JPH11148896A - Cell for measuring optical properties of liquid and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To prevent a change in film thickness due to overflow of a liquid to be measured and a change in concentration due to volatilization and drying, and to accurately measure optical characteristics of the liquid. SOLUTION: A first plate 4 is mounted on a second plate 6, and the first and second plates 4 and 6 are formed at least in the center by a transparent material so as to be flat. The first plate 4 has a projection 8 in the center of the lower surface, and the second plate 6 has a recess 10 in the center of the upper surface in which the projection 8 of the first plate 4 fits. ing. The lower surface 402 of the first plate 4 surrounding the projection 8 abuts against the upper surface 9 of the second plate 6 surrounding the recess 10, and
A gap 16 having a uniform height is formed between the distal end surface 12 of the convex portion 8 and the bottom surface 14 of the concave portion 10, and a side surface 18 of the convex portion 8 of the first plate 4 is formed.
A space 20 between the first plate body 6 and the side surface 19 of the recess 10 of the second plate body 6
Are formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cell for measuring an optical characteristic, in which a liquid for measuring an optical characteristic by irradiating light is stored in a film form, and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the process of toning a coloring solution such as paints, inks, and plastics, it is necessary to accurately grasp the color of the coloring solution. One method is to irradiate the coloring solution with light. There is known a method of spectrally analyzing transmitted light (for example, JP-A-8-94441). In this type of color measurement method, a color solution is stored in a color measurement cell, light is transmitted through the color measurement cell, and the transmitted light is detected by a sensor to measure the spectral transmittance of the color solution.

Here, for example, cells as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be used as colorimetric cells. FIG. 5 is a side view showing an example of a conventional colorimetric cell, and FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a lower glass plate constituting the colorimetric cell of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the color measurement cell 102 includes an upper glass plate 104 and a lower glass plate 106. On the upper surface of the lower glass plate 106, as shown in FIG. Four projections 108 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the height of the projections 108 defines a distance between the upper glass plate 104 and the lower glass plate 106.

[0004] The coloring solution to be measured is dropped at the center of the lower glass plate 106, and the upper glass plate 10
4, the colored solution 110 is stored in a film-like state in the gap between the upper glass plate 104 and the lower glass plate 106. In this state, light is incident on the upper glass plate 104 almost vertically from above the upper glass plate 104, and the upper glass plate 1
04, the colored solution 110, and the light transmitted through the lower glass plate 106 are received below the lower glass plate 106, and spectral analysis is performed.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional colorimetric cell 102, when the coloring solution 110 is dropped on the lower glass plate 106 to cover the upper glass plate 104, the extra coloring solution 110 In addition to flowing out from the gap between the upper glass plate 104 and the lower glass plate 106, the coloring solution 110 also gets on the upper surface of the projection 108. Therefore, the coloring solution 110 is interposed between the upper surface of the projection 108 and the lower surface of the upper glass plate 104, and the distance between the upper glass plate 104 and the lower glass plate 106 changes. A problem arises when the transmittance is affected and the measurement result is inaccurate.

Further, since the coloring solution 110 is in contact with air at the outer peripheral portions of the upper glass plate 104 and the lower glass plate 106, volatilization and drying of the coloring solution 110 proceed at this point, and the concentration of the coloring solution 110 changes. Therefore, the measurement accuracy is reduced. Since the coloring solution 110 contained in the colorimetric cell 102 is in the form of a film and is extremely small, even if volatilization or drying in the outer peripheral portion, the effect is large.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to prevent a change in film thickness due to overflow of a liquid to be measured and a change in concentration due to volatilization and drying to accurately remove liquid. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid optical characteristic measuring cell capable of measuring the optical characteristics of a liquid, and to provide a production method thereof.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cell for measuring an optical characteristic, in which a liquid for measuring an optical characteristic by irradiating light is contained in a film form. The plate body is configured to be placed on a second plate body, and the first and second plate bodies are formed of a transparent material at least at a central portion, and the first plate body is formed of a lower surface. While having a convex portion in the center portion, having a lower surface side contact portion on the lower surface around the convex portion, the second plate body has a concave portion in which the convex portion is accommodated in the central portion of the upper surface, An upper surface side abutting portion is provided on an upper surface around the concave portion, and a tip surface of the convex portion and a bottom surface of the concave portion are formed as flat surfaces, and a first plate member is formed on the second plate member.
The convex portion is accommodated in the concave portion, and a gap having a uniform height is formed between the distal end surface of the convex portion and the bottom surface of the concave portion in a state where the lower contact portion and the upper contact portion are placed in contact with each other. It is characterized in that it is formed and that a space communicating with the gap is formed around the gap between the side face of the projection and the side face of the recess. Further, the present invention provides a state in which the first plate body is placed on the second plate body with the convex part being accommodated in the concave part and the lower surface side contact part and the upper surface side contact part being in contact with each other. In at least one of the first plate member and the second plate member, an air vent path communicating the space with the outside of the first plate member or with the space and the outside of the second plate member is provided. It is characterized by the following. Further, the invention is characterized in that the air vent path is constituted by a groove formed on the upper surface of the upper surface side contact portion. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the side surface of the concave portion is formed so as to be inclined outward so as to move away from the central portion as it goes upward. Further, the present invention is characterized in that both the convex portion and the concave portion are formed in a circular shape in plan view. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the outer shapes of the first and second plate bodies are formed with substantially the same contour in plan view. Further, according to the present invention, the height of the gap is 1 μm
To 500 μm. Further, the present invention is characterized in that at least a central portion of the first and second plate bodies is formed of quartz glass or BK7 glass. Further, the invention is characterized in that a portion surrounding the concave portion of the second plate is formed of a ceramic material. Further, the present invention is characterized in that a water repellent treatment is applied to the entire lower surface including the convex portion of the first plate and the entire upper surface including the concave portion of the second plate. