WO2025115509A1 - Sample carrier and sample analysis system - Google Patents

Abstract

This sample carrier is used in a sample analyzer for extracting and analyzing a component, as a gas, generated by heating a measurement sample, and is detachably attached to a predetermined sample input position provided to the sample analyzer. The sample carrier comprises: a container body which has an accommodation chamber for accommodating the measurement sample therein, and which has formed on the bottom surface thereof a sample outlet port for discharging the measurement sample in the accommodation chamber; a bottom plate which is rotatably attached to a bottom part of the container body through a seal member, and on which through-holes are formed in a manner opening to the upper surface and the lower surface; and a distance adjustment mechanism for adjusting an inter-surface distance between the upper surface of the bottom plate and the bottom surface of the container body. The sample carrier is configured such that, by having one of the container body and the bottom plate rotate with respect to the other, the sample outlet port moves between: a predetermined sealed position where the sample outlet port is blocked by the upper surface of the bottom plate and the accommodating chamber is sealed airtight; and an open position where the sample outlet port opens to the through-holes of the bottom plate and the measurement sample can be discharged. The distance adjustment mechanism adjusts an inter-surface distance while the sample outlet port is moving between the sealed position and the open position so as to be longer than the inter-surface distance when the sample outlet port is at the sealed position.

Description

Sample transporter and sample analysis system

The present invention relates to a sample transporter for a sample analyzer that places a measurement sample in a crucible, heats and melts or burns the sample, and analyzes the measurement sample by measuring the gas components that are generated during the process, and to a sample analysis system that includes the sample transporter.

This type of sample analyzer can analyze elements such as nitrogen (N), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O) and in some cases molecules contained in the measurement sample by measuring the gas components. In the device shown in Patent Document 1, when the measurement sample is heated in a crucible, the crucible holding chamber in which the crucible is housed and held is purged with an inert gas to prevent reaction with oxygen in the air and other elements that could result in measurement errors.

However, if the measurement sample is, for example, a highly reactive battery material, it may come into contact with the air during transport to the sample analyzer, causing the sample to change in quality and making it impossible to measure correctly.

In response to this problem, Patent Document 2 describes a sample transporter that includes a container that forms a storage chamber for storing a measurement sample and a sample outlet for extracting the measurement sample from inside the storage chamber, and a closure that closes the sample outlet. This sample transporter is configured so that, when attached to a specified position on a sample analyzer, the sample outlet is opened by sliding the closure or container member relative to the sample outlet, and the sample outlet communicates with a sample inlet provided on the sample analyzer. This sample transporter is also described as being configured so that, when attached in the same position, a purge gas introduction path is formed that introduces purge gas to the sample inlet at a positive pressure.

　With this arrangement, it is easy to fill a sample transporter with, for example, an inert gas, store the measurement sample in the sample transporter, and transport it to the sample analyzer. Then, when the sample transporter is attached to the sample analyzer, a purge gas is introduced at positive pressure into the sample inlet, and when it is open, the sample outlet that communicates with the sample inlet is placed under a positive pressure purge gas atmosphere, so that even when the sample inlet is opened, outside air is prevented from entering the storage chamber, and the measurement sample can be loaded into the crucible from the open sample outlet through the sample inlet without being exposed to the outside air.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2-242152 JP 2014-255659 A

In the above-mentioned sample transport device, the gap between the closure body and the storage member is made airtight using a sealing member such as an O-ring. However, when the closure body and the storage member are slid relative to each other to open the sample outlet, the sliding causes the O-ring to wear and deteriorate, which can cause air to enter the storage chamber.

The present invention was made to solve all of the above problems at once, and its main objective is to provide a sample transport device that can reduce wear on the sealing member that accompanies the opening operation of the sample outlet.

That is, the sample transport device according to the present invention is used in a sample analyzer that extracts and analyzes components generated by heating a measurement sample as a gas, and is detachably attached to a predetermined mounting position on the sample analyzer. The sample transport device comprises a container body having an internal storage chamber for storing the measurement sample, a sample outlet formed on the bottom surface for extracting the measurement sample from the storage chamber, and through holes formed on the top and bottom surfaces, a bottom plate that is rotatably attached to the bottom of the container body, and a sealing member between the top surface of the bottom plate and the bottom surface of the container body that face each other. and a distance adjustment mechanism that adjusts the inter-face distance between the container body and the bottom plate, and the container body and the bottom plate are configured to rotate relative to the other to move the sample outlet between a predetermined sealed position where the sample outlet is blocked by the upper surface of the bottom plate and the storage chamber is airtightly sealed, and an open position where the sample outlet is opened to the through-hole of the bottom plate and the measurement sample can be extracted, and the distance adjustment mechanism adjusts the inter-face distance while the sample outlet is moving between the sealed position and the open position so that it is longer than the inter-face distance when the sample outlet is in the sealed position.

