JP2006226726A - Dispensing component - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dispensing component capable of suppressing adhesion of liquid to a periphery of a delivery section when trace amounts of liquid are delivered by pressurized gas. <P>SOLUTION: The dispensing component 1 comprises a measuring section for measuring a constant amount of liquid, and a delivery flow channel for delivering the whole liquid held by the measuring section with the pressurized gas. A delivery end of the delivery flow channel 1b of the dispensing component 1 is provided with a projection section 1c projecting in the delivery direction of the liquid. In the projection section 1c, the outer diameter Dp the end is set to satisfy df<Dp<Dm, where df is the inner diameter of the delivery flow channel 1b and Dm is the inner diameter of the measuring section 1a. The dispensing component 1 can suppress adhesion of the liquid to the periphery of the delivery section when the trace liquid is delivered by the pressurized gas. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a dispensing component used for dispensing a liquid of nanoliter (nL) to microliter (μL) order.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a dispensing apparatus that dispenses a small amount of liquid in the order of nL to μL with pressurized gas dispenses a liquid that is discharged from a discharge channel immediately before the end of discharge at a high speed. It is known that there is a tendency to scatter outside the original discharge direction along the axis of the discharge flow path due to the spray effect of the pressurized gas (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

P. Koltay et al., "Simulation of micro dispensing devices", 20th CAD-FEM Users' Meeting ,. International Congress on FEM-Technology, Friedrichshafen, Germany, 2002, Fig. 4, Fig. 7

  By the way, when the liquid to be ejected is scattered in a direction other than the original ejection direction, no problem occurs when the scattered liquid adheres to a container to be dispensed such as a microtiter plate or a spectroscopic cell. However, if the scattered liquid adheres not to the container but around the discharge part of the dispensing part, the dispensing device cannot dispense a preset amount of liquid into the dispensing target container and dispense accuracy Cause a drop. In addition, if the liquid adheres to the periphery of the dispensing part discharge part, the dispensing device will contaminate the liquid to be dispensed by mixing the liquid adhering to the dispensing part when dispensing with different liquids. There is a possibility that.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing component capable of suppressing the adhesion of liquid to the periphery of the discharge portion when a small amount of liquid is discharged by pressurized gas. And

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the dispensing component according to claim 1 discharges the measuring unit for measuring a certain amount of liquid and the entire liquid held in the measuring unit by pressurized gas. A dispensing part including a discharge channel, wherein a protruding portion that protrudes in the discharge direction of the liquid is provided on an outer periphery of a discharge end of the discharge channel.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above-described dispensing part, the protrusion has an outer diameter Dp at the end that is smaller than the inner diameter df of the discharge passage and the inner diameter Dm of the metering portion. It is characterized by setting so that Dp <Dm.

  The dispensing component according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the end surface of the protruding portion is set to have higher water repellency than the measuring portion.

  The dispensing component according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the above invention, an end surface of the protruding portion is inclined with respect to a central axis of the protruding portion.

  The dispensing component according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the measuring section has an inner diameter on the discharge flow path side gradually decreasing toward the discharge flow path.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the dispensing part according to the above-described invention, the measuring section has an inner diameter on the discharge flow path side that gradually decreases toward the discharge flow path, and the projecting section has an outer surface of the measuring section. It is formed substantially in parallel with the inner surface on the discharge flow path side.

  The dispensing component according to claim 7 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the metering portion has an inner surface on the discharge flow path side formed into a conical or pyramidal tapered surface or curved surface.

  The dispensing component according to claim 8 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the protruding portion is formed such that an outer surface in the vicinity of the end surface is a conical or pyramidal tapered surface.

  The dispensing component according to claim 9 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the end surface of the protruding portion is inclined with respect to the central axis of the protruding portion.

  The dispensing component according to claim 10 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the protruding portion has a protruding length Lp from the dispensing component longer than a length Lf of the discharge flow path.

