto sampler, and the operation main body section and operation detection section, and the sample injection procedure of the auto sampler And an injection procedure data memory section which is provided in the injection procedure control section and which stores the injection procedure data.

The system controller inputs an injection procedure data of a sample, sets injection procedure data based on the input from the input section, and an injection procedure setting section connected to the injection procedure data memory section. And transferring a plurality of injection procedure data set in the injection procedure setting section of the system controller to the injection procedure data memory section, based on the transferred injection procedure data of the autosampler, and detecting the operation. It is characterized in that the injection procedure control unit controls the autosampler based on the state detection of the autosampler in the unit.

In addition, the system controller is provided with a system control connected to the operation detecting section and the injection procedure control section of each measuring instrument and the auto sampler, and at the end of each measurement, the operation detecting section detects the injectable state. Based on the above, it is preferable that the system control unit instructs the injection procedure control unit and each measuring device to start the next measurement.

[0018]

The automatic sampler using the system controller according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with the operating environment setting section in the system controller as described above, and the automatic sampler is provided by using the input section and the display section of the system controller. Enter the operating environment of and set. Then, the operating environment data set in the operating environment setting unit is transferred to the operating environment memory unit of the autosampler, and the operating environment of the autosampler is controlled based on the data transferred and stored in the operating environment memory unit.

Here, the system controller is
In order to set or display complicated measurement conditions of each measuring device, the input section originally has many operation keys, and the display section has a large display screen. Further, in the present invention, the operating environment of the autosampler is displayed on the large display screen while inputting with a large number of operation keys, so that the operating environment can be set easily with excellent operability. Moreover, normally, the set values of the operating environment are related to each other, and if all the items can be input while being displayed at the same time, the number of input errors will be reduced. Generally 1 for auto sampler
Alternatively, since only two items can be displayed, input is troublesome and mistakes are likely to occur.

The operating environment parameters set in the autosampler differ depending on the model. However, in the present invention, the model identification data of itself is stored in the auto sampler, and the data is sent to the model discriminating unit of the system controller when the operating environment is input to discriminate the model of the auto sampler to be used. Therefore, the operating environment parameter corresponding to the determined model can be displayed on the setting screen of the display unit. Further, by providing an operating environment setting unit in the system controller and setting the operating environment of the autosampler on the system controller side, the operating environment is combined with the measurement conditions of each device set by the system controller, and the operating environment is stored in a storage medium such as a disk. Can be easily stored in memory. Therefore, when it is desired to set the same operating environment next time, the setting can be efficiently performed by simply reading from the stored and saved disk.

Further, in the present invention, the operating environment data can be transferred from the operating environment memory section of the auto sampler to the operating environment section of the system controller.
Therefore, when the optimum operating environment has already been set on the autosampler side, the operating environment data can be transferred to the system controller side as it is, and the memory can be stored in the disk etc. without inputting it on the system controller side. It will be possible. Further, the autosampler using the system controller according to the third aspect of the present invention is provided with the operation detection unit, the injection procedure control unit, and the injection procedure data memory unit in the autosampler as described above. Further, the system controller is provided with an input section and an injection procedure setting section.

The injection procedure of the autosampler is as follows.
The injection procedure setting unit of the system controller sets and transfers the set injection procedure data to the injection procedure data memory unit of the autosampler when the operation is started. Further, according to the transferred injection procedure data,
The injection procedure control unit controls the injection procedure of the autosampler. That is, the injection procedure necessary for measurement is collectively transferred to the autosampler side at the time of measurement, and the injection procedure is managed and controlled by the autosampler itself during measurement.
Therefore, during the measurement, the system controller does not need to control the delay time and sample management of the injection procedure of the autosampler, the burden on the system controller is significantly reduced, and it is possible to use inexpensive ones with low processing capacity. . Especially, at the time of sample injection, the processing of the system controller is concentrated. Therefore, in the conventional device, the response of other processing may become dull, but in the present invention, these points are improved.

Further, since it is not necessary to send the data regarding the injection procedure from the system controller to the auto sampler for each measurement, the problem of communication concentration during the measurement as described above does not occur, and the operation related to the injection procedure of the auto sampler does not occur. Is reliably controlled. Further, as described above, the operation detector detects the operation state of the autosampler, and the injection procedure controller controls the suction injection operation of the autosampler while confirming the operation state.
That is, when instructing the start of sample suction according to the delay time of the transferred injection procedure data by the injection procedure control unit of the autosampler, it is performed after confirming that the operating state of the autosampler is aspirable. This time,
If the autosampler is still in a non-suctionable state, it waits for the suctionable state and gives a suction start instruction.

Also, when the sample injection is started according to the analysis time of the transferred injection procedure data, the injection start instruction is given after confirming that the operating state of the autosampler is injection possible. Therefore, even when the analysis time and the delay time are inappropriately set, the normal and reliable operation of the auto sampler can be ensured without causing the sample omission as described above.
Further, in the apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the system controller provided in the system controller instructs each measuring instrument including the auto sampler to start the next measurement. That is,
At the end of each measurement (at the end of the analysis time in the system control section), the system control section confirms that the operation state of the auto sampler in the operation detection section can be injected, and then the injection procedure control section is injected. The start instruction (analysis time start instruction) is given, and at the same time, the instruction to start the next measurement is given to each measuring device. Therefore, even if the analysis time in the system control unit and the injection procedure control unit deviates, each measurement is started at the same time,
The integrity of the operation of the autosampler and the system can always be maintained.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an autosampler using a system controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the auto sampler 14 has an auto sampler operating body 18, an operating environment memory 20, and a device number memory 22. Further, the system controller 10 has a CPU 2
4, an input unit 26, and a display unit 28. Further, the CPU 24 includes a system control unit 30, a measurement condition setting unit 32, a model discriminating unit 34, and an automatic sampler operating environment setting unit 36.

Then, the system controller 10
Is the measurement condition setting unit 32, the input unit 26, and the display unit 2
8 is connected, and the measurement condition setting unit 32 and the system control unit 30 are connected. Further, the system control unit 30 is connected to each system device constituting the measuring device 16 via the inter-device communication means 12. Then, the measurement condition setting screen is displayed on the display unit 28, and the measurement conditions of the system equipment constituting the measurement device 16 are input by using the operation keys of the input unit 26, whereby the measurement condition setting unit 32 receives the measurement conditions. Is set. The set measurement conditions are sent to the system control unit 30, and the system control unit 30 centrally controls the operation of each system device. Further, the measurement condition setting unit 32
Is connected to an external storage medium 38, such as a floppy disk, so that the set measurement conditions can be stored.

Here, the system controller 10
The display unit 28 and the input unit 26 of the auto sampler 1
4 is much larger than the one normally attached and has a large number of operation keys. That is,
The measuring device 16 such as HPLC is composed of a large number of system devices, and the setting items of the measuring conditions are complicated and numerous, and in order to control and input these, the display unit 28 and the input unit 26 are used. There is no choice but to make it large. The feature of this embodiment is that the auto sampler 14
The operating environment is improved by using the input unit 26 and the display unit 28 of the system controller 10 without using the few operation keys and the small display screen equipped with the autosampler.

That is, when setting the analysis sequence, the setting screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 2 and each parameter is set according to the instruction of the face. The menus and parameters in the figure mean the following respectively. <Menu> 0: Edit: Edit parameters 1: Confirm: Write the parameters to the memory and return to the monitor screen 2: Clear: Initialize the parameters of the analysis sequence table 3: Tool: Save the program to disk / From the disk Read / print program <Meaning of parameter and input range> Parameter of analysis sequence table #: Step number Inputtable range: Maximum 120 steps Sample Name: Sample name (input as necessary) Sample No .: Auto sampler Sample number (Analysis start number-Analysis end number) No. of Inj .: Number of injections per sample Inj.Vol .: Sample injection amount Anls. Time: Analysis end time of sample (end time of analysis time) System Prg . #: System program number to use

Analysis sequence parameter Prg.Name: Name of analysis sequence Maximum 8 characters Comment: Comment of analysis sequence Maximum 24 characters End Prg .: System state setting at the end of analysis AS. No. of Flush: Cleaning of auto sampler Number of times AS. Delay Time: Wait time (delay time) of auto sampler AS. Prg. Use Mode: Use / not use AS user's program Also, when setting the operating environment of the auto sampler,
A setting screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 3, and each parameter is set according to the instructions on the screen. Menus and parameters in the same session mean the following contents respectively.

