JPH1090280A - Liquid dispenser and distributing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid dispensing and distributing device which can carry out the connection and the removal of a nozzle chip rapidly, as well as making the device in a very simple structure. SOLUTION: In a device in which a nozzle chip is installed to a pipet nozzle so as to dispense and distribute a liquid such as a reagent, and then, the nozzle chip is returned to a housing, the nozzle chip 26 to connect and remove to the pipet nozzle 34 has a large part 27 larger than the pipet nozzle 34, and a small part 28 smaller than the large part 27, an entrance port 31 for nozzle chip with the width at the level to pass the small part 28, and not to pass the large part 27, is provided at the side of a hole 22 for holding where the large part 27 of the nozzle chip 26 is hitched, a removing plate 38 furnishing a hole 39 for removal with the level to pass the pipet nozzle 34 but not to pass the nozzle chip 26 is set by fixing, at the upper part of the hole 22, and when the nozzle chip 26 is removed from the pipet nozzle 34, the pipet nozzle is inserted to the hole of the removing plate 38, as well as the pipet nozzle 34 is inserted in the hole through the entrance, the nozzle chip 26 is removed from the pipet nozzle 34 by raising the pipet nozzle 34, and the nozzle chip 26 is returned to the hole.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing and dispensing a liquid such as a reagent or a sample, and more particularly, to attaching a nozzle tip to a pipette nozzle and dispensing a liquid from a dispensing position using the nozzle tip. And a liquid dispensing and distributing device for distributing the liquid to the dispensing position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic blood analyzer for performing a clinical test, a blood sample (serum, plasma, etc.) to be analyzed is used.
When a specific component in the sample is quantitatively analyzed, a method of mixing a blood sample with a reagent, measuring a test substance resulting from the reaction, and quantifying the specific component is generally used. Therefore, a suction and discharge mechanism for dispensing a fixed amount of the reagent from the reagent holding section to the reaction section is essential. Conventionally, dispensing of a reagent is generally performed by suctioning with a pipette nozzle of a suction and discharge mechanism, and then transferring the pipette nozzle to a reaction section to discharge the reagent. At that time, when a plurality of reagents are selectively dispensed, a method of washing a pipette nozzle after ejection has been adopted in order to avoid contamination between reagents.

However, in order to completely clean the pipette nozzle, a large amount of cleaning water is required. Further, depending on the item, even if a small amount of the reagent is mixed, it may have a great effect on the analysis result, and may cause a large error. In particular, if the reagent is a certain antigen or antibody, the difference between the lowest and highest measured values will be orders of magnitude larger than in previous chemical tests, and errors due to contamination will be noticeable. .

In recent years, for the purpose of eliminating contamination between reagents, the tip of a pipette nozzle is
A method is adopted in which a different nozzle tip is selectively mounted for each reagent type, suction, transfer, and discharge of the reagent are performed, and after the discharge, the nozzle tip is removed and held at any place in the apparatus. . Conventionally, in order to detach the nozzle tip attached to the tip of the pipette nozzle and return it to the hole of the tip holder for holding the nozzle tip or the upper opening of the reagent bottle, the following tip detaching means is provided. Was used. That is, as the tip detaching means, a plate-shaped member having a notch of such an extent that only the nozzle tip mounted on the pipette nozzle is engaged is used, and moreover,
The chip detaching means is configured to move so as to be able to enter from the lateral direction by being connected to the driving device.

[0005] The tip detaching means can easily attach the nozzle tip to the pipette nozzle by retracting the nozzle tip to a position separated from the tip holder when attaching the nozzle tip.

When detaching the nozzle tip to the nozzle tip mounting position, first, the nozzle tip is horizontally moved by the pipette nozzle toward the hole of the tip holder or above the upper opening of the reagent bottle, and further suitable for detachment. After descending and stopping to the height, the tip detaching means moves from the side to a position where it is engaged with the nozzle tip by the driving device, and the notch is positioned above the nozzle tip and stopped. Then, when the tip detaching means is positioned, the pipette nozzle is raised, and only the nozzle tip is detached from the tip of the pipette nozzle by engaging the upper end of the nozzle tip with the notch, and the nozzle tip is moved to the tip holder or the reagent. It was to be put back on the bottle.

