JPS633258A - Controller calculating and displaying total necessary time for process - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the remaining time of an analysis to be known at a glance by providing an instrument for analysis with a keyboard and a CRT, calculating the total time of the whole analysis from the settings of respective analytic processes, and displaying an actual analytic time and the total time. CONSTITUTION:A controller 1 is provided to the instrument for analysis of high-speed liquid chromatograph (HPLC). The controller 1 uses a system controller and is connected to the keyboard 2, CRT 3, and external equipment 4 which is the HPLC. The external equipment consists of plural unit devices and the controller 1 has communication with the equipment to control the respective unit devices. The number of samples, the number of times of repetition, an analytic time, etc., are inputted to the controller 1 through the keyboard 2 according to an analytic process to be performed by the external equipment 4 and the total time of all processes is calculated. Then, the analytic time and total time are counted in the actual analysis and both times are displayed on the CRT 3. The set value of the total time required for the all processes and the elapsed time are therefore displayed, so an operator knows the remaining time immediately and the operability is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Purpose of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates generally to control devices for setting and controlling complex processes, and in particular to analysis of various analytical instruments consisting of multiple unit devices such as high-performance liquid chromatographs. It pertains to devices used to control operating processes.

(Prior art) Analytical instruments, such as high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC)
The system includes a pump to deliver liquid as a mobile phase at high pressure, a preparative/injection device to separate the required amount of the sample to be analyzed and inject it into the mobile phase, and a column. A detection device such as a visible/ultraviolet absorption photometer to detect substances in the mobile phase that has flowed out, a constant temperature bath to maintain the sample in the preparative/injection device at a constant temperature, or a thermostat to record the detection signal. It has a configuration in which a large number of devices (unit bags r) such as recorders are combined.

Recently, however, there has been a growing demand for automated analysis operations in analytical instruments such as high-performance liquid chromatographs. Autosamplers that perform fractionation and injection have been developed. Furthermore, recently there has been a demand for full automation of the entire operation of analytical instruments such as high-performance liquid chromatographs.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) Conventionally, control devices such as system controllers used for automatic control of such analytical instruments have been able to perform several analyzes continuously, but the entire process Since the total time is not displayed, operators had to calculate the time themselves and prepare the solvents and other materials necessary for analysis. Furthermore, the elapsed time, that is, how many minutes it would take for the entire process to be completed, had to be calculated from each analysis time.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to calculate and display not only the analysis time of the analysis but also the total analysis time of all processes, and further display the elapsed time of the total time during the analysis, thereby saving the operator the calculation time. Another object of the present invention is to provide a control device for process setting and control operation that allows the remaining time to be seen at a glance.

Structure of the invention (means for solving the problem) In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides
The device is a device that controls the operation of various analytical instruments consisting of multiple unit devices such as high performance liquid chromatographs,
Equipped with an input device such as a keyboard and a display device such as a CRT,
Set the files for each analysis process from the input device, calculate the total time of all processes at the moment you finish setting and close all files, and count the analysis time and the elapsed total time at the moment you run each file. The first feature is that the analysis time, total time, and elapsed time are always displayed on the monitor screen.

In other words, in addition to the analysis time required for each operating process of the analytical instrument, the total time required for the entire process is automatically calculated and displayed the moment a file is created and closed. There is no longer a need to do so. In addition, since the elapsed time is counted up at the same time as the run, the elapsed time at each moment can be seen at a glance, and the remaining time can be easily calculated.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an analysis system including a control device according to the present invention.
A system controller is used to control the system, and the input/output ports of the control device 1 are connected to an input device 2 such as a keyboard, a display device 3 such as a CRT, and an external device 4 forming an HPLC, as shown in the figure. The external device 4 is composed of a plurality of unit devices as described above, and a desired analysis process is executed by controlling each of these unit devices with signals transmitted from the control device 1 via mutual communication. . Each analysis process is set up as a file.

Next, a procedure for calculating and displaying the total time of a process using the control device of the present invention will be described.

First, a file is set according to the analysis process to be performed by the external device 4. That is, for each step, the number of samples, number of repetitions, injection amount, analysis time, etc. are set via the input device 1. Second, set up all the steps necessary for the analysis and measure the total time of the entire process at the moment you close the file.

Third, the moment you run each configuration file and start the actual analysis, start counting the elapsed analysis time and total time. Fourth, the set time and elapsed time of the analysis time and total time are constantly displayed on the monitor screen of the display device 3 while the analysis is in progress, for example, in the following format: ANLS TIME (Analysis time) xxx , x/xx
x, x m1nTOTAL TIME ()-tal time) xxxx/xxxx min FIG. 2 shows an example of the monitor screen 5 displayed on the display device 3. The analysis time (ANLS TIME) corresponding to the above is shown in the upper part A of the figure.
) and total time (TOTAL TIME) are displayed. Further, in the lower part B, the setting values of the analysis file step (ANALYSIS FILE 5TEP) currently in progress are displayed.

Monitor display B of the analysis file step shows the label name (
LABEL), number of samples and number of repetitions (SAM
PL14), injection volume (INJ, VOL), number of injections (NO.

of INJ, ), system file (S, FILE
I) etc.

Next, monitor display A will be explained. Analysis time (A
ANLS TIME): ANLS TIME xxx, x/ xxx, x
“xxx, x” on the right side of min indicates the analysis time set in the analysis sequence. “xxx, x” on the left side is
Shows the actual elapsed time of the analysis time.

xxx, x: 0.0-999.9 (0,1
minute step) total time (TATAL TIME)
:TOTAL TIME xxxx / xxxx
The min total time is the sum of the set analysis times.

"xxxx" on the right side indicates the set value of the total time.

xxxx: 0-9999 (L minute steps) mi
: 5tep Number of samples of i : 5
Number of injections of tep i (NO, of INJ,) + 4
: 5tep i analysis time (ANALYSIS
TIME) "xxxx" on the left side indicates the elapsed time of the total time.

xxxx: O-9999 (1 minute step) + (n,
A1) *tx) + tyme:
5tep Number of samples n for i: 5te
Number of injections of p i (No, of INJ,) jH:
5tep i analysis time (ANALYSIS TIM
E) X: 3tep no. in progress.

nX: No of the currently running step, of INJ.

+8: ANALYSIS TIM of the step being executed
E+11 (y-+1: Number of samples whose analysis has been completed in the step that is being executed nfy-+): Number of samples that have been completed in the step that is being executed, of INJ.

ty: The current elapsed time of ANLS TIME.
The total time is calculated at the following timing.

(1) When the analysis file is closed (only the set values are recalculated) (2) DIl on the analysis monitor display? ECT
When an arbitrary 5TEP is set in 5TEP# by operating the DE key (both the set value and elapsed time are recalculated) (31ANLS TIME is reset (only the elapsed time is recalculated). Although the description has been made in connection with a system, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to a control device for various other analytical instruments that are composed of a plurality of unit devices and execute analysis processes while controlling their operations with a system controller or the like. It is also applicable to all System III devices that set up and control complex processes.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the set value and elapsed time of the total time required for the bullion process of the analysis time are always displayed on the monitor screen, so that the operator can There is no need to calculate (in addition, the elapsed time can be seen at a glance, and the remaining time can also be easily determined. As a result, the amount of solvent required for analysis and the time required can be easily understood, so preparation and setup for each analysis can be carried out smoothly. Improves work efficiency.

Furthermore, the present invention can be effectively applied to a fully automated apparatus for analytical equipment used in LA as described at the beginning.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an analysis system including a control device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a monitor screen displayed by the control device according to the present invention. 1... Control device, 2... Input device, 3... Display device, 4... External device, 5... Monitor screen.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It is a device that controls the operation of various analytical instruments consisting of multiple unit devices such as high-performance liquid chromatographs, and is equipped with an input device such as a keyboard and a display device such as a CRT, and allows files for each analysis process to be set from the input device. , calculates the total time of the entire process, starts counting the elapsed analysis time and total time, and displays the set time and elapsed time of the analysis time and total time on the monitor screen. A control device that displays calculations.