<Menu> 0: Edit: Edit operating environment parameters 1: Confirm: Store parameters in memory and return to monitor screen 2: Initialize: Return parameters to initial values 3: Tool: Save parameters / Read and print <Parameter>

[Table 1] ──────────────────────────────────── Parameter setting range Initial value Meaning ─── ───────────────────────────────── Cooling Unit ON, OFF OFF Sample pool cooler on / off 1st Air Volume 0 〜20μ1 5 First air volume Washing Sample Volume 0〜20μ1 4 Washing sample volume 2nd Air Volume 0〜20μ1 2 Second air volume Sample Loss Volume 10〜100μ1 20 Sample loss volume Flush Speed 1〜100μ1 / sec 80 Suction Speed 1 ~ 50μ1 / sec 3 Sample suction speed Sample pumping speed 1 ~ 50μ1sec 3 Sample discharge speed Z-Axis Lowest Position 0 ~ 50mm 38 Z axis lowest position Sample Rack Choice STANDARD, MICRO, STANDARD Sample pool MICRO PLATE , LARGE Backlush 0-40μ1 5 Backlash Vo lume Compensation 0.50 to 1.50 1.00 Volume compensation Syringe Volume 0.5,2.5ml 0.5 Volume of volume ────────────────────────────────── ───

In this embodiment, as described above, the system controller 10 is provided with the operating environment setting section 36, and the operating environment setting section 36, the input section 26 and the display section 2 are provided.
And 8 are connected. In addition, the operating environment setting unit 36
Is an auto sampler 14 via the inter-device communication means 12.
Connected to the operating environment memory 20 of. Therefore, the operating environment setting screen of the autosampler 14 is displayed on the display unit 28 of the system controller 10, and the operating environment setting unit 36 is set by inputting the value of each operating environment parameter from the input unit 26. It Then, when the set operating environment is transferred to the operating environment memory 20 and measurement and analysis are started, the autosampler operating main body 18
Operates according to this transferred operating environment.

Here, as described above, when the operating environment of the auto sampler 14 is displayed and input and set on the system controller 10 side, various types of auto samplers 1
There is a problem that 4 cannot be dealt with. That is,
The operating environment parameters required for the auto sampler 14 are
Since it depends on the model, if a single fixed operating environment setting screen is displayed on the display unit 28 of the system controller 10, there is no necessary operating environment parameter to be set, or unnecessary operation that should not be set. There are many environmental parameters. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the device number memory 22 is provided in the auto sampler 14 and the model discriminating unit 34 is provided in the system controller 10, and the device number memory 22 and the model discriminating unit 34 are connected by the inter-device communication means. The model discriminating unit 34 is connected to the operating environment setting unit 36.
When the power of the system controller 10 is turned on, the model discriminating unit 34 reads and discriminates the number stored in the device number memory 22, and based on the discrimination result, an appropriate operating environment parameter to be set in the operating environment setting unit 36 is set. It is displayed on the display unit 28 as a setting screen. For this reason, it becomes possible to display and input and set appropriate operating environment parameters for various types of auto samplers 14.