[0007]

However, with the detaching means having the above-described structure, the detaching means is retracted from the tip attaching position at the nozzle tip attaching position, and when the nozzle tip is detached, the pipette nozzle is located at the chip detaching position. After the positioning, the detaching means is moved and positioned by the driving device. As described above, in the related art, some kind of evacuation driving device is required for the detaching means, so that in addition to the drawback that the structure and control are complicated and the device is enlarged, the order of operation is restricted. There are drawbacks that the entire operation time becomes longer or a malfunction occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a very simple structure and to transfer a liquid such as a reagent without contamination as described above in a short time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispensing and dispensing apparatus which can be performed quickly and can surely attach and detach a nozzle tip.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a pipette nozzle connected to a suction / discharge mechanism, a tip housing for holding a nozzle tip detachable from the pipette nozzle, and a nozzle tip mounted on the pipette nozzle. A liquid dispensing and dispensing apparatus having a transfer mechanism for returning a nozzle chip to the chip storage section after suctioning and discharging and discharging and dispensing a liquid such as a reagent, the nozzle chip transfer cutout formed in the chip storage section. A notch portion, and a nozzle tip detaching means fixedly or vertically movable above the axis of the nozzle tip storage position of the tip storage portion for storing the nozzle tip returned by the transfer mechanism. It is a feature. Further, in the liquid dispensing and distributing apparatus, the chip storage section also serves as a liquid storage section for storing a liquid such as a reagent. Further, a position at which the nozzle tip held in the tip storage portion is attached to the pipette nozzle is different from a position at which the nozzle tip is detached from the pipette nozzle by the nozzle tip detaching means. It is a dispensing device.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the automatic blood analyzer according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a chip detaching part and a chip detaching procedure, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the chip detaching part. FIG. This automatic blood analyzer is roughly divided into a reaction vessel 1, a reagent storage section 2, a sample storage section 3, a chip storage section 4, a sample dispensing means 5 for dispensing a sample from the sample storage section 3 to the reaction tank 1, a reagent, A reagent dispensing means 6 for dispensing a reagent from the storage section 2 to the reaction tank 1 and a chip detachment device 7 are provided. Hereinafter, each part will be described sequentially.

The reaction tank 1 has a plurality of cuvettes (reaction vessels) 12 arranged at equal intervals on a cuvette table 11 composed of a ring-shaped rotating plate. As a result, the cuvettes 12 are intermittently fed with the interval between adjacent cuvettes 12 as one step. The cuvette transport drive unit 13 intermittently rotates the cuvette table 11 by rotating a gear 14 meshing with external teeth formed on the outer periphery of the cuvette table 11 by a drive source 15 such as a motor. Then, the cuvette table 11 is rotated by the cuvette transport drive means 13 so that the required cuvette 12 is positioned at the reagent dispensing position A from the plurality of cuvettes 12. The reaction tank 1 is maintained at a predetermined temperature by a constant temperature bath in order to execute incubation of the sample contained in the cuvette 12.

The reagent storage section 2 has a disk-shaped reagent table 16 concentrically arranged inside the cuvette table 11 of the reaction tank 1, and a plurality of reagent bottles 17 are arranged at equal intervals along the peripheral edge thereof. It is arranged in. Reagent table 16
Are intermittently fed by the reagent bottle transport drive means 18 with the interval between adjacent reagent bottles 17 as one step. The reagent bottle transport drive unit 18 is, for example, a drive source 1 such as a motor.
From 9, the reagent table 16 is intermittently rotated via the rotation shaft 20. Then, a specific reagent bottle 17 containing a necessary reagent among the plurality of reagent bottles 17 is positioned at the reagent suction position B.

The chip storage section 4 is disposed adjacent to the outside of the reaction tank 1. A chip table 21 made of a ring-shaped disk is provided, and a plurality of chip holding holes 22 are formed in the inner peripheral edge of the chip table 21 by being cut out at predetermined regular intervals. The chip table 21 is controlled by a rotation driving means 23 so as to be rotatable in both circumferential directions. The rotation driving means 23 is configured to rotationally drive a gear 24 meshed with external teeth formed on the outer periphery of the chip table 21 by a driving source 25 such as a motor.
Each of the holes 22 is provided with a nozzle tip 26.