  The dispensing component according to the present invention is provided with a protrusion that protrudes in the discharge direction of the liquid on the outer periphery of the discharge end of the discharge flow path. As a result, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of the liquid around the discharge part.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 concerning the dispensing components of this invention is demonstrated in detail, referring drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing one structural unit of a dispensing part. FIG. 2 is a sectional front view of the dispensing component.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing component 1 includes a measuring unit 1a, a discharge channel 1b, and a protruding portion 1c as one constituent unit for liquid discharge, and uses one constituent unit according to the purpose. One structural unit is used in a plurality of linear or matrix arrangements. The dispensing component 1 dispenses liquid by collectively discharging from the discharge flow path 1b a pressurized gas that acts from above the measuring unit 1a on a small amount of liquid in the order of nL to μL held in the measuring unit 1a. . The measuring unit 1a is a cylindrical part that measures a small amount of liquid in the order of nL to μL, and is filled with the liquid to be dispensed by a method such as dropping the liquid from above or contacting the tip of the micropipette. At this time, the metering unit 1a holds a predetermined amount of liquid by filling the liquid up to the upper surface. One end of the discharge channel 1b is connected to the measuring unit 1a, and the liquid held in the measuring unit 1a is discharged from the other end. The protruding portion 1c is a cylindrical portion formed by protruding the length Lp (see FIG. 2) in the liquid discharge direction at the discharge end of the discharge flow path 1b. The protruding portion 1c adheres to the periphery of the protruding portion 1c when the liquid discharged from the discharge channel 1b is scattered outside the original discharging direction by the high-speed pressurized gas discharged subsequently to the liquid. To suppress that.

  Here, in the discharge channel 1b, when the metering unit 1a is filled with the liquid, the liquid in the metering unit 1a enters due to the capillary force. However, the discharge flow path 1b is a flow path for discharging the liquid held in the measuring unit 1a, and is not a part for holding the liquid. Therefore, the dispensing component 1 has a volume of liquid that enters the discharge flow path 1b so that a predetermined amount of liquid that is designed in advance is always stably discharged even if liquid enters the discharge flow path 1b. It is desirable to set so that v is a minute amount (V >> v) as compared to the volume V of the liquid held in the measuring unit 1a. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2, the dispensing component 1 has an outer diameter Dp at the end of the projecting portion 1c of df <Dp <Dm with respect to the inner diameter df of the discharge flow path 1b and the inner diameter Dm of the measuring portion 1a. Set as follows. For the same reason, the measuring unit 1a sets the length Lm along the longitudinal direction to be longer than the length Lf of the discharge flow channel 1b, as shown in FIG. In this case, if processing is possible, it is preferable that the dispensing component 1 has an outer diameter Dp at the end of the protruding portion 1c close to the inner diameter df of the discharge flow path 1b. As described above, the dispensing component 1 that discharges a trace amount liquid of nL to μL order is, for example, a polycarbonate, polypropylene, acrylic, cycloolefin copolymer (COC), cycloolefin polymer by etching a silicon substrate or injection molding. It can be produced by molding a synthetic resin such as (COP).

  Moreover, it is preferable that the protrusion 1c has a water repellency treatment on the end surface 1d so that the liquid to be discharged is cut off, thereby making the water repellency higher than that of the measuring portion 1a. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the dispensing component 1 can improve the drainage of the discharged liquid by inclining the end surface 1 d of the protruding portion 1 c with respect to the central axis Ac of the protruding portion by an angle θ. is there. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the dispensing component 1 measures the length Lp of the protruding portion 1c and the length Lf of the discharge flow path 1b on the central axis Ac.

  Here, in the dispensing component 1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cross-sectional area greatly changes (rapid contraction) at the portion where the measuring portion 1a is connected to the discharge flow path 1b, and a large energy loss occurs in the discharged liquid. Arise. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the liquid discharged from the measuring unit 1a tends to remain in the corner Pc, and splashes are generated when the liquid remaining in the corner Pc is discharged from the discharge channel 1b. And may adhere to the periphery. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, the dispensing component 1 has a curved portion 1e at the lower portion of the measuring portion 1a so that the inner diameter of the lower portion of the measuring portion 1a connected to the discharge passage 1b gradually decreases toward the discharge passage 1b. It is preferable to mold it. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the dispensing part 1 has a conical shape at the lower part of the measuring part 1a so that the inner diameter of the lower part of the measuring part 1a connected to the discharge flow path 1b gradually decreases toward the discharge flow path 1b. Or you may shape | mold to the pyramid-shaped taper surface 1f.