With this configuration, for example, a sample transporter with the sample outlet in the sealed position can be filled with an inert gas and the measurement sample can be stored in the storage chamber at a location other than the sample analyzer, and the measurement sample can be easily transported to the sample analyzer with the storage chamber airtightly sealed. By attaching the sample transporter to a specified mounting position of the sample analyzer and rotating the container body or bottom plate so that the sample outlet is open, the stored measurement sample can be dropped through the through hole in the bottom plate and inserted into the sample insertion port of the sample analyzer. The distance adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the surface distance while the sample outlet is moving between the sealed position and the open position to be longer than the surface distance when the sample outlet is in the sealed position, so that the frictional force between the bottom surface of the container body or the upper surface of the bottom plate and the surface of the seal member can be reduced when the sample outlet is moved from the sealed position to the open position, and wear of the seal member caused by the opening operation of the sample outlet can be reduced.

In the sample transport device, it is preferable that the distance adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the inter-surface distance so that the upper surface of the bottom plate or the bottom surface of the container body is spaced away from the surface of the sealing member while the sample outlet is moving between the sealed position and the open position.
In this way, the frictional force acting on the surface of the seal member during the opening operation of the sample outlet can be further reduced, and wear on the seal member can be further reduced.

It is preferable that the sample transport device has a bottom plate that is approximately circular, a recess into which the bottom plate is rotatably fitted is formed in the bottom surface of the container body, and the peripheral wall surface of the recess and the side surface of the bottom plate are in contact via a sealing member.
In this manner, the side peripheral surface of the bottom plate and the peripheral wall surface of the recess into which the bottom plate is fitted are in contact (i.e., sealed) via the sealing member, so that air can be prevented from entering the storage chamber while the sample outlet is being moved from the sealed position to the open position, even if the space between the bottom surface of the container body and the upper surface of the bottom plate is not sealed.

One embodiment of the distance adjustment mechanism includes a rolling element sandwiched between the upper surface of the bottom plate and the bottom surface of the container body, a pair of recesses formed on the upper surface of the bottom plate and the bottom surface of the container body, and a groove formed in the upper surface of the bottom plate or the bottom surface of the container body shallower than the recesses and extending from the recesses in the direction of rotation, wherein when the sample outlet is in the sealed position, the pair of recesses are positioned opposite each other and the rolling elements are fitted into the pair of recesses, and the rolling elements roll and move along the grooves while the sample outlet moves between the sealed position and the open position.
With this structure, when the container body and the bottom plate are rotated relative to each other with the sample outlet in the sealed position, the rolling elements fit into the grooves that are shallower than the recesses, thereby expanding the surface-to-surface distance between the bottom surface of the container body and the upper surface of the bottom plate. Moreover, the recesses connected to the grooves can function as a positioning mechanism that positions the sample outlet in the sealed position or the open position.

Another aspect of the distance adjustment mechanism is one that includes a protrusion provided on one of the side surface of the bottom plate or the peripheral wall surface of the recess, and a long hole portion extending circumferentially, into which the protrusion portion fits, provided on the other of the side surface of the bottom plate or the peripheral wall surface of the recess, and the long hole portion is formed so that its height varies in the circumferential direction.
In such a case, the height of the long hole portion into which the protrusion is fitted varies in the circumferential direction, so that the surface-to-surface distance between the bottom surface of the container body and the upper surface of the bottom plate can be adjusted by rotating the container body and the bottom plate relative to each other.

It is preferable that when the sample outlet is in the sealed position, the protrusion is located at one end of the long hole portion, and when the sample outlet is in the open position, the protrusion is located at the other end of the long hole portion.
In this manner, by aligning the positions at which the protrusions contact both ends of the long hole portion with the sealed position and the open position, the two ends of the long hole portion and the protrusions can function as a positioning mechanism that positions the sample outlet port in the sealed position or the open position.

In a specific embodiment of the sample transport device, the sample outlet and the through hole are formed at positions shifted from the rotation axis by approximately the same distance.
In this way, by rotating the container body and the bottom surface relatively, the positions of the sample outlet port and the through-hole can be made to overlap or shift with each other.

It is also preferable that the sealing member interposed between the upper surface of the bottom plate and the bottom surface of the container body is arranged so as to surround both the sample outlet and the through hole when viewed in a plane from the rotation axis direction.
In this way, the sample outlet port in the sealed position and the through hole are not separated by the sealing member in a plan view, so the measurement sample that rolls (or is dragged) along the top surface of the bottom plate during the opening operation does not get caught in the sealing member or grease. This allows the measurement sample to be inserted into the sample insertion port in a relatively clean state.

In addition, the sealing member interposed between the upper surface of the bottom plate and the bottom surface of the container body may be arranged so as to surround the sample outlet port in the sealed position when viewed in a planar view from the rotation axis direction, and to separate the sample outlet port from the through hole.
In this way, the sealing member can be made smaller than when it surrounds both the sample outlet port and the through-hole, thereby reducing material costs.