Here, the nozzle tip 26 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the upper portion (for example, the upper half on the pipette nozzle mounting side) is a thick portion 27, and the lower portion thereof (for example, the lower half on the discharge suction side).
Are placed in the holes 22 of the chip storage unit 4 one by one.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the shape of the chip holding hole 22 is a holding hole 32 formed of a circular hole penetrating vertically and a narrow width continuous with the holding hole 32. The chip table 21 has a cut-out portion formed in the inner peripheral edge portion of the chip table 21. Holding port 3
Numeral 2 communicates with the opening 21a of the chip table 21 through a narrow width entrance 31 formed on its side. The entrance 31 is a notch for guiding and transferring the nozzle tip 26. The width of the entrance 31 is formed such that the details 28 of the nozzle tip 26 can enter and exit, but the thick portion 27 of the nozzle tip 26 cannot enter and exit. Further, the diameter of the holding opening 32 is smaller than the thick portion 27 of the nozzle tip 26 so that the details 28 of the nozzle tip 26 can be loosely fitted therein, and is large enough to lock the thick portion 27. The entrance / exit 31 of the tip holding hole 22 is formed toward the center of rotation of the tip table 21. At a tip detaching position D (see FIG. 1) described later, the tip 31 is on a circular orbit around which the pipette nozzle 34 moves. The orientation is the same.

The reagent dispensing means 6 has a moving arm 33 and a pipette nozzle 34 which is supported so as to hang down from the tip of rotation of the moving arm 33. The moving arm 33 is moved up and down or Transported to rotate in both directions. The reagent suction position B of the reagent storage unit 2, the reagent dispensing position A of the reaction tank 1, and the chip mounting position C and the chip detaching position D of the chip storage unit 4 are arranged on the circumferential orbit around which the pipette nozzle 34 moves. , In that order. Then, the pipette nozzle 34 is controlled to move to each position by the rotary elevating drive means 35 while receiving a detection signal from a liquid level detecting mechanism (not shown) or the like.

Further, the chip mounting position C of the chip storage section 4
In, by lowering the pipette nozzle, the nozzle tip loaded in the hole 22 at that position is fitted and attached to the tip of the pipette nozzle. The suction and discharge by the pipette nozzle 34 are controlled by suction and discharge pressure supply means (pump, cylinder) 37 which communicates via a tubular tube 36 disposed inside the moving arm 33.

A chip detaching device 7 is provided at a chip detaching position D of the chip storing section 4. That is, the release plate 38 is fixedly installed above the hole 22 located at the chip separation position D, and the release plate 38 is provided concentrically right above the center of the hole 22 at the chip separation position D. , A notch 39 is formed. The diameter and the opening width of the detachment hole 39 are equal to each other, so that they can pass through the pipette nozzle 34 and the nozzle tip 2
6 is formed smaller than the upper end diameter of the thick portion 27. That is, the detachment hole 39 is formed in such a size that the nozzle tip 26 is hooked on the lower surface 38 a of the detachment plate 38 when the pipette nozzle 34 is raised even when the pipette nozzle 34 is passed through.

The opening 39a forming the entrance of the detaching hole 39 is open in the direction toward the center of rotation of the chip table 21, and the opening 39a is located at a tip detaching position D which will be described later. Is the direction that coincides with the rotating orbit around the moving circle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sample storage section 3 has a magazine rack 41 which is disposed adjacent to the outside of the reaction tank 1 and is intermittently conveyed in the directions of arrows a and b by conveying means (not shown). The magazine rack 41 has a plurality of sample containers 42 loaded therein. The sample container 42 is sequentially positioned at the sample suction position E during transport, and the sample dispensing means 5 sucks the sample liquid.