Further, in the present embodiment, the operating environment setting unit 36 is also connected to the external storage medium 38 to which the above-mentioned measuring condition setting unit 32 is connected, and the set operating environment data together with the measuring condition data are set. The external storage medium 38 can be stored and saved. Therefore, when the measurement is performed again by the same system, it is easy to set the optimum measurement conditions including the operating environment of the auto sampler 14 simply by reading the respective data from the external storage medium 38 into the respective setting sections. Can be done. Further, in this embodiment, the operating environment memory 20 of the auto sampler 14 is used.
The operating environment data can be transferred from the device to the operating environment setting unit 36 via the inter-device communication means 12. Therefore, when the optimum operating environment has already been set on the side of the autosampler 14, by transferring the data stored in the operating environment memory 20 to the operating environment setting unit 36,
The external storage medium 3 can be input without inputting again at the input unit 26.
8 can be stored in memory.

That is, when "Tool" is selected from the menu on the setting screens of FIGS. 2 to 3, a screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, and the storage form can be selected according to the instruction. FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an autosampler using a system controller according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that the reference numeral 100 is added to the portion corresponding to FIG. In the figure, the auto sampler 114 has an auto sampler operation body 118, an injection procedure controller 140, an injection procedure data memory 142, and an operation detector 144. Also, the system controller 110
It has a CPU 124, an input unit 126, and a display unit 128, and the CPU 124 includes a system control unit 130, a measurement condition setting unit 132, and an injection procedure setting unit 146. Then, the system controller 110
In the system control unit 130, the injection procedure setting unit 14
6 and the measurement condition setting unit 132 are connected. Also,
The injection procedure setting unit 146, the measurement condition setting unit 132, the input unit 126, and the display unit 128 are connected, and the input unit 126 inputs and sets the injection procedure and the measurement condition into each setting unit.

On the other hand, in the auto sampler 114, the injection procedure setting unit 140 is connected to the auto sampler 118, and the injection procedure setting memory 140 is provided with the injection procedure data memory 142. Further, the injection procedure data memory 142 is connected to the system control unit 130 of the system controller 110 via the inter-device communication means 112. A characteristic of this embodiment is that the injection procedure control unit 140 is provided in the auto sampler 114, and the operation control of the injection procedure of the auto sampler operation main body 118 is basically performed on the auto sampler 114 side. It is in. That is, step data of the injection procedure set in the injection procedure setting unit 146 (sample number range to be injected, injection amount, analysis time, delay time, etc.) is collectively stored in the injection procedure data memory 142 of the autosampler 114 at the start of measurement. The data is transferred, and the data is managed and executed by the auto sampler 114 side.

Therefore, on the system controller 110 side to which the step data is transferred, it is not necessary to perform management control related to the injection procedure, and the load on the system controller 110 can be significantly reduced.
In addition, since it is not necessary to perform data communication related to the injection procedure between the system controller 110 and the autosampler 114 for each measurement as in the conventional case, the possibility of communication error is extremely low, and reliable injection procedure control can be performed. it can.

However, in the present embodiment, as described above, the injection procedure data is simply collected by the auto sampler 114.
If the analysis time and delay time are set improperly, the sample suction and injection operation will not be performed normally, or the autosampler 114 and the system control unit will not be able to operate normally just by transferring the data to the user side and performing management control. It becomes inconsistent with other systems that control operation. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the operation detector 144 is provided in the auto sampler 114, and the operations of the auto sampler operation main body 118 and other systems are controlled based on the operation detection. That is, the operation detector 144 is connected to the system controller 130 via the injection procedure controller 140 and the inter-apparatus communication means 112. The injection procedure control unit 140 is also connected to the system control unit 130 via the inter-device communication means 112. Then, the injection procedure control unit 140, when the scheduled suction time is reached according to the transferred injection procedure data, the autosampler operation main body section 1 detected by the operation detection section 144.
After confirming that the operation state of 18 is a suction possible state, a suction command is issued. That is, for example, if the set delay time is improper and the suction is not possible because the system is still being cleaned even after the scheduled suction time, the suction start command is issued after the suction is ready. is there.

Also, in the system control unit 130,
At the end of the analysis time in the system control unit 130, after confirming that the operation state of the operation detection unit 144 is injectable, the system of the measuring device 116 is instructed to start the next sample measurement, and at the same time, the injection procedure is performed. The controller 140 issues an injection start command. In other words, if the set analysis time is inappropriate and the autosampler is still unable to inject during the aspiration even when the next measurement start time arrives, the system can be placed in standby while maintaining the system operating state at that time. After waiting for such a state, the suction start command and the next measurement start command are issued. The suction start command is issued simultaneously with the next measurement start command to the other systems via the system control unit as described above, so that the analysis time in the injection procedure control unit 140 and the analysis time in the system control unit 130 are changed. Even if a discrepancy occurs, the operation consistency between the auto sampler and other system devices can always be maintained.

As described above, in this embodiment, the operation detecting section 144 is used.
Detects the operating state of the autosampler operating main body 118, and always issues the suction injection command from the injection procedure control unit 140 in a state where suction and injection are possible, so that the autosampler operates normally and reliably without the sample falling out. Can be made. Hereinafter, the operation of the autosampler according to the present embodiment and the conventional autosampler in which the injection procedure is managed and controlled only by the system controller side will be described with a specific example.

First, when the time from the start of suction operation of the autosampler to the time when injection is possible is 3 minutes and the operation time for cleaning after injection is 2 minutes, Example 1 has an analysis time of 10 minutes and a delay time of 2
Minute and setting (conventional) 1) At 8 minutes, the system controller commands sample suction, and the autosampler starts suction operation. 2) At 10 minutes (return to 0 minutes), the system controller commands the sample injection, but the autosampler is still aspirating the sample, so the sample is not injected. 3) In 1 minute, the autosampler completes the sample suction operation and can inject the sample. However, the system controller does not receive the injection command, so it waits while holding the sample. 4) At 8 minutes, the system controller commands the next sample suction, but the autosampler still holds the previous sample, so the sample suction operation is not started. 5) At 10 minutes (return to 0 minutes), the system controller commands the sample injection, and the autosampler injects the retained sample (the previous sample). Thereafter, every other sample is similarly injected. (Example) 1) The autosampler started suction operation at 8 minutes. 2) At 10 minutes (return to 0 minutes), check whether the system controller can inject into the autosampler. Since the autosampler is still aspirating the sample, the system controller will stop progressing the analysis time and keep the current system operating state. 3) The autosampler completes the sample suction operation and can inject the sample (after 1 minute). At this point, the system controller commands the autosampler to inject,
The sample is injected and the process resumes at the analysis time. Thereafter, the sample is similarly injected normally.

Example 2 Analysis time is 7 minutes, delay
Set the time to 6 minutes (conventional) 1) The system controller commands sample aspiration at 1 minute, but the sample aspiration is not performed because the autosampler is still in the washing operation after injection. 2) At 7 minutes (return to 0 minutes), the system controller commands the sample injection, but the autosampler is not aspirating the sample, so the sample is not injected. 3) At 1 minute, the system controller commands the next sample and the autosampler starts the sample suction operation. 4) At 4 minutes, the autosampler finishes sample aspiration,
Wait for injectable state. 5) At 7 minutes (return to 0 minutes) the system controller commands sample injection and the autosampler injects sample. 6) At 1 minute, the system controller commands sample aspiration, but the sampler is not aspirated because the autosampler is still in the washing operation after injection. Thereafter, every other sample is similarly injected. (Embodiment) 1) The system controller commands the sample suction for one minute, but the sample suction is not performed because the autosampler is still in the cleaning operation after the injection. 2) At 2 minutes, the auto sampler finishes the washing operation and immediately starts the sample suction operation. 3) At 5 minutes, the autosampler completes sample aspiration,
Wait for injectable state. 4) At 7 minutes (return to 0 minutes), the system controller confirms that sample injection is possible. Since it is possible to inject, the autosampler is instructed to inject, and the autosampler injects the sample. Thereafter, the sample is similarly injected normally. As described above, in the present embodiment, even if the analysis time and the delay time are set inappropriately, the autosampler maintains the normal injection operation, and therefore these times are set without anyone being aware of them. It becomes possible.