When the sample outlet and the through hole are separated by a sealing member in this manner, if the measurement sample introduced into the storage chamber is placed on the upper surface of the bottom plate, there is a risk that the moving measurement sample will get caught on the sealing member and be damaged during the opening operation.
Therefore, it is preferable that the sample transporter further includes a sample holding mechanism that holds the measurement sample at a position higher than the bottom surface within the storage chamber.
In this manner, the measurement sample introduced into the storage chamber can be opened while being held at a position higher than the top surface of the bottom plate without being placed on it, thereby preventing damage to the measurement sample.

Specific examples of such sample holding mechanisms include a through hole formed in the container body with one end opening to the outer surface of the container body and the other end opening to the side wall surface of the storage chamber, and a cylindrical rod member rotatably inserted into the through hole, with a storage recess formed on the peripheral surface of its tip located inside the storage chamber, in which the measurement sample is stored.

It is preferable that a holding portion consisting of a convex or concave portion is provided at the mounting position of the sample analyzer, and that a concave or convex portion that fits into the holding portion is provided on the underside of the bottom plate.
In this way, the position of the bottom surface is fixed by setting the sample transport device so that it fits into the holding portion at the mounting position, so that the sample outlet can be moved from the sealed position to the open position by grasping the container body with one hand and turning it.

In addition, it is preferable that the sample transport device has a sample inlet formed on the top surface of the container body for introducing a measurement sample into the storage chamber, and further includes a lid body that covers the container body, and a downwardly extending plug portion is provided at a position on the back surface of the lid body corresponding to the sample inlet for plugging the sample inlet.
In this way, after a measurement sample is placed in the holding chamber, the inside of the holding chamber can be pressurized by the line portion by closing the lid, which further prevents air from entering the holding chamber from the outside.

The sample analysis system of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a sample analysis device that extracts and analyzes components generated by heating a measurement sample as gas, and the above-mentioned sample transport device of the present invention that is removably attached to a predetermined mounting position provided on the sample analysis device.
With this configuration, it is possible to achieve the same effects as the above-mentioned sample transport device of the present invention.

The present invention described above provides a sample transport device that can reduce wear on the sealing member caused by the opening operation of the sample outlet.

1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a sample analyzing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a sample transporter according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a sample transporter according to the embodiment; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a sample transporter according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an intermediate jig according to the embodiment. 4A and 4B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing a state in which the sample outlet port is in a sealing position in the sample transport device of the embodiment; 5A and 5B are cross-sectional and plan views illustrating a state in which the sample outlet port is between a closed position and an open position in the sample transport device of the embodiment; 4A and 4B are cross-sectional and plan views illustrating a state in which a sample outlet port is in an open position in the sample transport device of the embodiment; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a sample transporter according to a second embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a sample transporter according to the embodiment; 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a long hole portion of the distance adjustment mechanism according to the embodiment. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a distance adjustment mechanism according to the embodiment. 4A and 4B are a cross-sectional view and a plan view showing a state in which the sample outlet port is in a sealing position in the sample transport device of the embodiment; 5A and 5B are cross-sectional and plan views illustrating a state in which the sample outlet port is in an open position and a measurement sample is held in the holding chamber in the sample transport device of the embodiment; 4A and 4B are cross-sectional and plan views illustrating the sample transport device of the embodiment in a state where the sample outlet port is in an open position and a measurement sample has been dropped therein;

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment
The sample transporter 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used in an elemental analysis system 400, which is a sample analysis system 400. As shown in FIG. 1, the elemental analysis system 400 includes an elemental analysis device 200, which is a sample analysis device that measures elements contained in a measurement sample W contained in a crucible C by heating and melting the sample W and analyzing gas components generated during the melting, and a sample transporter 100 for transporting the measurement sample W to the elemental analysis device 200.

As shown in FIG. 1, the elemental analysis device 200 has an internal holding chamber 210 for holding a crucible C, a heating mechanism 230 for heating the crucible C, and an analysis section (not shown) for introducing sample gas generated from a measurement sample W that has been heated and melted in the crucible C from the holding chamber 210 and analyzing its components.

The crucible C is made of graphite and has a cylindrical shape with one open end and a bottom, and is housed in the holding chamber 210 with the opening facing upwards. A sample insertion port 220 that communicates with the opening of the crucible C is provided at the top of the holding chamber 210. In addition, a gas that does not react with the sample, such as an inert gas (purge gas), can be introduced into the holding chamber 210 via an internal flow path (not shown), and the measurement sample W is heated in an atmosphere filled with this purge gas.

The heating mechanism 230 is equipped with a lower electrode 232 and an upper electrode 231 that sandwich the crucible C from above and below, and is configured so that the crucible C can be heated by passing a current through the crucible C via these electrodes 231, 232.

