JP2013250191A - Dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a small-sized dispensing device that has a single cylinder mechanism and has a high dispensing accuracy regardless of whether the amount to be dispensed is low or high in a wide dispensing volume range. To provide.
A dispensing device includes a cylinder unit including a cylinder mechanism including a cylinder and a piston, and the cylinder mechanism includes a large-diameter cylinder member having a suction and discharge opening at a lower end, and the large-diameter cylinder member. A small-diameter cylinder member that is slidably inserted into the lower end and has a suction / discharge opening at the lower end, and a piston member that is slidably inserted into the small-diameter cylinder member. The piston member is driven to move inside the small-diameter cylinder member that is integrally fixed to the large-diameter cylinder member. In the high-volume dispensing mode, the piston member is integrally fixed to the piston member. The small-diameter cylinder member is driven to move inside the large-diameter cylinder member.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid sample such as a specimen and a reagent.

Conventionally, a dispensing apparatus has been used for pretreatment for analyzing a specimen, specifically for dispensing a liquid sample for subdivision of specimens and reagents, or for blending reagents.
As a certain kind of dispensing device, there is a configuration having a nozzle mounting member to which a cylindrical dispensing nozzle member is mounted, and a cylinder unit having a cylinder mechanism including a cylinder and a piston. .
In the apparatus having such a configuration, by a suction operation of the cylinder unit, a predetermined amount of a predetermined liquid sample is sucked and acquired in a dispensing nozzle member mounted on the nozzle mounting portion, and the liquid sample is placed in a target container. Dispensing is performed by discharging.

  However, in such a dispensing apparatus, the required dispensing volume varies greatly depending on the type of liquid sample to be dispensed, and corresponds to a dispensing volume in a wide range of 0.5 to 300 μL, for example. In addition, there is a need for higher accuracy in dispensing processing and downsizing of the apparatus.

Thus, in order to cope with a wide range of dispensing amounts and to ensure the accuracy of the dispensing amount while suppressing an increase in the size of the apparatus, a conventional cylinder unit has a replaceable cylinder mechanism. Two types of cylinder mechanisms having different inner diameters of the members and outer diameters of the piston members, specifically, a small-diameter cylinder member and a small-diameter piston member, for example, a low capacity corresponding to a low dispensing amount of 0.5 to 30 μL A cylinder mechanism for dispensing, a large-diameter cylinder member, and a large-diameter piston member, for example, a high-volume dispensing cylinder mechanism corresponding to a high dispensing amount of 10 to 300 μL is prepared, and the necessary dispensing A dispensing device having a configuration in which an appropriate cylinder mechanism is selected and used according to the amount has been proposed.
This is because, as a dispensing device, only one type of cylinder mechanism has the problem that it is impossible to achieve both suppression of device enlargement and ensuring of high accuracy of the dispensing amount.

Specifically, when a cylinder mechanism for low volume dispensing is used, the suction amount per unit movement amount of the piston member is small, so the suction amount is finely adjusted by controlling the movement amount of the piston member. However, if the amount to be dispensed is high, it is necessary to increase the total amount of movement of the piston member. Problem arises.
On the other hand, when a cylinder unit for high volume dispensing is used, since the suction amount per unit movement amount of the piston member is large, it is not necessary to increase the total movement amount of the piston member. However, since it becomes impossible to make a minute adjustment of the suction amount by controlling the movement amount of the piston member, it becomes impossible to obtain a high accuracy in the dispensing amount.

  However, in a dispensing device having a configuration in which the low-volume dispensing cylinder mechanism and the high-volume dispensing cylinder mechanism are replaceable, the cylinder mechanism must be replaced according to the dispensing amount. For example, in order to mix reagents, a plurality of types of liquid reagents having greatly different dispensing amounts are continuously subjected to a problem that a very long time is required.

JP-A-6-94584 JP-A-9-29111 JP 2011-163771 A

  The present invention has been made on the basis of the circumstances as described above, and the object thereof is a quantity to be dispensed in a wide dispensing quantity range despite having a single cylinder mechanism. However, it is to provide a small-sized dispensing device having a high dispensing accuracy even if the volume is low or high.

The dispensing device of the present invention is a dispensing device having a cylinder unit having a cylinder mechanism composed of a cylinder and a piston,
The cylinder mechanism includes a large-diameter cylinder member having a suction / discharge opening at a lower end, a small-diameter cylinder member that is slidably inserted into the large-diameter cylinder member and has a suction / discharge opening at a lower end, and the small-diameter cylinder. A piston member slidably inserted into the member,
In the low volume dispensing mode, the piston member is driven to move inside the small diameter cylinder member fixed integrally with the large diameter cylinder member,
In the high-capacity dispensing mode, the piston member and the small-diameter cylinder member fixed integrally therewith are driven to move within the large-diameter cylinder member.

In the dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, in the low volume dispensing mode, the piston member is disposed in the large volume cylinder member and the small diameter cylinder member fixed integrally therewith in the low volume dispensing movement region. The suction operation is performed by being driven to move relatively upward,
In the high-capacity dispensing mode, the piston member and the small-diameter cylinder member fixed integrally therewith are arranged in a large-diameter cylinder member in the high-capacity dispensing movement area above the low-volume dispensing movement area. It is preferable that the suction operation is performed by being driven so as to move relatively upward.
In the dispensing device of the present invention having such a configuration, the small-diameter cylinder member frame in which the upper end portion of the small-diameter cylinder member is fixed on the large-diameter cylinder member includes the large-diameter cylinder member and the small-diameter It is integrally fixed by a fixing member that fixes the cylinder member frame by a tensile force,
On the small-diameter cylinder member frame, a piston member frame in which the upper end of the piston member is fixed is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction.
An engagement mechanism for engaging the small-diameter cylinder member frame and the piston member frame is provided,
When the piston member frame is moved upward, the piston member is driven to move upward in the movement area for low volume dispensing,
When the piston member frame is further moved upward, the piston mechanism frame is engaged with the small-diameter cylinder member frame by the engagement mechanism, and the small-diameter cylinder member frame extends upward while extending the fixing member. It is preferable that the piston member and the small-diameter cylinder member fixed integrally with the piston member are driven to move upward in the high-capacity dispensing moving region.

  In the dispensing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of cylinder units are arranged side by side, and a common piston drive mechanism is provided for each cylinder unit.

  According to the dispensing device of the present invention, the cylinder mechanism is constituted by a large-diameter cylinder member, a small-diameter cylinder member, and a piston member. In this cylinder mechanism, when the amount to be dispensed is low, In the low-volume dispensing mode, the piston member acts as a piston alone and the small diameter cylinder member works as a cylinder with the large diameter cylinder member to perform suction and discharge operation, while the amount to be dispensed In the high volume dispensing mode, the piston member and the small-diameter cylinder member work together as a piston and the large-diameter cylinder member acts as a cylinder in the high-volume dispensing mode. Therefore, a single cylinder mechanism can be used by performing a suction and discharge operation in a dispensing mode according to the amount to be dispensed. Can correspond to a wide dispensing range, Moreover, while suppressing the apparatus size, it is possible to ensure the dispensing of the required accuracy.

It is the schematic which shows an example of a structure of the dispensing apparatus of this invention. It is a perspective view for description which shows the structure of the liquid sample collection discharge means of the dispensing apparatus of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the liquid sample collection discharge means of FIG. It is sectional drawing for description which shows the cross section of the liquid sample collection discharge means of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged explanatory view showing an essential part of the liquid sample sorting / discharging means of FIG. 2. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the removal process of a dispensing nozzle member is performed in the body sample collection discharge means of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state by which a dispensing process is performed by the low volume dispensing mode by the dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1, (a) is a figure which shows the state by which the nozzle member for small volume dispensing was mounted to the dispensing apparatus. (B) is a figure which shows the state by which the front-end | tip of the nozzle member for small volume dispensing was located in the liquid sample, (c) is the liquid sample aspirated in the nozzle member for small volume dispensing It is a figure which shows a state. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which a dispensing process is performed by the high volume dispensing mode in the dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1, (a) is a figure which shows the state by which the nozzle member for large volume dispensing was mounted to the dispensing apparatus. (B) is a view showing a state in which the piston member in the dispensing apparatus has been moved to the high volume dispensing movement area beyond the low volume dispensing movement area, and (c) is a large volume dispensing. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the tip of the nozzle member for use is positioned in the liquid sample, and FIG. 6D shows a state in which the liquid sample is sucked into the nozzle member for large volume dispensing.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of the configuration of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory perspective view showing the configuration of the liquid sample sorting / discharging means of the dispensing apparatus of FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid sample sorting / discharging means of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is an explanatory sectional view showing a section of the liquid sample sorting / discharging means of FIG. 2, and FIG. It is an enlarged view for explanation showing in an enlarged manner the main part of the liquid sample sorting and discharging means.
The dispensing apparatus 10 has a configuration capable of simultaneously performing a plurality of dispensing processes having the same amount to be dispensed, a liquid sample dispensing / discharging means 20 for sucking and discharging a liquid sample, and dispensing. The stage 11 and the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 are supported, and the front and rear direction (Y direction in FIG. 1), left and right direction (X direction in FIG. 1), and up and down direction (Z direction in FIG. 1) on the dispensing stage 11. And an apparatus main body 12 having a support moving mechanism for moving to the position.
In the dispensing apparatus 10, the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 is detachably provided on the apparatus main body 12. Further, the apparatus main body 12 has a processing opening (not shown) facing the dispensing stage 11 and an attaching / detaching opening 13A for attaching / detaching the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20, and a driving source for the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20. (Not shown) is provided with a drive unit 13, a support unit 14 for supporting the drive unit 13, and a stepping motor, and the drive unit in a dispensing operation path 14 </ b> A formed in the support unit 14. A driving unit moving means (not shown) for moving the driving unit 13 is provided, and the driving unit 13, the supporting unit 14, and the driving unit moving unit form a support moving mechanism.

  In the example according to FIG. 1, the dispensing stage 11 includes reagent placement units 16A, 16B, and 16C, a dispensing container placement unit 17, nozzle member placement units 18A and 18B, and a nozzle member disposal unit 19. And are provided. For example, reagent containers having a plurality of reagent storage units are mounted on the reagent placement units 16A, 16B, and 16C, and dispensing containers having a plurality of liquid sample storage units are provided on the dispensing container mounting unit 17, for example. Is placed.

  The liquid sample collecting / discharging means 20 constituting the dispensing apparatus 10 includes a plurality of cylinder units 21 including a nozzle mounting member 31 to which a dispensing nozzle member is detachably mounted, and a cylinder mechanism including a cylinder and a piston. (96 in the example according to FIG. 1) are integrally provided in a state of being arranged side by side in the vertical and horizontal directions. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of nozzle mounting members 31 are provided. The nozzle mounting part 30 and the cylinder part 40 provided with a plurality of cylinder mechanisms are configured.

As the dispensing nozzle member mounted on each of the plurality of nozzle mounting members 31 constituting the nozzle mounting portion 30, for example, one of two types of dispensing nozzle members having different capacities is selectively used.
That is, as the dispensing nozzle member, an appropriate one of the two types of dispensing nozzle members is used according to the dispensing amount required in the dispensing process.
As two types of dispensing nozzle members, for example, a small volume dispensing nozzle member 22A (see FIG. 7) corresponding to a low dispensing amount of 0.5 to 30 μL and a high dispensing amount of 10 to 300 μL, for example, are supported. And a large volume dispensing nozzle member 22B (see FIG. 8).
In the example according to FIG. 1, one of the two nozzle member placement portions 18 </ b> A and 18 </ b> B in the dispensing stage 11 (hereinafter, also referred to as “small volume dispensing nozzle placement portion”). 18A, a plurality (96 in the example shown in FIG. 1) of small volume dispensing nozzle members 22A are arranged so as to correspond to the arrangement state of the plurality of cylinder units 21 in the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20. The other nozzle member mounting portion (hereinafter also referred to as “large-volume dispensing nozzle mounting portion”) 18B includes a plurality (96 in the example shown in FIG. 1). The large volume dispensing nozzle member 22B is arranged and placed so as to correspond to the arrangement state of the plurality of cylinder units 21 in the liquid sample sorting and discharging means 20.

The small-volume dispensing nozzle member 22A and the large-volume dispensing nozzle member 22B each have suction and discharge openings 23A and 23B for sucking and discharging a liquid sample at the lower end and suction and discharge openings 23A and 23B at the upper end. Openings having a larger opening diameter (hereinafter, also referred to as “mounting openings”) 24A and 24B are formed, and are cylindrical having a tapered peripheral surface that decreases in diameter toward the lower end. A liquid holding space for holding the sucked liquid sample is formed inside.
In the example according to FIG. 1, the small volume dispensing nozzle member 22A has a capacity of 30 μL, while the large volume dispensing nozzle member 22A has a capacity of 300 μL and has a small volume dispensing nozzle. The opening diameter and the total length of the mounting opening 24B are larger than those of the member 22A.

The nozzle mounting portion 30 constituting the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 is a columnar nozzle mounting member 31 on which the small volume dispensing nozzle member 22A and the large volume dispensing nozzle member 22B can be mounted in a replaceable manner. In order to fix the plurality of nozzle mounting members 31, a plurality of nozzle mounting member fixing frames 35 having a rectangular plate shape are provided. In addition, on the lower surface of the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35, a detaching plate 37 for detaching the dispensing nozzle members mounted on the plurality of nozzle mounting members 31 in the nozzle mounting portion 30 at once is attached and detached. More specifically, the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35 and the removal plate 37 are provided so as to be movable in the stacking direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 4 and 5).
In the nozzle mounting portion 30, each of the plurality of nozzle mounting members 31 is fixed in a columnar through hole 36 provided in the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35 with its upper end portion inserted. In addition, at the lower end portion (hereinafter also referred to as “mounting portion”) 32 of the plurality of nozzle mounting members 31 fixed to the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35, the removal plate 37 is integrated with the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35. In a fixed state, it protrudes downward from a through hole 38 provided in the removal plate 37.
In the example according to FIG. 1, reference numeral 39 denotes a guide pin for the removal plate 37.

The nozzle mounting member 31 is formed with a through hole 31A that extends in the vertical direction and communicates with the liquid holding space of the dispensing nozzle member to be mounted, and the diameter of the mounting portion 32 decreases toward the lower end side. It has a stepped outer peripheral surface.
In the nozzle mounting member 31, the mounting portion 32 includes a small-diameter peripheral surface portion 32A and a large-diameter peripheral surface portion 32B having a larger diameter than the small-diameter peripheral surface portion 32A. The small-diameter peripheral surface portion 32A is a small-volume dispensing nozzle member 22A. The large-diameter peripheral surface portion 32B has an outer diameter suitable for the mounting opening 24B of the large-volume dispensing nozzle member 22B.
In the example according to FIG. 1, the nozzle mounting member 31 is provided with an annular flange 33 extending along the peripheral surface on the peripheral surface of the upper end portion.

The nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35 is formed with a plurality of through holes 36 having an inner diameter adapted to the outer diameter of the upper end portion of the nozzle mounting member 31.
In the example of this figure, an annular recess 36A that goes around the opening of the through hole 36 is formed on the lower surface of the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35. The recess 36A and the nozzle mounting member 31 A positioning mechanism for defining the mounting position of the nozzle mounting member 31 in the vertical direction is constituted by the jaw 33. Then, the upper end portion of the nozzle mounting member 31 and the through hole 36 of the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35 are fitted in a state where the vertical mounting position is adjusted by the positioning mechanism, whereby the plurality of nozzle mounting members 31 are It is fixed at the same mounting height.

The removal plate 37 has a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the mounting portion 32 of the nozzle mounting member 31, and the mounting opening 24A of the small volume dispensing nozzle member 22A and the large volume dispensing nozzle member 22B. A plurality of through holes 38 having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the mounting opening 24B are formed.
Further, the detaching plate 37 is made of an elastic body such as a tension spring, and the fixing member 29 is fixed by the fixing member 29 whose upper end is fixed to the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35 and whose lower end is fixed to the detaching plate 37. As shown in FIG. 6, only when the dispensing device 10 performs the removal process of the dispensing nozzle member, the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35 is fixed integrally with the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35 by the tensile force of 29. It was moved downward so as to be separated from the frame 35, and after the removal process, it was moved upward toward the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35 and again fixed integrally to the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35. State.
The detachment of the dispensing nozzle member by the detaching plate 37 is performed so that the detaching plate 37 is separated from the nozzle mounting member fixing frame 35 by the nozzle mounting unit driving source provided in the driving unit 13 of the apparatus main body 12. By moving in the direction, the opening edge on the lower side of the through hole 38 of the removal plate 37 abuts on the dispensing nozzle member mounted on the nozzle mounting member 31, and the dispensing nozzle member is further moved downward. Is done by doing.
Here, the drive unit 13 includes a cylinder unit drive source configured by a stepping motor for driving the removal plate 37 in the nozzle mounting unit 30 and a cylinder unit drive source for driving the piston member frame 76 in the cylinder unit 40. Is provided.

  The cylinder part 40 constituting the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 has a plurality of cylinder mechanisms, and each of the plurality of cylinder mechanisms has a plurality of cylinders each having a plurality of recesses 51 formed on the upper surface. A rectangular parallelepiped large-diameter cylinder member 50 common to the mechanism, and a cylindrical space (hereinafter also referred to as “large piston sliding space”) S1 formed in the recess 51 in the large-diameter cylinder member 50 (see FIG. 8). ) Is slidably inserted in the bottom end cylindrical member 60 having an opening (hereinafter also referred to as “piston opening”) 62 at the upper end, and each of the inside of the small diameter cylinder member 60. And a cylindrical piston member 70 slidably inserted into the cylindrical space (hereinafter also referred to as “small piston sliding space”) S2 (see FIG. 7).

Further, the cylinder portion 40 has a rectangular plate-like small-diameter cylinder member frame 66 in which upper ends of a plurality of small-diameter cylinder members 60 are fixed on the upper surface of the large-diameter cylinder member 50, and a plurality of piston members. A rectangular plate-like piston member frame 76 with the upper end of 70 fixed thereto is detachable so that they are stacked in this order, specifically, the small-diameter cylinder member frame 66 and the piston member frame 76 It is provided to be movable in the stacking direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 4 and 5).
Specifically, a plurality of through holes 67 are formed in the small diameter cylinder member frame 66, and each of the plurality of through holes 67 includes a large diameter portion 67A and a small diameter portion 67B. . The piston member frame 76 is formed with a plurality of recesses 77 that open to the lower surface. The plurality of small-diameter cylinder members 60 are fixed to the large-diameter portions 67A of the plurality of through holes 67 provided in the small-diameter cylinder member frame 66 in a state in which the upper ends thereof are inserted. In a state where the piston member 70 is inserted into the small diameter portion 67B of the through hole 67 in the small diameter cylinder member frame 66, the upper end portions thereof are inserted into the plurality of concave portions 77 provided in the piston member frame 76. It is fixed.
In the example according to FIG. 1, a frame guide pin 49 common to the small-diameter cylinder member frame 66 and the piston member frame that move in the vertical direction is provided.

In the large-diameter cylinder member 50, a recess 51 having a large piston sliding space S <b> 1 inside has an opening 52 (hereinafter also referred to as “piston opening”) at the upper end, and the nozzle mounting member 31 penetrates at the lower end. It has a suction / discharge opening 54 communicating with the hole 31 </ b> A, and has a stepped inner peripheral surface whose diameter decreases toward the suction / discharge opening 54.
In the example according to FIG. 1, the large-diameter cylinder member 50 includes a main body member 55 in which a plurality of through holes (hereinafter also referred to as “main body through holes”) extending in the vertical direction are formed, and a lower side of the main body through holes. And a disk-like suction / discharge opening forming seal member 56 provided so as to close the opening. The suction / discharge opening forming seal member 56 is formed with a through hole 56A in the central portion, and the suction / discharge opening 54 at the lower end of the large-diameter cylinder member 50 is formed by the through hole 56A.

The small diameter cylinder member 60 has an outer diameter adapted to the inner diameter of the large piston sliding space S1 so that the large piston sliding space S1 in the large diameter cylinder member 50 can be moved in the vertical direction.
A through hole 63 communicating with the small piston sliding space S2 is formed at the center of the lower end bottom portion 61B of the small diameter cylinder member 60, and the through hole 63 is used for suction and discharge at the lower end of the small diameter cylinder member 60. An opening 64 is formed.
In the example according to FIG. 1, the small-diameter cylinder member 60 is provided with an O-ring 69A on the outer peripheral side of the bottom end bottom portion 61B and an O-ring 69B on the inner peripheral side of the peripheral wall portion 61A.

  The small-diameter cylinder member 60 is inserted in the large-diameter cylinder member 50, that is, the lower end bottom portion 61B of the small-diameter cylinder member 60 is in contact with the suction / discharge opening forming seal member 56 in the large-diameter cylinder member 50. In the inserted state, the upper end portion of the small-diameter cylinder member 60 is slightly larger than the total length of the large-piston sliding space S1 in the large-diameter cylinder member 50 so that the upper end of the small-diameter cylinder member 60 protrudes from the piston opening 52 of the large-diameter cylinder member 50. It has a full length.

The piston member 70 has a cylindrical shape having an outer diameter adapted to the inner diameter of the small piston sliding space S2 so that the small piston sliding space S2 in the small diameter cylinder member 60 can be moved.
The piston member 70 is inserted into the small-diameter cylinder member 60, that is, in a state where the lower surface of the piston member 70 is inserted so as to contact the lower end bottom portion 61 </ b> B of the small-diameter cylinder member 60. The total length of the small piston sliding space S2 in the small diameter cylinder member 60 and the small diameter cylinder member so that the upper end protrudes from the piston opening 62 of the small diameter cylinder member 60 and the through hole 67 of the small diameter cylinder member frame 66. The entire length of the through hole 67 of the frame 66 is greater than the total length.

Further, the cylinder portion 40 is provided with a fixing member 81 for fixing the small-diameter cylinder member frame 66 to the large-diameter cylinder member 50 by a tensile force, and at the same time, provided in the driving portion 13 of the apparatus main body 12. An engagement mechanism is provided for engaging the piston member frame 76, which is moved in the vertical direction by the cylinder portion drive source, with the small diameter cylinder member frame 66 in the process of moving upward.
Here, the cylinder unit drive source in the drive unit 13 is formed of a stepping motor in the same manner as the nozzle mounting unit drive source.

  The fixing member 81 is made of, for example, an elastic body such as a tension spring, and is formed in the large-diameter cylinder member 50. The fixing-member installation space 57 that opens on the upper surface of the large-diameter cylinder member 50. In the fixing member installation space 57, the lower end is fixed to the bottom surface of the fixing member installation space 57 in the large-diameter cylinder member 50, and the upper end is fixed to the small-diameter cylinder member frame 66. .

The engagement mechanism includes an engagement member 83 whose upper end 83B is fixed to the piston member frame 76.
The engaging member 83 includes a columnar main body 83A in which a region in which the piston member frame 76 is independently moved is determined by the entire length thereof, and a small-diameter columnar upper end 83B provided on the upper surface of the cylindrical main body 83A. The lower end flange portion 83C provided on the lower surface of the cylindrical main body portion 83A.
The engaging member 83 is fixed to the piston member frame 76 in a state where the upper end portion 83B is inserted into a recess 78 formed in the piston member frame 76 and having an inner diameter suitable for the upper end portion 83B. At the same time, the large-diameter cylinder member 50 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the lower end flange portion 83 </ b> C that opens to the upper surface of the large-diameter cylinder member 50. The outer diameter of the lower end flange portion 83C of the engaging member 83 formed in the recess 58 and the small diameter cylinder member frame 66 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical main body portion 83A. Is disposed in the engagement member disposition space formed by the through hole 68 having the inner diameter.
Thus, the engagement mechanism 83 is configured to be movable in the direction in which the engagement member installation space extends (the vertical direction in FIG. 4) as the piston member frame 76 moves in the vertical direction, The small-diameter cylinder member frame 66 includes a through-hole 68, and the engagement member 83 is positioned at the highest position in the engagement-member installation space, that is, the lower end flange 83C of the engagement member 83 is for the small-diameter cylinder member. By being in contact with the frame 66, the piston member frame 76 and the small-diameter cylinder member frame 66 are engaged.

