JPH0815274A - Auto sampler - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] It is an object to provide an autosampler having a function of preventing evaporation of a solvent in a sample container without using a lid or a seal. A container mounting table on which a plurality of containers containing samples and the like are mounted, a sealed chamber that covers the container mounting table, and a steam supply unit that supplies steam into the sealed chamber, and a steam supply unit By introducing the steam generated by the inside of the sealed chamber containing the container mounting table, the opening of the sample container of the container mounting table is sealed by the steam,
The condition is the same as when each container is covered.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an autosampler for sequentially introducing a sample or the like into an analyzer such as an atomic absorption spectrometer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an autosampler has been used for sequentially introducing a sample or the like into an analyzer such as an atomic absorption spectrometer and a liquid chromatograph. This autosampler arranges a plurality of sample containers, etc. on a turntable, etc., sucks the sample etc. in the sample container with a syringe and a needle connected to the syringe, and moves the needle to the sample introduction part etc. of the analyzer. Is to be ejected. Here, the sample container, etc. is in an open state so that the needle can be inserted,
Or it was sealed with a septum.

[0003]

However, when the upper portion of the sample container or the like is left open, the solvent or the like in the sample evaporates and the concentration of the sample or the like changes. In addition, the method of sealing the upper part with a septum etc. can prevent evaporation of the solvent, but it is necessary to break the seal with a needle every time a sample etc. is taken, so that contamination may occur due to contact between the needle and the seal, There was a possibility that the seal was clogged.

On the other hand, in order to solve these problems, it is conceivable to cover each of the sample containers and the like, but with this method, there is a step of opening the cover immediately before collecting the sample and closing the cover after collecting. Not only is this necessary and the operation complicated, but a separate opening / closing mechanism is also required.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide an autosampler having a function of preventing evaporation of a solvent in a sample container without using a lid or a seal.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an autosampler of the present invention comprises a container mounting table on which a plurality of containers containing samples and the like are mounted, and a sealed chamber for covering the container mounting table. An opening / closing port provided in a part of the chamber, a needle for sucking / discharging a sample or the like in each container through the opening / closing port, and a vapor supply means for supplying vapor into the closed chamber It becomes.

Here, the container mounting table is, for example, a turntable having a plurality of openings, a test tube stand for a chemical experiment, a rack adopted in a blood transfer device, or the like, so long as it can mount a plurality of containers. Anything is fine. The material of the container is not particularly limited as long as it is inert to the solution to be contained such as glass, polyethylene, polyacrylamide, etc., and the substance contained in the container is sample, reagent, dilution water, buffer solution, etc. All solutions required for the device are covered.

The hermetically sealed chamber may be of any type as long as it can hermetically seal the entire container mounting table in a state where the container is mounted, and examples thereof include a bell jar type container generally used as a vacuum container. Not limited.
Further, the chamber may be either an integral type or a separable type capable of separating the lid and the container body. The material of the chamber is not particularly limited, such as glass, polyethylene and polyacrylamide.

An opening for inserting a needle is opened in a part of the closed chamber. This opening may be closed by a movable lid when not in use. In the case of the movable lid, for example, a structure in which it is normally closed by a spring but opened by the pressing force when the needle is inserted can be considered, but not limited to this.

The needle to be inserted may be made of a material such as glass, and the tip may be slanted for easy draining. The suction and discharge of the sample and the like are performed by connecting the pump and the syringe to the needle with a pipe and the like and operating the pump and the syringe.

The vapor supply means vaporizes the solvent and supplies the vapor to the closed chamber. As the solvent, the same solvent as the solvent for the sample or the like, or a volatile solvent such as water can be used. The former is preferable in consideration of reactivity with a sample or the like. Means for evaporating the solvent may be, for example, heating, ultrasonic waves, or the like, but is not limited thereto. As the heating source, any of electric heaters, burners and the like can be used, but the electric heater is most suitable in consideration of cost and control.

The analyzer which can use the autosampler of the present invention is applicable to all analyzers such as an atomic absorption spectrometer, a liquid chromatograph and a fluorescence spectrometer.

[0013]

According to the present invention, by introducing the vapor generated by the vapor supply means into the closed chamber containing the container mounting table, the opening of the sample container of the container mounting table is sealed by the vapor, It is the same as the state where the lids are attached to each one.