Next, the sample transport device 100 will be described.
1, the sample transporter 100 has a storage chamber 1S capable of airtightly storing a measurement sample W. By attaching the sample transporter 100 to the top of a sample insertion port 220 of an elemental analysis apparatus 200, the measurement sample W in the storage chamber 1S can be inserted into a crucible C through the sample insertion port 220 without being exposed to the atmosphere.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, this sample transport device 100 is equipped with a roughly cylindrical container body 1 having an internal storage chamber 1S for storing a measurement sample W, and a disk-shaped bottom plate 2 that is rotatably attached to the bottom of the container body 1.

The container body 1 is made of a metal material, and has a sample inlet 1a formed on the top surface (upper surface) 11 for introducing a measurement sample W into the storage chamber 1S, and a sample outlet 1b formed on the bottom surface (lower surface) 12 for withdrawing the measurement sample W stored in the storage chamber 1S. The sample inlet 1a and sample outlet 1b are formed by through holes that pass through the container body 1 in the height direction (up and down direction). The space formed by the inner wall of this through hole constitutes the storage chamber 1S. In a plan view, the sample inlet 1a and sample outlet 1b are formed at positions shifted a predetermined distance from the rotation axis in the radial direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the container body 1 has a recess 13 for accommodating the bottom plate 2 formed by recessing the lower surface 12 upward. A substantially cylindrical space into which the bottom plate 2 is fitted is formed by a peripheral wall surface 131 and an upper wall surface 132 of the recess 13. The peripheral wall surface 131 of the recess 13 is formed parallel to the axial direction of the container body 1, and the upper wall surface 132 of the recess 13 is formed perpendicular to the axial direction of the container body 1. A sample outlet 1b is formed in the upper wall surface 132.

The bottom plate 2 is made of a metal material, and has through holes 2h that open to its upper surface 22 and lower surface 23 formed along the thickness direction (rotation axis direction). In a plan view, these through holes 2h are approximately circular, and are formed on the upper surface 22 and lower surface 23 at positions that are shifted a predetermined distance from the rotation axis (center of rotation) along the radial direction. The bottom plate 2 is fitted into the recess 13 formed in the container body 1 so that the container body 1 and the rotation axis are aligned.

When the bottom plate 2 is fitted into the recess 13 of the container body 1, the gap between the side peripheral surface 24 of the bottom plate 2 and the opposing peripheral wall surface 131 of the recess 13, and the gap between the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 and the opposing bottom of the container body 1 (specifically the upper wall surface 132 of the recess 13) are hermetically sealed by the sealing member S1.

Specifically, a sealing member S2 such as an O-ring is wrapped around the outer peripheral surface 24 of the bottom plate 2, and the outer peripheral surface 24 of the bottom plate 2 and the peripheral wall surface 131 of the recess 13 facing it come into contact with each other via the sealing member S2, preventing gas from leaking between them.

Also, a groove is formed on the top surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 or the top wall surface 132 of the recess 13 so as to surround at least the sample outlet 1b of the container body 1 in a plan view, and a seal member S1 is fitted into the groove so as to prevent gas from leaking between the top surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 and the upper wall surface 132 of the recess 13 facing it. In this embodiment, the groove is formed on the top surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 so as to surround both the sample outlet 1b of the container body 1 and the through hole 2h of the bottom plate 2 in a plan view.

The sample transporter 100 also includes a generally disk-shaped lid 3 that covers the top surface 11 of the container body 1. The lid 3 is connected to the container body 1 using a hinge mechanism or the like so that it can be opened and closed. When the lid 3 is closed, the back surface 31 of the lid 3 covers the sample introduction port 1a.

The back surface 31 of the lid 3 is provided with a pressurizing mechanism 32 that hermetically seals the storage chamber 1S and pressurizes its interior when the lid 3 is closed. Specifically, the pressurizing mechanism 32 is composed of a cylindrical stopper portion 321 that extends downward and is formed on the back surface 31 of the lid 3 at a position corresponding to the sample introduction port 1a of the container body 1, and a sealing member S3 such as an O-ring that is wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the stopper portion 321. The length of the stopper portion 321 is approximately half the length of the through hole of the container body 1, and when the lid 3 is closed, the stopper portion 321 compresses the volume of the storage chamber 1S by approximately half.

In this sample transport device 100, one of the container body 1 and the bottom plate 2 rotates relative to the other around the rotation axis, so that the sample outlet 1b moves between a predetermined sealed position P where it is blocked by the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 and the storage chamber 1S is airtightly sealed, and an open position R where it is open to the through hole 2h of the bottom plate 2 and the measurement sample W can be extracted. When the sample outlet 1b is in the sealed position P, it is positioned offset in the rotational direction from the through hole 2h of the bottom plate 2. On the other hand, when the sample outlet 1b is in the open position R, it is positioned directly above the through hole 2h of the bottom plate 2.