[0042]

As described above, in the autosampler using the system controller according to the present invention, the operating environment can be set using the large display section and the input section of the system controller. The property is improved. In addition, since the injection procedure data set by the system controller is managed and controlled by the auto sampler,
The processing load on the system controller is significantly reduced. Further, since the sample suction and injection commands are performed while detecting the operating state of the autosampler, it becomes possible to reliably perform the normal injection of the sample.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of an autosampler using a system controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an analysis sequence setting screen in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an automatic sampler operating environment setting screen in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a parameter holding screen in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of an autosampler using a system controller according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 110 ... System controller 12, 112 ... Inter-device communication means 14, 114 ... Autosampler 18, 118 ... Autosampler operating main body 20 ... Operating environment memory 22 ... Device number memory 26, 126 ... Input section 28, 128 ... Display Parts 30, 130 System control unit 34 Model discrimination unit 36 Autosampler operating environment setting unit 140 Injection procedure control unit 142 Injection procedure data memory 144 Operation detection unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Miki Kuwashima 5 at 2967 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji, Tokyo JASCO Corporation (72) Inventor Joe Sato 5 at 2967 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji, Tokyo JASCO Corporation (72) Inventor Koji Yoshida 5 at 2967 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Within Japan Spectroscopic Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hitomi Abe 5 at 2967 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Within Japan Spectroscopic (72) Inventor Oppira 5 JASCO Corporation, 2967 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A system controller having an autosampler for automatically injecting a plurality of samples into a column in sequence, an input section for inputting and setting measurement conditions of each measuring instrument in a systematic manner, and a display section for displaying an input setting screen. , An inter-device communication means that connects the auto sampler and the system controller and is capable of mutual data communication, and the auto sampler includes an auto sampler operation main body for performing sample injection operation, and an operation main body provided on the operation main body. A device number memory section storing model identification data of the autosampler, and an operating environment memory section for storing operating environment data of the autosampler, which is provided in the operating main body section, and the system controller, Identification of the model connected to the device number memory section of the auto sampler And an operating environment setting unit to which the input unit, the display unit and the model discriminating unit are connected, the setting screen corresponding to the model discriminated by the model discriminating unit is displayed on the display unit, and the setting screen is displayed on the display screen. In the system controller, the operating environment of the auto sampler is input and set from the input section, and the set operating environment data is transferred from the operating environment setting section of the system controller to the operating environment memory section of the auto sampler. It was an auto sampler. 2. The system controller according to claim 1, wherein the operating environment data set and stored on the auto sampler side is transferred from the operating environment memory section to the operating environment setting section of the system controller. sampler. 3. An autosampler for automatically and sequentially injecting a plurality of samples into a column, a system controller for centrally controlling the measurement conditions of each measuring instrument, and the autosampler and the system controller are connected to each other. An inter-apparatus communication means capable of data communication, wherein the autosampler is an operation main body for performing a sample injection operation, and an operation detector connected to the operation main body for detecting an operation state of the autosampler. An injection procedure control unit that is connected to the operation body unit and the operation detection unit and controls the sample injection procedure of the autosampler; and an injection procedure data memory that is provided in the injection procedure control unit and stores the injection procedure data. And a system controller for inputting sample injection procedure data. And an injection procedure setting unit that sets injection procedure data based on an input from the input unit and is connected to the injection procedure data memory unit, and is set in the injection procedure setting unit of the system controller. A plurality of injection procedure data is transferred to the injection procedure data memory unit, and based on the transferred auto sampler injection procedure data and based on the state detection of the auto sampler in the operation detection unit, the injection procedure control unit of the system controller An auto sampler that uses a system controller that controls the auto sampler. 4. The autosampler according to claim 3, wherein the system controller includes a system control unit connected to each measurement device, an operation detection unit and an injection procedure control unit of the autosampler, and ends each measurement. An autosampler using a system controller, wherein the system control unit instructs the injection procedure control unit and each measurement device to start the next measurement based on the detection of the injectable state by the operation detection unit.