The sample dispensing means 5 includes a moving arm 43,
The rotating arm 43 has a pipette nozzle 44 suspended from the rotating tip, and the moving arm 43 is driven by a rotary elevating drive means 45 so as to rotate vertically and horizontally. The sample suction position E and the sample dispensing position F of the reaction tank 1 are located on the rotation trajectory of the circumference where the pipette nozzle 44 moves, and the nozzle tip exchange mechanism 46 is located between the positions E and F. Are arranged. The pipette nozzle 44 is controlled so as to move over each position by the rotary elevation drive means 45. As is generally known, the nozzle tip exchanging mechanism 46 sequentially transfers a new nozzle tip 47 each time it is used, attaches it to the pipette nozzle 44, and discards the used nozzle tip 47 after use. It is made to let.

The pipette nozzle 44 has a tube 48
Through a suction and discharge pressure supply means (pump, cylinder) not shown. The suction and discharge of the pipette nozzle 44 are controlled by the suction and discharge pressure supply means. Further, the pipette nozzle 44 is controlled to move to each position by the rotary up / down driving means 45 while receiving a detection signal from a liquid level detection mechanism or the like (not shown). Then, a required amount of sample (blood, urine, etc.) is sequentially dispensed to each cuvette 12 from a predetermined sample container 42 using the attached nozzle tip 47.

Next, the overall operation of the automatic blood analyzer will be described. First, the pipette nozzle 4 of the sample dispensing means 5 is
With the new nozzle tip 47 attached to 4, the moving arm 43 rotates and stops at the position of the sample suction position E.
Next, the moving arm 43 descends, aspirates and dispenses a required amount of sample (blood, urine, etc.) from the sample container 42 of the sample storage unit 3, and after ascending, rotates and comes to the sample dispensing position F. Stop and descend to the predetermined cuvette 1 in the reaction tank 1.
Dispense into 2. After dispensing the sample, move arm 4
3 moves to the position of the nozzle tip replacement mechanism 46, and discards the used nozzle tip 47. When a disposable nozzle tip is not used or when a nozzle tip is not used, a nozzle tip or a pipette nozzle 44 is used.
May be used while being washed by a washing device (not shown).

On the other hand, the chip table 2 of the chip
1, the nozzle tip 26 corresponding to the reagent desired to be dispensed is positioned at the tip mounting position C, and the moving arm 33 of the reagent dispensing means 6 is moved to move the pipette nozzle 34 to the tip mounting position C. Position it directly above. Then, the pipette nozzle 34 is lowered by an appropriate distance, and the tip of the pipette nozzle 34 is inserted into the nozzle tip 26 and mounted. At this time, the position of the holding hole 22 in which the mounted pipette nozzle 34 is stored is stored in the storage device. After mounting the nozzle tip 26, the pipette nozzle 3
4, the moving arm 33 is rotated toward the reagent storage section 2, and the pipette nozzle 34 is positioned directly above the reagent suction position B.

At the reagent suction position B, a reagent bottle 17 which is desired to be dispensed by rotating and transferring the reagent table 16 as necessary is previously positioned. Then, the pipette nozzle 34 is lowered and the reagent bottle 17
Nozzle tip 26 attached to pipette nozzle 34 inside
, And a required amount of reagent is sucked into the nozzle tip 26. Then, after raising the pipette nozzle 34, the pipette nozzle 34 is rotationally moved toward the reaction tank 1 and positioned right above the reagent dispensing position A of the reaction tank 1. At this time, in the reaction tank 1, the cuvette 12 desired to be dispensed is positioned at the reagent dispensing position A in advance. Therefore,
The pipette nozzle 34 is lowered, the tip of the nozzle tip 26 is inserted into the cuvette 12, and the cuvette 1
Discharge and dispense the reagent into 2.

After the reagent has been discharged, the pipette nozzle 34 is raised, and the moving arm 33 is further turned to the chip storage section 4 side.
The pipette nozzle 34 is transferred to the chip detaching position D of the chip storage unit 4. At this time, in the chip storage section 4, the holding hole 22 stored in the storage device in advance is positioned at the chip detaching position D. Therefore, when the position of the pipette nozzle 34 reaches, for example, the vicinity of the area of the inner opening 21a of the chip storage section 4, the moving transfer of the moving arm 33 is performed simultaneously with the descending transfer. As a result, when the pipette nozzle 34 reaches the tip detaching position D, the tip of the detail 28 of the nozzle tip 26 is positioned at the center of the hole 22 (the detaching plate 38) as shown in FIG.
In this case, the details 28 of the nozzle tip 26 enter the inside of the hole 22 from the side of the hole 22 through the entrance 31 of the hole 22 and are positioned at the center of the holding port 32. Although the width of the entrance 31 is such that the details 28 of the nozzle tip 26 can enter and exit, but the thick portion 27 of the nozzle tip 26 is formed so as to be unable to enter and exit. Since it is located above the position of 31, the insertion of the nozzle tip 26 into the hole 22 is not hindered. Further, when the pipette nozzle 34 reaches the chip detachment position D, the pipette nozzle 34 is positioned so as to enter and engage with the hole 39 of the detachment plate 38.

Next, as shown in FIG.
After the nozzle tip 26 is located at the center of the second holding port 32, the pipette nozzle 34 is raised as it is.
Then, the upper part of the nozzle tip 26 is positioned on the lower surface 3 of the release plate 38.
8a, the nozzle tip 26 is a pipette nozzle 34
And falls into the hole 22 of the chip storage unit 4. Then, the tapered peripheral surface of the nozzle tip 26 descends while being guided by the peripheral edge of the holding port 32, and finally the thick portion 27 is locked in the holding port 32, and the nozzle tip 26 is
Is held in place. Since the width of the entrance 31 is smaller than that of the holding port 32, the nozzle tip 26
Since it falls without deviating from the center of 2, the holding mistake can be prevented. The nozzle tip 26 held in the holding port 32 does not come off through the entrance 31. Of course, even if the tip table 21 rotates and receives centrifugal force, the nozzle tip 26 does not separate from the holding port 32.

As a result, the nozzle tip 26 is returned to the predetermined hole 22 of the chip storage section 4 and is ready for the next reagent dispensing.

(Modification of First Embodiment) Although the entire nozzle tip 26 in the first embodiment is formed of a tapered pipe, as shown in FIG. 4, an upper end portion (a pipette nozzle mounting end side) (A part) may be a flange-shaped thick part 27, and a lower part (a discharge suction side part) may be a tapered detail 28 which is thinner than that. Further, the chip holding portion 4 in the first embodiment has the chip holding hole 22 formed on the inner peripheral edge of the chip table 21. However, as shown in FIG. The hole 22 may be formed. In this case, although the carrying direction of the nozzle tip 26 is changed, other configurations can be substantially the same as those in the first embodiment. Further, the above-described chip table 21 can be modified as follows. Two annular tip tables with different diameters
And each of the two chip tables can be driven independently.
In FIG. 5, there are formed chip holding holes 22 as shown in FIG. 5, and in the inner chip table 21, the same number of chip holding holes 22 as shown in FIG. For example, when the nozzle tip 26 is alternately mounted by alternately mounting the nozzle tip 26, when returning to the tip holding hole 22 on the outer peripheral edge of the used nozzle tip 26, the nozzle tip 26 to be used next is The held chip holding hole 22 on the inner peripheral edge can be positioned at the chip mounting position. Then, when returning the used nozzle tip 26 to the chip holding hole 22 on the inner peripheral edge, the next nozzle to be used is Since the chip holding hole 22 on the outer peripheral edge holding the chip 26 can be positioned at the chip mounting position, the nozzle chip can be quickly attached and detached. It can be performed to. This leads to quick transfer of a liquid such as a reagent.

In the first embodiment, the nozzle tip 26 to be reused is used only for the reagent dispensing means 6, and the disposable nozzle tip 4 is used for the sample dispensing means 5.
7 is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, after analyzing a special sample, there is a possibility that the same sample may be dispensed again according to the analysis result. Considering this, a liquid dispensing and distributing device similar to the above-described mechanism of the reagent dispensing means 6 can also be employed for the sample dispensing means 5.