The sample transporter 100 of this embodiment further includes a distance adjustment mechanism 4 that adjusts the surface distance between the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 and the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 (upper wall surface 132 of the recess 13), which face each other via the seal member S1. This distance adjustment mechanism 4 adjusts the surface distance while the sample outlet 1b is moving between the sealed position P and the open position R (intermediate position Q) so that it is longer than the surface distance when the sample outlet 1b is in the sealed position P.

The distance adjustment mechanism 4 of this embodiment is configured to maintain the inter-surface distance at a substantially constant length while the sample outlet 1b rotates between the sealed position P and the open position R. This inter-surface distance is set to a length at which the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 or the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 is separated from the surface of the sealing member S1 interposed therebetween and is not in contact with each other. That is, for example, when the sealing member S1 is attached to the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2, the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 and the surface of the sealing member S1 attached to the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 are kept in a non-contact state while the sample outlet 1b moves between the sealed position P and the open position R. Conversely, for example, when the sealing member S1 is attached to the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1, the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 and the surface of the sealing member S1 attached to the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 are kept in a non-contact state while the sample outlet 1b moves between the sealed position P and the open position R.

Specifically, this distance adjustment mechanism 4 is composed of a rolling element 41 such as a metal ball sandwiched between the upper surface 22 of the base plate 2 and the upper wall surface 132 of the recess 13, a recess 42 formed on the upper surface 22 of the base plate 2 and the upper wall surface 132 of the recess 13 into which the rolling element 41 fits, and a groove 43 formed on the upper surface 22 of the base plate 2.

The recess 42 is formed by recessing it into a roughly hemispherical shape, and its depth is set smaller than the radial length of the rolling body 41. This recess 42 is formed on the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 and on the upper wall surface 132 of the recess 13 at a position shifted a predetermined distance from the rotation axis in the radial direction. Here, two recesses 42 are formed on the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2, spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction (rotation direction), and one recess 42 is formed on the upper wall surface 132 of the recess 13.

The groove 43 is for guiding the rolling body 41, and is formed to extend in the circumferential direction so as to connect between the two depressions 42 on the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2. The groove 43 is formed to have a substantially constant width and depth. Specifically, the width of the groove 43 is shorter than the diameter of the rolling body 41, and is shallower than the depressions 42. The groove 43 may be formed on the upper wall surface 132 of the recess 13, instead of on the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2.

When the sample outlet 1b is in the sealed position P, the depressions 42 formed on the top surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 and the top wall surface 132 of the recess 13 are positioned opposite each other, and the rolling body 41 fits into the pair of opposing depressions 42. When the container body 1 or the bottom plate 2 is rotated relatively around the rotation axis from this state, the rolling body 41 climbs over the depressions 42 and enters the groove 43. This widens the surface-to-surface distance between the top surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 and the top wall surface 132 of the recess 13, and the top wall surface 132 of the recess 13 and the surface of the seal member S1 are separated. While the sample outlet 1b is rotating from the sealed position P to the open position R, the rolling body 41 rolls and moves along the groove 43. When the sample outlet 1b reaches the open position R, the rolling body 41 fits into the other depression 42.

The sample transport device 100 also has a positioning mechanism that positions the rotating storage chamber 1S at the sealed position P and the open position R. This positioning mechanism is composed of the two recesses 42 formed on the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2.

As described above, the sample transporter 100 is attached to a predetermined mounting position above the sample inlet 220 of the elemental analysis device 200, but in this embodiment, an intermediate jig 300 is interposed between the elemental analysis device 200 and the sample transporter 100.

This intermediate jig 300 is roughly plate-shaped and is attached so that its bottom surface covers the sample insertion port 220 of the elemental analysis device 200. Meanwhile, the top surface is provided with a number of protrusions 310 that serve as holding portions, and the protrusions 310 fit into the recesses 25 that serve as held portions provided on the underside 23 of the bottom plate 2 of the sample transporter 100, thereby positioning and holding the sample transporter 100.

As shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate jig 300 has an intermediate passage 320 formed therein, which opens at its upper end on the top surface and at its lower end on the bottom surface and penetrates through the intermediate jig in the thickness direction. The intermediate jig 300 is attached to the elemental analysis device 200 so that the lower end opening of the intermediate passage 320 overlaps with the sample inlet 220. On the other hand, the sample transporter 100 is attached to the intermediate jig 300 so that the sample outlet 1b formed on the bottom surface of the bottom plate 2 overlaps with the upper end opening of the intermediate passage 320.

In addition, a purge gas introduction port 330 for introducing an inert gas (purge gas) is provided on the side of the intermediate jig 300, and this purge gas introduction port 330 is configured to communicate with the intermediate path 320 via a purge gas introduction path 340 formed inside.