[0014]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1A is a top view of the autosampler of the present invention, and FIG.
Shows a side view. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a container mounting table composed of a circular turntable, and this table is rotated about a rotary shaft 3 by a drive source (not shown). Further, the container mounting table 1 is provided with a plurality of openings 2 ', and the sample container 2 is mounted thereon. The sample container 2 is left unopened at its upper portion without a lid.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a closed chamber, which is formed of a hollow cylindrical body and is provided with an opening / closing lid 10 for inserting a needle on its upper surface. The lid 10 is a semi-closed movable lid, and has a hole in the center thereof. When a needle, which will be described later, is inserted into the hole, the lid is slid and opened by the pressing force. When the needle is pulled out, the lid automatically returns to its original position due to the restoring force. The lower surface of the hermetically sealed chamber 4 is open, and when the hermetically sealed chamber 4 is installed on the base 12, it becomes a hermetically sealed state.

The base 12 is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped whose lower surface is open, and the base 12 accommodates the vapor supply means and the drive source for the container mounting table described above. The vapor supply means comprises a solvent tank 6 and a heater 7 installed on the bottom surface of the tank. The solvent tank 6 and the heater 7 are supported on the base 12 by a support mechanism (not shown). The solvent tank 6 is a rectangular parallelepiped tank, and a surface heater is used as the heater 7 so as to heat the entire lower surface thereof. The heater 7 is controlled by a temperature sensor and a control circuit (not shown).

A solvent supply port 8, a drain port 11, and a vapor supply port 5 are opened in the base 12, the solvent supply port 8 and the drain port 11 are opened to the outside, and the vapor supply port 5 is closed. The chamber is opened in the chamber 4.

A needle 9 is connected to a syringe pump (not shown) by a pipe 13. Also, the needle 9
Is supported by an operation arm 14, and the operation arm 14 is vertically moved and rotated left and right by a drive mechanism 15.

When the sampler of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure is used, it is carried out as follows. First, the closed chamber 4 is removed from the base 12, the sample container 2 is mounted on the container mounting base 1, and the solvent tank 6 and the heater 7 are installed in the base 12. The same solvent as the sample is supplied into the solvent tank 6 through the solvent supply port 8.

Next, the closed chamber 4 is attached to the base 12, the heater 7 is turned on to evaporate the solvent, and vapor is sent into the closed chamber 4 through the vapor supply port 5. At this time, the solvent supply port 8 and the drain port 11 are closed with a lid. Also, the closed chamber 4
The needle insertion opening / closing lid 10 is also closed.

When the closed chamber 4 is filled with the vapor, one of the sample containers 2 is rotated so as to be located under the needle insertion opening / closing lid 10. Then, the needle 9 is driven and inserted into the center hole of the needle insertion opening / closing lid 10 to open the lid 10, and the needle 9 is inserted into the sample container 2. A syringe pump (not shown) is operated to suck the sample and drive the needle 9 upward.

Then, the needle 9 is rotated to the left and right to be moved to a sample introducing section (not shown) of the analyzer, and the sample is discharged to the sample introducing section.

When the discharge of the sample from one sample container is completed, the container mounting table 1 is rotated and the next sample container is rotated so as to be positioned under the needle insertion opening / closing lid 10, and the sample is similarly sucked.・ Discharge.

In the above description, the suction / discharge of the sample has been described, but by mounting another container such as a reagent container on the container mounting table 1, it is possible to suction / discharge different kinds of solutions. Become. When placing a reagent container or the like, the solvent in the solvent tank 6 is replaced with a different solvent. However, since the solvent has commonality, ion-exchanged water or the like may be used as the solvent.

[0025]

According to the present invention, the evaporation of the solvent in the sample container or the like can be prevented without using a lid or a seal, so that the sample container or the like can be stably set for a long time. it can. Further, since the needle for sucking and discharging the sample or the like is not in contact with anything other than the sample or the like, the possibility of contamination is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a top view of an autosampler of the present invention,
(B) is a side view of the autosampler of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Container mounting table 2: Sample container 4: Closed chamber 5: Steam supply port 6: Solvent tank 7: Heater 9: Needle

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A container mounting table on which a plurality of containers containing samples and the like are placed, a closed chamber for covering the container mounting table, an opening / closing port provided in a part of the chamber, and the opening / closing port. An autosampler equipped with a needle for sucking and discharging a sample or the like in each container and a vapor supply means for supplying vapor into the closed chamber.