FIG. 6 shows a modified example of the chip storage section 4. That is, a flange-like embankment 49 projecting upward is formed on the periphery of the chip table 21 in which the chip holding holes 22 are arranged. The holding port 32 of the chip holding hole 22 is located inside the embankment 49. The diameter of the holding port 32 is the same as the width of the entrance 31, and is formed with a constant width w from the entrance 31 to the holding port 32, and the width w is
The width 28 is such that the details 28 of the nozzle tip 26 can enter and exit, but the width of the thick portion 27 of the nozzle tip 26 cannot enter and exit. Then, when the details 28 of the nozzle tip 26 reach the holding port 32 through the entrance 31 and the tip detaching device 7 removes the nozzle tip 26 from the pipette nozzle 34 and attaches the nozzle tip 26 to the holding port 32, the nozzle tip 26 The outer periphery of the thick portion 27 is located inside the embankment 49 and is installed so as to coincide with or approach the inner wall surface 50 of the embankment 49. Therefore, the nozzle tip 26 held in the holding port 32 does not come off through the entrance 31. Even if the chip table 21 rotates and receives centrifugal force, it is locked on the inner wall surface 50 of the embankment 49, and the nozzle chip 26 does not come off from the holding port 32.

FIG. 7 shows another modification of the chip storage section 4. As shown in FIG. This is a rotating chip table 21
Instead, a rack-shaped magazine 51 is used, and the entrance / exit 31 and the holding port 32 of the chip holding hole 22 are formed on one side edge of the magazine 51. The magazine 51 is moved linearly so that the center of the predetermined chip holding hole 22 is located at the chip separation position D.

In the first embodiment, the detachment plate 38 as the chip detaching means is fixedly installed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the detachable plate 38 may be vertically movable. If the detaching plate 38 can be moved up and down, the moving range of the reagent dispensing means 6 having the pipette nozzle 34 in the up-down direction can be adjusted in the case of the first embodiment in which the detaching plate 38 is fixedly installed. Since it can be shorter than the moving range, it contributes to downsizing of the device.

In the above embodiment, the chip mounting position and the detaching position are set at different positions.
The present invention is not limited to this, and if the apparatus is not excessively large and complicated, it can be located at the same position.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This is an example of a reagent dispensing section in an automatic blood analyzer, in which a sample storage section is incorporated in a reagent storage section.
In this reagent storage section, as in the first embodiment, reagent bottles 63 are concentrically arranged at equal intervals on the periphery of the reagent table 62 of the reagent storage section 61, and the reagent table 62 is rotated. By doing so, the selected reagent bottle 63 can be positioned at the reagent suction position.

An inlet tube 65 is integrally or detachably attached to the suction port 64 of the reagent bottle 63. The suction port 64 of each reagent bottle 63 forms a storage hole 67 in which a nozzle tip 66 described later is mounted.

The nozzle tip 66 has a flange 68 formed at the upper end, a lower portion formed in a tapered shape, a lower portion of the tapered portion as a detail 69, and a portion above the tapered portion as a thick portion 70. It is. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the nozzle tip 66 is connected to the suction port 6 of the reagent storage 61.
The details 69 are inserted into the introduction pipe 65 provided in the storage hole 4 (storage hole 67), and the introduction pipe 65 is loaded. Nozzle tip 66
Is inserted into the suction port 64 via the introduction pipe 65, so that the nozzle tip 66 does not make much contact with the reagent solution 73, and only the tip portion is immersed.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the suction port 64 of the reagent bottle 63 is formed by an inner hole of the introduction tube 65, and the periphery of the opening of the suction port 64 is coaxial with the suction port 64. The guide cylinder 75 is integrally erected. The side wall of the guide cylinder 75 is formed by cutting out a nozzle tip entrance 74 having a narrow opening from the upper end to a predetermined depth. The size of the entrance 74 is such that the width 69 can pass through a detail 69 consisting of a lower portion of the tapered portion of the nozzle tip 66, and the thick portion 70 and the flange 68 relatively above the tapered portion of the nozzle tip 66 do not pass through. , Form a notch for transferring the nozzle tip. The upper portion of the guide cylinder 75 is formed to be larger than the diameter of the flange 68 of the nozzle tip 66,
The lower part of the guide tube 75 is a flange 68 of the nozzle tip 66.
Is formed smaller than the diameter of the nozzle tip 66 to form a stepped portion 76 for locking the flange 68 of the nozzle tip 66. Therefore, the flange 68 of the nozzle tip 66 is connected to the storage hole 6.
7 at the step 76 at the upper end, and the nozzle tip 66
Can be held. The nozzle tip 66 is detachably attached to the pipette nozzle 81 by fitting the tip of the pipette nozzle 81 of the reagent dispensing means 80. The pipette nozzle 81 is formed with a smaller diameter than the flange 68 of the nozzle tip 66.