  As described above, the dispensing component 1 is provided with the protrusion 1c that protrudes in the liquid discharge direction on the outer periphery of the discharge end of the discharge flow path 1b. The liquid can be prevented from adhering to the periphery, and contamination of the liquid to be dispensed can be prevented while maintaining the dispensing accuracy.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment according to the dispensing component of the present invention will be described. In the dispensing component of the first embodiment, the length Lp of the protruding portion 1c is shorter than the length Lf of the discharge channel 1b (Lp <Lf), but the dispensing component of the second embodiment has the protruding portion 3c. Is made longer than the length Lf of the discharge flow path 3b (Lp> Lf). FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional front view of the dispensing component. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional front view showing a first modification of the dispensing component. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional front view showing a second modification of the dispensing component.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the dispensing part 3 has a lower portion of the measuring portion 3a formed into a curved surface 3e so that the lower inner diameter of the measuring portion 3a connected to the discharge passage 3b gradually decreases toward the discharge passage 3b. ing. In addition, the dispensing component 3 is formed such that the outer surface of the protruding portion 3c is a conical or pyramidal tapered surface 3g. The dispenser part 3 is configured in this way, so that the length of the protruding portion 3c is longer than the length Lf of the discharge flow path 3b (Lp> Lf).

  That is, in the dispensing component 1 of the first embodiment, the length of the protruding portion 1c is shorter than the length Lf of the discharge flow path 1b (Lp <Lf). In the dispensing component 1, the length Lp of the protrusion 1 c is preferably longer than the length Lf of the discharge channel 1 b for the purpose of suppressing the liquid from adhering to the periphery of the protrusion 1 c. However, as is apparent from FIG. 5, for example, in the dispensing component 1, when the protruding portion 1c is lengthened, the length Lf of the discharge channel 1b is also increased accordingly. As a result, in the dispensing component 1, the ratio of the volume (v) of the liquid that enters the discharge flow path 1b to the volume (V) of the liquid held in the measuring unit 1a increases, and the amount of the discharged liquid varies. It becomes easy to do.

  For this reason, the dispensing component 3 according to the second embodiment has the above-described configuration, so that the length Lf of the protruding portion 3c is set to the length of the discharge channel 3b while suppressing the length Lf of the discharge channel 3b from increasing. It is longer than Lf (Lp> Lf). In this case, the dispensing component 3 is set so that df <Dp <Dm with respect to the inner diameter Dp of the measuring unit 3a, the inner diameter df of the discharge channel 3b, and the inner diameter Dm of the measuring unit 3a. Setting the length Lm to be smaller than the length Lf of the discharge channel 1b is the same as the dispensing component 1 of the first embodiment. Moreover, the dispensing component 3 may improve the water repellency of the end surface 3d of the protruding portion 3c so that the water repellency is higher than that of the measuring portion 3a, so that the liquid to be ejected can be cut better.

  Here, in the dispensing component 3, the outer surface of the protruding portion 3c is formed into a tapered surface 3g, and as shown in FIG. 7, the inner diameter of the lower portion of the measuring portion 3a connected to the discharge channel 3b is changed to the discharge channel 3b. The lower portion of the measuring portion 3a may be formed into a conical or pyramidal tapered surface 3f so as to gradually decrease. Further, in addition to forming the lower portion of the measuring portion 3a into the tapered surface 3f, the dispensing component 3 is inclined by an angle θ with respect to the center axis Ac of the protruding portion, as shown in FIG. You may let them. If it does in this way, the dispensing components 3 can improve the liquid cutting | disconnection of the liquid to discharge from a shape surface.

  As described above, the dispensing component 3 is provided with the protrusion 3c protruding in the liquid discharge direction on the outer periphery of the discharge end of the discharge flow path 3b. The liquid can be prevented from adhering to the periphery, and contamination of the liquid to be dispensed can be prevented while maintaining the dispensing accuracy. In addition, the dispensing part 3 is shaped so that the lower inner diameter of the measuring portion 3a gradually decreases toward the discharge flow path 3b, and the outer surface of the protruding portion 3c is substantially parallel to the inner surface of the measuring section 3a on the discharge flow path 3b side. Molding. Thereby, the dispensing component 3 makes the length Lp of the protrusion part 3c longer than the length Lf of the discharge flow path 3b, suppressing that the length Lf of the discharge flow path 3b becomes long (Lp> Lf). ). For this reason, the dispensing component 3 can suppress the liquid from adhering to the periphery of the protruding portion 3c while stabilizing the amount of liquid to be discharged.