Next, the method of use and operation of the sample transporter 100 of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. For example, this sample transporter 100 is used when analyzing a highly reactive measurement sample W, which oxidizes immediately when exposed to air. Therefore, to store the measurement sample W in the sample transporter 100, the operation is performed inside a glove box (not shown) filled with an inert gas.

First, the bottom plate 2 and the container body 1 are rotated relative to each other so that the sample outlet 1b is at the sealing position P. Then, with the sample outlet 1b in the sealing position P, the measurement sample W is introduced into the storage chamber 1S through the sample introduction port 1a, and the sample introduction port 1a is sealed with the lid 3 (Figures 6(a) and (b)). In this state, the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 and the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 are in contact with each other via the sealing member S1, and are hermetically sealed.

Then, the bottom plate 2 and the container body 1 are rotated relative to one another, and the sample outlet 1b is rotated from the sealed position P toward the open position R (FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b)). In this state, the distance between the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 and the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 is adjusted by the distance adjustment mechanism 4, and the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 is spaced apart from the surface of the sealing member S1. The measurement sample W introduced into the storage chamber 1S moves by rolling (or rubbing) on the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2.

When the sample outlet 1b reaches the open position R, that is, when the sample outlet 1b reaches a position where it overlaps with the through hole 2h in the bottom plate 2, the measurement sample W falls downward through the through hole 2h in the bottom plate 2 (Figures 8(a) and (b)).

Second Embodiment
Next, a sample transporter 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described, focusing on the differences from the sample transporter 100 of the first embodiment.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, in the sample transport device 100 of this embodiment, the distance adjustment mechanism 4 is composed of a protrusion 44 provided on the side surface 24 of the bottom plate 2 and an elongated hole 45 provided on the peripheral wall surface 131 of the recess 13 of the container body 1, into which the protrusion 44 fits. This elongated hole 45 penetrates the peripheral wall of the recess 13 of the container body 1 in the thickness direction and is formed to extend at a substantially constant width along the circumferential direction.

The long hole portion 45 is formed so that the height from the bottom surface 12 varies in the circumferential direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the long hole portion 45 is formed so that the height of one end (the right end in the drawing) in the circumferential direction is higher than the height of the other end (the left end in the drawing). More specifically, the long hole portion 45 has three horizontal regions 45a-c formed at both ends and the center in the circumferential direction, and two inclined regions 45d, e formed between the horizontal region 45c in the center and the horizontal regions 45a, b at both ends. The horizontal regions 45a-c are regions whose height does not change in the circumferential direction. The inclined regions 45d, e are regions whose height changes in the circumferential direction. The three horizontal regions 45a-c are formed so that they are different heights from each other, and the two inclined regions 45d, e are formed so that they are inclined in the same direction from each other. In this embodiment, the two inclined regions 45d, e also have the same inclination angle. In this way, the elongated hole portion 45 is formed so that its height changes in stages (here, in two stages) from one end to the other end in the circumferential direction.

The distance adjustment mechanism 4 has multiple sets (three sets here) of such protrusions 44 and elongated holes 45 spaced approximately equally in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the bottom plate 2 is fitted into the recess 13 of the container body 1 so that the protrusions 44 fit into the elongated holes 45. It is also possible that the protrusions 44 are provided on the peripheral wall surface 131 of the recess 13 of the container body 1, and the elongated holes 45 are provided on the side peripheral surface 24 of the bottom plate 2.

As shown in FIG. 12(a), when the sample outlet 1b is in the sealed position P, the protrusion 44 is located at one end of the long hole 45. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12(b), when the sample outlet 1b is in the open position R, the protrusion 44 is located at the other end of the long hole 45. That is, in this embodiment, both ends along the circumferential direction of the long hole 45 function as a positioning mechanism that positions the sample introduction port 1a at the sealed position P and the open position R. Here, the long hole 45 is formed so that the height of the protrusion 44 is higher when it is in the sealed position P than when it is in the open position R.

In this embodiment, the sealing member S1 interposed between the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 and the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 is arranged so as to surround only the sample outlet 1b at the sealing position P, rather than surrounding both the through hole 2h of the bottom plate 2 and the sample outlet 1b. In other words, this sealing member S1 is arranged so as to separate the sample outlet 1b from the through hole 2h when the sample outlet 1b is in the sealing position P. Here, the sealing member S1 for sealing is fitted into a groove formed in the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a dummy sealing member S4 is arranged at a position symmetrical to the sealing member S1 for sealing across the rotation axis. This dummy sealing member S4 is intended to eliminate the inclination of the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 relative to the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2, and is made of the same material and has the same dimensions as the sealing member S1 for sealing.