On the other hand, the reagent dispensing means 80 has a moving arm 83 to which bidirectional rotation and elevating operation can be given by the rotary elevating drive means 82 as in the first embodiment described above. A pipette nozzle 81 is suspended from the tip. The pipette nozzle 81 is connected to a suction / discharge pressure supply unit (not shown) through a tube 84.

Above the reagent suction position of the reagent storage section 61, a detachment plate 85 of the chip detachment device is fixedly installed. The detaching plate 85 is formed with a notching hole 86 coaxially located directly above the storage hole 67 of the reagent bottle 63 at the reagent suction position. This release hole 8
6 has an opening on the side where the pipette nozzle 81 is carried into the reagent suction position, and has the same diameter and opening width, which is sufficient to allow the pipette nozzle 81 to pass through and the thick portion 70 of the nozzle tip 66. It is formed smaller than the diameter. That is, even if the detachment hole 86 can pass through the pipette nozzle 66, when the pipette nozzle 66 is raised, the nozzle tip 66
Is formed in a size that can be hooked on the lower surface 87 of the separation plate 85. At that time, the pipette nozzle 66
The detachable plate 85 is installed right above the storage hole 67 at such a height that does not fall out of the storage hole 67. Further, the opening direction to the side of the detachment hole 86 and the opening direction to the side of the entrance 74 of the storage hole 67 are the same, and coincide with the rotation locus of the pipette nozzle 66.

Next, the case where a reagent is dispensed will be described. The reagent table 62 is previously rotated and transferred as needed, and the reagent bottle 63 desired to be dispensed is positioned at the reagent suction position. At a later time, the moving arm 83 is rotated by the rotary elevating drive means 82 to move the pipette nozzle 81 to the reagent suction position, and to position the pipette nozzle 81 at the reagent suction position. At this time, the pipette nozzle 81 is
5 is located in the separation hole 86 and is located directly above the nozzle chip 66 held in the storage hole 67 of the reagent bottle 63. Next, the pipette nozzle 81 is lowered, the lower end thereof is inserted into the nozzle tip 66 and fitted therein, the nozzle tip 66 is attached to the pipette nozzle 81, and then the reagent is sucked into the nozzle tip 66.

Then, the pipette nozzle 81 with the nozzle tip 66 mounted thereon is raised within a range where the lower end of the nozzle tip 66 reaches the entrance 74 without the nozzle tip 66 hitting the detachment plate 85. After this, reagent bottle 6
The pipette nozzle 81 is moved to the side of 3. At this time, when the lower end of the nozzle tip 66 is higher than the upper surface of the guide tube 75 of the reagent bottle 63, the nozzle tip 66 passes through the side without passing through the entrance 74, but when the lower end is lower than the upper end of the guide tube 75 of the reagent bottle 63, It exits sideways through the doorway 74. Thereafter, the well-known reagent dispensing is performed by the reagent dispensing means 80.

Next, a case where the nozzle tip 66 is returned to the original storage hole 67 of the reagent bottle 63 after the dispensing of the reagent will be described. First, the moving arm 83 is moved horizontally or obliquely toward the reagent suction position (chip detaching position), and the nozzle tip 66 is moved under the detaching plate 85 from the side of the reagent bottle 63 to the detail 69 of the nozzle tip 66. To the center of the storage hole 67 through the entrance 74,
The pipette nozzle 66 is positioned in the separation hole 86.