  Although the injection molding method using a synthetic resin as a material is given as a method for manufacturing a dispensing part according to the present invention, a discharge flow path portion having a fine inner diameter in the production and molding process of a molding die for a dispensing part. Is expected to be difficult to form. For example, in the molding process, after molding with a mold manufactured so that only the measuring part is formed on the substrate, the discharge flow path part is formed by laser machining or precision cutting, etc. It is conceivable to manufacture.

  In such a case, as shown in FIG. 9, the dispensing part 3 in which the lower part of the measuring part 3a connected to the discharge flow path 3b is formed into a conical or pyramidal tapered surface 3f is connected to the measuring part 3a and the discharge flow. It is also possible to provide a flat portion 3h at the connection portion with the passage 3b and take a cross-sectional structure in which the inner diameter of the discharge flow path 3b is smaller than the inner diameter of the flat portion 3h. Further, like the dispensing component 5 shown in FIG. 10, the flat part 5h may be provided and the center axis Acm of the measuring part 5a and the center axis Acf of the discharge flow path 5b may be offset. Even in these structures, the dispensing parts do not have a great influence on the dispensing accuracy within the range of the geometrical dimensions of the measuring portions 3a, 5a and the discharge flow paths 3b, 5b derived from the dispensing amount. .

  In addition, although the dispensing part of Embodiment 1 and 2 demonstrated that the measurement part and the discharge flow path had a circular cross section, the cross-sectional shape may be a polygon other than a circle.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing one structural unit of the dispensing component of the first embodiment. It is a section front view of dispensing parts. It is a section front view showing the 1st modification of dispensing parts. It is a section front view showing the 2nd modification of dispensing parts. It is a section front view showing the 3rd modification of dispensing parts. It is a cross-sectional front view of the dispensing component of the second embodiment. It is a section front view showing the 1st modification of dispensing parts. It is a section front view showing the 2nd modification of dispensing parts. It is a section front view showing the 3rd modification of dispensing parts. It is a section front view showing the 4th modification of dispensing parts.

Explanation of symbols

1,3,5 Dispensing parts 1a, 3a, 5a Metering section 1b, 3b, 5b Discharge flow path 1c, 3c Protruding section 1d, 3d End face 1e, 3e Curved face 1f, 3f, 5f Tapered face 3g Tapered face 3h, 5h Flat Part Ac Center axis of protrusion df Inner diameter of discharge channel Dm Inner diameter of metering part Dp Outer diameter of protrusion Lf Length of discharge channel Lm Length of metering part Lp Length of projecting part

Claims (10)

A dispensing part comprising a measuring unit for measuring a certain amount of liquid and a discharge channel for discharging the entire liquid held in the measuring unit with pressurized gas,
A dispensing part characterized in that a protruding portion that protrudes in the discharge direction of the liquid is provided at the discharge end of the discharge flow path.   2. The protruding portion is set such that an outer diameter Dp of an end portion is set to satisfy df <Dp <Dm with respect to an inner diameter df of the discharge channel and an inner diameter Dm of the measuring portion. Dispensed parts as described in   The dispensing part according to claim 2, wherein the end surface of the protruding portion is set to have higher water repellency than the measuring portion.   The dispensing part according to claim 2, wherein an end surface of the protruding portion is inclined with respect to a central axis of the protruding portion.   The dispensing part according to claim 2, wherein the measuring section has an inner diameter on the discharge flow path side that gradually decreases toward the discharge flow path. The metering unit has an inner diameter on the discharge channel side that gradually decreases toward the discharge channel,
The dispensing part according to claim 2, wherein an outer surface of the protruding portion is formed substantially in parallel with an inner surface of the measuring portion on the discharge flow path side.   The dispensing part according to claim 6, wherein an inner surface on the discharge flow channel side is formed into a conical shape, a pyramid shape, or a curved surface.   The dispensing part according to claim 6, wherein an outer surface in the vicinity of the end surface of the protruding portion is formed in a conical shape or a pyramid shape.   The dispensing part according to claim 6, wherein an end surface of the protruding portion is inclined with respect to a central axis of the protruding portion.   7. The dispensing part according to claim 6, wherein the protruding portion has a protruding length Lp from the dispensing part that is longer than a length Lf of the discharge channel.

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