In addition, in the sample transporter 100 of this embodiment, the pressurizing mechanism 32, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, includes a gas introduction hole 321 formed through the lid 3 at a position corresponding to the sample introduction port 1a of the container body 1, and a gas valve 322 fitted into the gas introduction hole 321 from the front side of the lid 3. The gas valve 322 includes an inert gas introduction port 322p for introducing inert gas, and a backflow prevention mechanism for preventing backflow of the introduced inert gas. By introducing inert gas from the inert gas introduction port 322p with the lid 3 closed, the storage chamber 1S is pressurized.

The sample transporter 100 of this embodiment is equipped with a sample holding mechanism 5 that holds the measurement sample W in the storage chamber 1S at a position higher than the bottom surface. Specifically, as shown in Figures 13 to 15, the sample holding mechanism 5 is composed of a through hole 51 formed sideways in the container body 1 so that one end opens to the outer surface of the container body 1 and the other end opens to the side wall surface of the storage chamber 1S, and a rod member 52 that is cylindrical in the through hole 51 and has a storage recess 52a formed on the peripheral surface of its tip located inside the storage chamber 1S, in which the measurement sample W is stored. The gap between the side peripheral surface of the rod member 52 and the inner wall surface of the through hole 51 of the container body 1 is sealed by a seal member S5 such as an O-ring.

This rod member 52 is rotatable around its axis when inserted, and is configured so that the opening direction of the storage recess 52a can be inverted upside down by rotating it. Therefore, when the measurement sample W is introduced into the storage chamber 1S from the sample introduction port 1a with the storage recess 52a of the inserted rod member 52 facing upwards, the measurement sample W is contained and held in the storage recess 52a without falling to the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2. Then, by rotating the rod member 52 180° around its axis, the measurement sample W can be dropped from the storage recess 52a.

Next, the method of using and the operation of the sample transporter 100 of the second embodiment configured as described above will be described. As in the first embodiment, the measurement sample W is placed in the sample transporter 100 by operating it in a glove box (not shown) filled with an inert gas.

First, the bottom plate 2 and the container body 1 are rotated relative to each other so that the sample outlet 1b is at the sealing position P, and the rod member 52 inserted into the through hole 51 is rotated around its axis so that its storage recess 52a faces upward. In this state, the measurement sample W is inserted through the sample inlet 1a and stored in the storage recess 52a, after which the sample inlet 1a is sealed with the lid 3 (Figures 13(a), (b), (c)). In this state, the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 and the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 are in contact with each other via the seal member S1, and are hermetically sealed.

Then, the bottom plate 2 and the container body 1 are rotated relative to one another, and the sample outlet 1b is rotated from the sealed position P toward the open position R. In this state, the distance between the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 and the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 is adjusted by the distance adjustment mechanism 4, and the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 is spaced apart from the surface of the sealing member S1. Furthermore, the measurement sample W introduced into the storage chamber 1S moves while being held at a position higher than the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 by the sample holding mechanism 5.

When the protrusion 44 comes into contact with the end of the long hole 45 and the sample outlet 1b reaches the open position R, the rotation stops with the measurement sample W held in the storage recess 52a (Figs. 14(a), (b), (c)). In this state, the rod member 52 is rotated 180° around its axis so that the storage recess 52a faces downward, and the measurement sample W is dropped. The measurement sample W falls downward through the through hole 2h in the bottom plate 2 (Figs. 15(a), (b), (c)).

According to the sample transporter 100 of each of the above-mentioned embodiments, for example, by filling the sample transporter 100 with an inert gas, for example, and storing the measurement sample W in the storage chamber 1S at a location other than the sample analysis device 200, with the sample outlet 1b in the sealed position P, the measurement sample W can be easily transported to the sample analysis device 200 with the storage chamber 1S airtightly sealed. By attaching the sample transporter 100 to a specified mounting position of the sample analysis device 200 and rotating the container body 1 or bottom plate 2 so that the sample outlet 1b is open, the stored measurement sample W can be dropped through the through hole 2h of the bottom plate 2 and inserted into the sample insertion port 220 of the sample analysis device 200. The distance adjustment mechanism 4 is configured to adjust the surface-to-surface distance while the sample outlet 1b is moving between the sealed position P and the open position R so that it is longer than the surface-to-surface distance when the sample outlet 1b is in the sealed position P. This reduces the frictional force between the bottom surface 12 of the container body 1 or the upper surface 22 of the bottom plate 2 and the surface of the seal member S1 when the sample outlet 1b is moved from the sealed position P to the open position R, thereby reducing wear on the seal member S1 that accompanies the opening operation of the sample outlet 1b.

Other variations and combinations of the embodiments may be made without going against the spirit of the present invention.

The sample transport device of the present invention can reduce wear on the sealing member caused by the opening operation of the sample outlet.

Reference Signs List 200: Sample analysis device 220: Sample inlet 100: Sample transporter 1: Container body 1S: Storage chamber 1b: Sample outlet 12: Bottom surface 2: Bottom plate 22: Upper surface 23: Lower surface 2h: Through hole 4: Distance adjustment mechanism S1: Sealing material P: Sealing position R: Opening position W: Measurement sample

Claims (14)

A sample transport device for use in a sample analyzer that extracts and analyzes components generated by heating a measurement sample as gas, the sample transport device being detachably attached to a predetermined attachment position of the sample analyzer, comprising:
a container body having a chamber for accommodating a measurement sample therein and a sample outlet port for discharging the measurement sample from the chamber formed on a bottom surface;
A bottom plate having through holes opening to an upper surface and a lower surface and rotatably attached to a bottom portion of the container body;
a distance adjustment mechanism for adjusting a surface-to-surface distance between an upper surface of the bottom plate and a bottom surface of the container body that face each other via a seal member,
the container body and the bottom plate are configured to rotate relative to the other, so that the sample outlet moves between a predetermined sealed position where the sample outlet is closed by an upper surface of the bottom plate and the storage chamber is airtightly sealed, and an open position where the sample outlet is opened to a through-hole of the bottom plate and a measurement sample can be taken out;
A sample transport device in which the distance adjustment mechanism adjusts the inter-face distance while the sample outlet port is moving between the sealed position and the open position so that it is longer than the inter-face distance when the sample outlet port is in the sealed position. The sample transport device according to claim 1, wherein the distance adjustment mechanism adjusts the inter-surface distance so that the upper surface of the bottom plate or the bottom surface of the container body is spaced apart from the surface of the sealing member while the sample outlet is moving between the sealed position and the open position. The bottom plate is generally disk-shaped, and a recess into which the bottom plate is rotatably fitted is formed on a bottom surface of the container body,
3. A sample transport device according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral wall surface of the recess and a side peripheral surface of the bottom plate are in contact with each other via a seal member. The distance adjustment mechanism is
A rolling element sandwiched between an upper surface of the bottom plate and a bottom surface of the container body;
A pair of recesses formed on an upper surface of the bottom plate and a bottom surface of the container body;
a groove formed on an upper surface of the bottom plate or a bottom surface of the container body, the groove being shallower than the recess and extending from the recess along a rotation direction;
when the sample outlet port is in the sealed position, the pair of recesses are positioned opposite each other, and the rolling elements are fitted in the pair of recesses;
4. The sample transport device according to claim 1, wherein the rolling element rolls and moves along the groove while the sample outlet port moves between the sealed position and the open position. The distance adjustment mechanism is
a protrusion provided on one of a side peripheral surface of the bottom plate and a peripheral wall surface of the recess;
a long hole portion extending in a circumferential direction and into which the protrusion portion fits, the long hole portion being provided on the other of the side peripheral surface of the bottom plate or the peripheral wall surface of the recess,
4. The sample transport device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated hole portion is formed so as to have different heights in the circumferential direction. When the sample outlet port is in the sealed position, the protrusion is located at one end of the long hole portion,
6. The sample transport device according to claim 5, wherein said protrusion is located at the other end of said slot when said sample outlet port is in said open position. The sample transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sample outlet and the through hole are formed at positions offset from the rotation axis by approximately the same distance. The sample transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sealing member interposed between the upper surface of the bottom plate and the bottom surface of the container body is arranged to surround both the sample outlet and the through hole when viewed in a plan view from the rotation axis direction. The sample transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sealing member interposed between the upper surface of the bottom plate and the bottom surface of the container body is disposed so as to surround the sample outlet port in the sealed position when viewed in a plan view from the rotation axis direction and to separate the sample outlet port from the through hole. The sample transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a sample holding mechanism that holds the measurement sample in the storage chamber at a position higher than the bottom surface. The sample holding mechanism includes:
a through hole formed in the container body such that one end opens to an outer surface of the container body and the other end opens to a side wall surface of the storage chamber;
The sample transport device described in claim 10 is composed of a cylindrical rod member that is rotatably inserted into the through hole, and a rod member having a storage recess for storing a measurement sample formed on the peripheral surface of its tip portion located within the storage chamber. a holding portion having a convex portion or a concave portion is provided at the mounting position of the sample analyzer,
12. The sample transporter according to claim 1, wherein a recess or a protrusion that fits into said holding portion is provided on the lower surface of said bottom plate. a sample introduction port for introducing a measurement sample into the storage chamber is formed on a top surface of the container body;
Further, a lid body for covering the container body is provided,
A sample transport device as described in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a downwardly extending plug portion is provided at a position on the back surface of the lid body corresponding to the sample introduction port to plug the sample introduction port. A sample analysis system comprising a sample analyzer that extracts and analyzes components generated by heating a measurement sample as gas, and a sample transporter according to any one of claims 1 to 13 that is detachably attached to a predetermined attachment position on the sample analyzer.

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