In the above dispensing apparatus 10, the small-diameter cylinder member frame 66, the piston member frame 76, the fixing member 81, and the engaging member 83 that constitute the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20, and the drive unit 13 in the apparatus main body 12. A piston drive mechanism common to the plurality of cylinder units 21 is configured by the cylinder part drive source provided in the cylinder unit 21.
According to this piston drive mechanism, the cylinder member drive source moves the piston member frame 76 upward by an amount of movement corresponding to the dispense amount of the liquid sample required in the dispense process. Either the low-volume dispensing mode or the high-volume dispensing mode, depending on the amount of movement of the piston frame 70, that is, the amount of movement of the piston member 70 driven to move upward as the piston member frame 76 moves. In such a dispensing mode, a dispensing process in which the liquid sample is sucked and collected is performed.
Here, the “low volume dispensing mode” and the “high volume dispensing mode” are appropriately determined according to the dispensing volume that the dispensing apparatus 10 should deal with. For example, the dispensing apparatus 10 corresponds. When the amount to be dispensed is 0.5 to 300 μL, the low volume dispensing mode is configured to correspond to a dispensing process in which the required amount to be dispensed is 0.5 to 30 μL, The high volume dispensing mode is configured to correspond to a dispensing process in which the required dispensing volume is 10 to 300 μL.

Specifically, in the low volume dispensing mode, as shown in FIG. 7, the piston member frame 76 is moved within the low volume dispensing moving region T1 that is driven so that the piston member 70 is moved alone. The small diameter cylinder in which the piston member 70 is integrally fixed to the large diameter cylinder member 50 as the piston member frame 76 is moved upward in the low volume dispensing movement region T1. This is performed by moving the small piston sliding space S2 of the member 60 upward. Further, the discharge operation is performed by moving the piston member frame 76 downward in the low-volume dispensing movement region T1, and the piston member 70 is integrally fixed to the large-diameter cylinder member 50. This is performed by moving the small piston sliding space S2 of the cylinder member 60 downward.
Thus, the suction of the liquid sample is performed by the suction pressure and the discharge pressure generated by the piston member 70 acting as a piston alone and the small diameter cylinder member 60 acting as a cylinder integrally with the large diameter cylinder member 50. And discharging.
Here, in the low volume dispensing mode, the piston member frame 76 is integrally fixed to the large diameter cylinder member 50 by the action of the tensile force of the fixing member 81 (tensile spring). In this state, it is moved up and down.

On the other hand, in the high volume dispensing mode, as shown in FIG. 8, the piston member fixing frame 76 is continuous above the low volume dispensing moving region T1, and the piston member 70 is integrated with the small diameter cylinder member 60. Is moved to the high volume dispensing movement area T2 that is moved in a fixed state, and then moved in the high volume dispensing movement area T2, and the suction operation is performed by the piston member frame 76. The small-diameter cylinder member 60 fixed integrally with the piston member 70 moves upward in the large-piston sliding space S1 of the large-diameter cylinder member 50 in accordance with the upward movement in the casting movement region T2. Is done by doing. The discharge operation is performed by moving the small-diameter cylinder member 60 integrally fixed to the piston member 70 in accordance with the downward movement of the piston member frame 76 in the high-capacity dispensing movement region T2. This is done by moving the large piston sliding space S1 of the cylinder member 50 downward.
In this way, the piston member 70 and the small-diameter cylinder member 60 work together as a piston, and the suction and discharge pressures generated by the large-diameter cylinder member 50 acting as a cylinder cause suction and discharge of the liquid sample. Is done.
Here, in the high-capacity dispensing mode, the piston member fixing frame 76 is in a state where the engaging member 83 is positioned at the uppermost position in the engaging member installation space, that is, the lower end flange portion 83C of the engaging member 83 is a small diameter cylinder. After being brought into contact with the member frame 66, it is moved up and down while being engaged with the small-diameter cylinder member frame 66.
That is, when the piston member frame 76 is moved upward, the piston member frame 76 is moved alone, and is further engaged with the small-diameter cylinder member frame 66 in a state where it is engaged. It will move while stretching the spring. When the piston member frame 76 is moved downward, the piston member frame 76 moves in a state of being engaged with the small diameter cylinder member frame 66, and then the small diameter cylinder member frame 66 is moved independently. Will move.

  In the dispensing apparatus 10 having such a configuration, the drive unit 13 in which the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 is mounted in an intended state is moved on the dispensing stage 11 by the support moving mechanism, and the liquid sample dispensing is performed. A drive source in which the discharge means 20 is provided in the drive unit 13, specifically, a cylinder unit drive source comprising a stepping motor for driving the piston member frame 76 in the cylinder unit 40, and a removal in the nozzle mounting unit 30 It is driven by a nozzle mounting portion drive source for driving the plate 37, and a dispensing process is performed in one of the low volume dispensing mode and the high volume dispensing mode.

Hereinafter, the dispensing processing operation in the low volume dispensing mode and the high volume dispensing mode by the dispensing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
7 and 8, cross sections of different portions are shown on the left and right of the alternate long and short dash line in the drawings.

(Small volume dispensing mode: Nozzle member installation process)
In the small volume dispensing mode, as shown in FIG. 7A, first, a small volume dispensing nozzle is provided in each of the plurality of nozzle mounting members 31 constituting the nozzle mounting portion 30 in the liquid sample sorting and discharging means 20. The member 22A is attached.
Specifically, the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 is accommodated, and is positioned at a height level (hereinafter, also referred to as “movement level”) at which the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 is separated upward from the dispensing stage 11 and can be moved in the horizontal direction. The drive unit 13 being moved is moved onto the small-volume dispensing nozzle mounting unit 18A within the movement level plane and lowered on the small-volume dispensing nozzle mounting unit 18A, so that the small-volume dispensing nozzle mounting unit 18A is moved down. A plurality of small volume dispensing nozzle members 22A mounted on the dispensing nozzle mounting portion 18A are mounted on the plurality of nozzle mounting members 31 in the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20.

(Small volume dispensing mode: suction and discharge operation process)
Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, in the state where the suction discharge openings 23A at the lower ends of the plurality of small volume dispensing nozzle members 22A are positioned in the liquid sample, as shown in FIG. The liquid sample is sucked and held in each of the plurality of small volume dispensing nozzle members 22A, and then the liquid sample held in the small volume dispensing nozzle member 22A is discharged to the dispensing container.
Specifically, the reagent container in which the liquid reagent to be dispensed from the small-volume dispensing nozzle placing part 18A within the movement level plane is accommodated in the plurality of reagent accommodating parts 91 is placed. Is moved onto the reagent placement part, for example, the reagent placement part 16A, and lowered on the reagent placement part 16A, whereby the suction / discharge openings 23A of the plurality of small volume dispensing nozzle members 22A The state is set in the liquid sample in the storage portion 91. Then, the piston member frame 76 of the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 is moved upward, so that the piston member 70 moves upward in the small piston sliding space S2 of the small diameter cylinder member 60. By being driven, the liquid sample is sucked into the liquid holding space of the small volume dispensing nozzle member 22A, and the sucked liquid sample is held.
Thereafter, the drive unit 13 is moved from the reagent placement unit 16A onto the dispensing container placement unit 17 within the movement level plane, and is lowered on the dispensing container placement unit 17, thereby a plurality of small volumes. The suction / discharge opening 23 </ b> A of the dispensing nozzle member 22 </ b> A is brought into a state of being close to each of the plurality of liquid sample storage portions of the dispensing container placed on the dispensing container placing portion 17. Then, as the piston member frame 76 of the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 is moved downward, the piston member 70 moves downward in the small piston sliding space S2 in the small diameter cylinder member 60. By being driven, the entire amount of the liquid sample held in the liquid holding space of the small volume dispensing nozzle member 22A is discharged from the suction / discharge opening 23A, and thus a plurality of liquid sample storage portions of the dispensing container. A liquid sample is poured into each of these.

(Small volume dispensing mode: Nozzle member disposal process)
Thereafter, the plurality of small volume dispensing nozzle members 22A are detached from the nozzle mounting member 31 and discarded.
Specifically, the drive unit 13 is moved from the dispensing container placing unit 17 to the nozzle member discarding unit 19 within the movement level plane, and the liquid sample sorting and discharging means 20 is moved on the nozzle member discarding unit 19. When the removal plate 37 is lowered, the small volume dispensing nozzle member 22 </ b> A is removed from the nozzle mounting member 31 and accommodated in the nozzle member disposal unit 19 to be discarded.

(Large volume dispensing mode: Nozzle member installation process)
In the large volume dispensing mode, as shown in FIG. 8A, first, a large volume dispensing is performed on each of the plurality of nozzle mounting members 31 constituting the nozzle mounting portion 30 in the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20. The nozzle member 22B for use is mounted.
Specifically, the drive unit 13 in which the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 is accommodated and positioned at the movable level is moved on the large-volume dispensing nozzle mounting unit 18B within the movement level plane. The plurality of large-volume dispensing nozzle members 22B placed on the large-volume dispensing nozzle placement portion 13B are lowered on the large-volume dispensing nozzle placement portion 18B, whereby the liquid sample is dispensed and discharged. The plurality of nozzle mounting members 31 in the means 20 are mounted.

(Large volume dispensing mode: suction preparation process)
Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, the piston member 70 is moved from the low volume dispensing movement area T1 to the high volume dispensing movement area T2 that exceeds the low volume dispensing movement area T1. The
Specifically, after the drive unit 13 is raised to the movement level, the piston member frame 76 of the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 is in a state where the engagement member 83 is positioned at the highest position in the engagement member installation space. Accordingly, the piston member 70 is driven to move upward in the small piston sliding space S2 in the small diameter cylinder member 60, and the piston member 70 is moved upward in the small piston sliding space S2. By being positioned at the highest position in the direction, the piston member 70 is moved from the low volume dispensing movement area T1 to the high volume dispensing movement area T2.
In this suction preparation process, the suction / discharge opening 23B at the lower end of the large-volume dispensing nozzle member 22B is positioned in the atmosphere, so that the liquid sample is not sucked.

(Large volume dispensing mode: suction and discharge operation process)
Next, as shown in FIG. 8 (c), a plurality of large-volume dispensing nozzle members in a state where the suction discharge openings 23B at the lower ends of the plurality of large-volume dispensing nozzle members 22B are positioned in the liquid sample. The liquid sample is sucked and held in each of 22B, and then the liquid sample held in the large-volume dispensing nozzle member 22B is discharged to the dispensing container.
Specifically, the reagent container in which the liquid reagent to be dispensed from the large-volume dispensing nozzle placing part 18B within the movement level plane is accommodated in a plurality of reagent accommodating parts is placed. The reagent placement unit is moved onto the reagent placement unit 16B, for example, and lowered on the reagent placement unit 16B, whereby the suction / discharge openings 23B of the plurality of large-volume dispensing nozzle members 22B It is in a state where it is located in the liquid sample in the container 92. As the piston member frame 76 of the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 and the small diameter cylinder member frame 66 engaged therewith move together upward, the small diameter cylinder member 60 becomes the large diameter cylinder member. By being driven to move upward in the large piston sliding space S1 at 50, the liquid sample is sucked into the liquid holding space of the large volume dispensing nozzle member 22B, and the sucked liquid sample is held. The
Thereafter, the storage unit 13 is moved from the reagent mounting unit 16B to the dispensing container mounting unit 17 within the movement level plane, and is lowered on the dispensing container mounting unit 17, whereby a plurality of large volumes are stored. The suction / discharge opening 22 </ b> B of the dispensing nozzle member 22 </ b> B is in a state of being close to each of the plurality of liquid sample storage portions of the dispensing container placed on the dispensing container placing portion 17. Then, the piston member frame 76 of the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20 and the small diameter cylinder member frame 66 engaged with the piston member frame 76 are integrally moved downward, whereby the small diameter cylinder member 60 is moved into the large diameter cylinder member 50. By being driven to move downward in the large piston sliding space S1, the entire amount of the liquid sample held in the liquid holding space of the large volume dispensing nozzle member 22B is discharged from the suction discharge opening. Thus, the liquid sample is poured into each of the plurality of liquid sample storage portions of the dispensing container.

(Large volume dispensing mode: Nozzle member disposal process)
Thereafter, the plurality of large-volume dispensing nozzle members 22B are detached from the nozzle mounting member 31 and discarded.
Specifically, the drive unit 13 is moved from the dispensing container placing unit 17 to the nozzle member discarding unit 19 within the movement level plane, and the liquid sample sorting and discharging means 20 is moved on the nozzle member discarding unit 19. As the removal plate 37 is lowered, the large-volume dispensing nozzle member 22B is removed from the nozzle mounting member 31 and accommodated in the nozzle member disposal unit 19 to be discarded.

As described above, according to the dispensing apparatus 10, the cylinder mechanism 21 is configured by the large-diameter cylinder member 50, the small-diameter cylinder member 60, and the piston member 70, and this cylinder mechanism is required for the dispensing process. In the low volume dispensing mode, the piston member 70 functions as a piston alone and the small diameter cylinder member 60 functions as a cylinder integrally with the large diameter cylinder member 50. On the other hand, when the required dispensing amount is a high volume, the piston member 70 and the small-diameter cylinder member 60 are integrated as a piston in the high volume dispensing mode. Since the large-diameter cylinder member 50 acts as a cylinder and can perform a dispensing operation, it is necessary for the dispensing process. By performing the dispensing process in the dispensing mode according to the amount to be dispensed, it is possible to cope with a wide dispensing range with a single cylinder mechanism, and in addition, it is necessary while suppressing the enlargement of the apparatus. It is possible to ensure the accuracy of the amount dispensed.
Therefore, in the dispensing apparatus 10, dispensing processing of a plurality of types of liquid reagents having greatly different dispensing amounts can be performed continuously without requiring much time.

  In addition, the dispensing device 10 performs a suction operation related to the low volume dispensing mode when the piston member 70 moves upward in the low volume dispensing movement area T1, and the piston member 70 is Necessary for the dispensing process because it has a configuration in which the suction operation related to the high volume dispensing mode is performed when moving upward in the high volume dispensing movement area T2 exceeding the volume dispensing movement area T1. Since an appropriate dispensing mode can be selected according to the dispensing amount only by moving the piston member 70 according to the dispensing amount, a dedicated mechanism for switching the dispensing mode is provided. There is no need to provide it. Therefore, as the mounting main body 12 for mounting the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20, a conventionally known one used in a dispensing apparatus having a configuration in which a cylinder mechanism is replaceable is used. it can.

The dispensing device of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
For example, the dispensing device may have a configuration in which a drive mechanism for driving the piston member and a drive mechanism for driving the small-diameter cylinder member are separately provided.

  Hereinafter, experimental examples performed for confirming the effects of the present invention will be described.

(Experimental example 1)
In accordance with the configuration of FIGS. 1 to 5, as a cylinder mechanism in a plurality of cylinder units constituting the liquid sample sorting / discharging means 20, a piston member 70 having an outer diameter of 2 mm, a small cylinder member having an outer diameter of 6 mm, and the small diameter A large-diameter cylinder member having an inner diameter suitable for the cylinder member, and a stepping motor having a piston movement amount of 0.001 mm per pulse as a cylinder part drive source of the cylinder mechanism, and a low-capacity dispensing The dispensing area T1 is 10 mm, the high volume dispensing movement area T2 is 22.5 mm, and the dispensing process with a dispensing volume of 0.5 to 30 μL is performed in the low volume dispensing mode. A dispensing apparatus (hereinafter, also referred to as “dispensing apparatus (1)”) having a configuration in which a dispensing process with an amount of 10 to 300 μL is performed in a high-volume dispensing mode was manufactured.

Two types of dispensing devices were produced as comparative dispensing devices.
Specifically, a cylinder mechanism including a piston member having an outer diameter of 2 mm and a cylinder member having an inner diameter suitable for the piston member is provided. As a drive source of the cylinder mechanism, similarly to the dispensing device (1). Dispensing device having a stepping motor having a piston moving amount of 0.001 mm per pulse (hereinafter also referred to as “comparative dispensing device (1)”), and a piston having an outer diameter of 6 mm A cylinder mechanism comprising a member and a cylinder member having an inner diameter suitable for the piston member is provided, and the piston movement amount per pulse is 0.001 mm as a drive source of the cylinder mechanism, as in the dispensing device (1). A dispensing apparatus having a stepping motor (hereinafter also referred to as “comparative dispensing apparatus (2)”) was prepared.

With each of the prepared dispensing device (1), comparative dispensing device (1) and comparative dispensing device (2), a dispensing treatment with a dispensing amount of 1 μL and a dispensing treatment with a dispensing amount of 300 μm were performed. This was done and the error that occurred in the piston movement amount and the suction amount in each dispensing process was confirmed.
In the dispensing device (1), for the dispensing process with a dispensing amount of 1 μL, the piston movement amount was 0.33 mm, and the error generated in the suction amount was 0.001 μL. In addition, for the dispensing process with a dispensing volume of 300 μL, the piston movement amount is 20.714 mm (the movement amount is 10 mm from the movement area T1 for low volume dispensing to the movement area T2 for high volume dispensing, and for high volume dispensing) The total amount of movement of 10.714 mm in the movement region T2) was 0.008 μL, that is, the error per 1 μL of suction was 2.7 × 10 ⁻⁵ μL.
In the comparative dispensing apparatus (1), for the dispensing process with a dispensing amount of 1 μL, the piston movement amount was 0.33 mm, and the error generated in the suction amount was 0.001 μL. Further, in the dispensing process with a dispensing amount of 300 μL, the piston movement amount was 100 mm, and the error that occurred in the suction amount was 0 μL, that is, no error occurred.
In the comparative dispensing device (2), for the dispensing process with a dispensing amount of 1 μL, the piston movement amount was 0.036 mm, and the error that occurred in the suction amount was 0.008 μL. In addition, in the dispensing process with a dispensing amount of 300 μL, the piston movement amount is 10.714 mm, and the error occurring in the suction amount is 0.008 μL, that is, the error per suction amount of 1 μm is 2.7 × 10 ⁻⁵ μL. Met.

From the above results, in the dispensing device (1) according to the present invention, it is possible to cope with a wide range of dispensing amounts despite having a single cylinder mechanism. Regardless of whether the volume is small or large, high accuracy is obtained in the dispensing volume, and a large stroke (total movement) is not required for the piston member. It was confirmed that it was possible to achieve both suppression and high-accuracy dispensing.
On the other hand, it is apparent that in a dispensing device in which the cylinder mechanism is composed of a single type of piston member and cylinder member, it is impossible to achieve both suppression of device enlargement and ensuring high accuracy of the dispensing amount.
That is, in the comparative dispensing device (1), since the suction amount per unit movement amount of the piston member is small, the dispensing amount is high when the dispensing amount required in the dispensing process is small. Although accuracy can be obtained, on the other hand, when the dispensing amount required in the dispensing process is large, the piston member requires a very large stroke (total movement amount). In the comparative dispensing device (2), since the suction amount per unit movement amount of the piston member is large, when the dispensing amount required in the dispensing process is large, the piston member has a large stroke. Although (total transfer amount) is not required, on the other hand, when the dispensing amount required in the dispensing process is small, high accuracy cannot be obtained in the dispensing amount.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Dispensing apparatus 11 Dispensing stage 12 Apparatus main body 13 Drive part 13A Detachable opening 14 Support part 14A Dispensing operation path 15
16A, 16B, 16C Reagent placement unit 17 Dispensing container placement unit
18A, 18B Nozzle member placement part
19 Nozzle member disposal section 20 Liquid sample sorting / discharging means 21 Cylinder unit 22A Small volume dispensing nozzle member 22B Large volume dispensing nozzle member
23A, 23B Suction / discharge opening 24A, 24B opening (mounting opening)
29 Fixing member 30 Nozzle mounting portion 31 Nozzle mounting member 31A Through hole 32 Lower end portion (mounting portion)
32A Small-diameter peripheral surface portion 32B Large-diameter peripheral surface portion 33 Gutter portion 35 Nozzle mounting member fixing frame 36 Through-hole 36A Recess 37 Detachment plate 38 Through-hole 39 Guide pin 40 Cylinder portion 49 Frame guide pin 50 Large-diameter cylinder member 51 Recess 52 Open ( Piston opening)
54 Suction / discharge opening 55 Main body member 56 Suction / discharge opening forming seal member 56A Through hole 57 Fixing member arrangement space 58 Recess 60 Small-diameter cylinder member 61A Peripheral wall portion 61B Bottom bottom portion
62 Opening (Piston opening)
63 Through-hole 64 Suction / discharge opening 66 Small-diameter cylinder member frame 67 Through-hole 67A Large-diameter portion 67B Small-diameter portion 68 Through-holes 69A, 69B O-ring 70 Piston member 76 Piston member frame 77 Recess 78 Recess 81 Fixing member 83 Joint member 83A Columnar body portion 83B Upper end portion 83C Lower end flange portions 91, 92 Reagent storage portion

Claims (4)

A dispensing device having a cylinder unit having a cylinder mechanism composed of a cylinder and a piston,
The cylinder mechanism includes a large-diameter cylinder member having a suction / discharge opening at a lower end, a small-diameter cylinder member that is slidably inserted into the large-diameter cylinder member and has a suction / discharge opening at a lower end, and the small-diameter cylinder. A piston member slidably inserted into the member,
In the low volume dispensing mode, the piston member is driven to move inside the small diameter cylinder member fixed integrally with the large diameter cylinder member,
In the high-capacity dispensing mode, the piston member and the small-diameter cylinder member fixed integrally therewith are driven so as to move inside the large-diameter cylinder member. In the low-volume dispensing mode, the piston member moves relatively upward with respect to the large-diameter cylinder member and the small-diameter cylinder member fixed integrally therewith in the low-volume dispensing movement region. A suction operation is performed by being driven,
In the high-capacity dispensing mode, the piston member and the small-diameter cylinder member fixed integrally therewith are arranged in a large-diameter cylinder member in the high-capacity dispensing movement area above the low-volume dispensing movement area. The dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction operation is performed by being driven to move relatively upward with respect to the liquid. A small-diameter cylinder member frame in which an upper end portion of the small-diameter cylinder member is fixed on the large-diameter cylinder member is integrally formed by a fixing member that fixes the large-diameter cylinder member and the small-diameter cylinder member frame by a tensile force. Fixedly arranged,
On the small-diameter cylinder member frame, a piston member frame in which the upper end of the piston member is fixed is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction.
An engagement mechanism for engaging the small-diameter cylinder member frame and the piston member frame is provided,
When the piston member frame is moved upward, the piston member is driven to move upward in the movement area for low volume dispensing,
When the piston member frame is further moved upward, the piston mechanism frame is engaged with the small-diameter cylinder member frame by the engagement mechanism, and the small-diameter cylinder member frame extends upward while extending the fixing member. 3. The piston member and the small-diameter cylinder member fixed integrally with the piston member are driven so as to move upward in the high-capacity dispensing movement region. The dispensing device described in 1.   The dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of cylinder units are arranged in parallel, and a common piston drive mechanism is provided for each cylinder unit.