At this time, the nozzle tip 66 can be positioned directly above the reagent bottle 63, but the details 69 of the nozzle tip 66 can be passed through the entrance 74 from the side of the guide tube 75 of the reagent bottle 63. It is desirable that the nozzle tip 66 is located at the center position in that the nozzle tip 66 can be reliably mounted when the nozzle tip 66 is subsequently dropped and mounted in the hole 67.

Thereafter, the pipette nozzle 66 is raised. Then, the flange 68 of the nozzle tip 66 comes into contact with the lower surface 87 of the detachment plate 85, separates from the pipette nozzle 66, falls into the storage hole 67 immediately below, and is locked on the upper end surface of the stepped portion 76, and the nozzle tip 66 returns Is returned to the storage hole 67 of the reagent bottle 63. In the second embodiment as well, the mounting position of the nozzle tip 66 and the detachment position match, but in spite of this, there is no need to move the detachment plate 85.

In the second embodiment, the mounting position and the detaching position of the nozzle tip 66 are set to coincide with each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this. By forming the entrance 74 similarly on the center side of the radius of rotation of the reagent table 62, it is possible to allow the nozzle tip 66 to enter and leave the guide cylinder 75 and to simplify the height control. .

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a device for dispensing and dispensing a liquid by attaching a nozzle tip to a pipette nozzle, a member such as a detaching plate is used when the tip is attached and when the tip is detached. Since there is no need to move to another place,
Therefore, there is no need to provide a special mechanism such as an actuator, and the mechanism can be simplified. In particular, if the tip mounting position and the detaching position are made different, the mechanism and operation can be further simplified. In addition, since the number of operation procedures particularly at the time of chip detachment is reduced, the time required for operation at the time of chip detachment can be shortened, and the efficiency of liquid dispensing and distribution can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an automatic blood analyzer according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the chip detachment section and the chip detachment procedure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the chip detachment unit.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a chip detaching portion according to a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a chip storage unit according to another modification.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a chip storage section of still another modification.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a chip storage portion of still another modification.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of a reagent dispensing unit in the automatic blood analyzer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a main part of the reagent dispensing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reaction tank, 2 ... Reagent storage part, 3 ... Sample storage part, 4
... Chip storage unit, 5 ... Sample dispensing means, 6 ... Reagent dispensing means, 7 ... Chip detaching device, 11 ... Cuvette table, 12 ... Cuvette (reaction vessel), 13 ... Cuvette transport driving means, A ... Reagent dispensing Position, 16: Reagent table, 17: Reagent bottle, 18: Reagent bottle transport drive means, 21: Chip table, 22: Chip holding hole, 23: Rotation drive means, 26: Nozzle chip, 27 ...
Thick part, 28 ... detail, 31 ... doorway, 32 ... holding port, 3
4: Pipette nozzle, 38: release plate, 39: release hole,
Reference numeral 61: reagent storage section, 62: reagent table, 63: reagent bottle, 64: suction port, 66: nozzle tip, 67: storage hole, 68: flange, 69: detail, 70: thick section, 74: entrance / exit, 80: reagent dispensing means, 85: detachment plate, B: reagent suction position, D: tip detachment position.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pipette nozzle connected to a suction / discharge mechanism, a tip storage section for holding a nozzle tip detachable from the pipette nozzle, and a nozzle tip mounted on the pipette nozzle to suck a liquid such as a reagent. In a liquid dispensing and dispensing apparatus having a transfer mechanism for returning a nozzle chip to the chip storage section after dispensing and discharging and dispensing, a nozzle chip transfer notch formed in the chip storage section; A liquid dispensing and dispensing device, comprising: a nozzle tip detaching means fixedly or vertically movable above an axis of the nozzle tip accommodating position of the chip accommodating part for accommodating the returned nozzle tip. . 2. The liquid dispensing and distributing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chip storage section also serves as a liquid storage section for storing a liquid such as a reagent. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a position at which the nozzle tip held by the chip storage portion is mounted on the pipette nozzle is different from a position at which the nozzle tip is detached from the pipette nozzle by the nozzle tip detaching means. The liquid dispensing and dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein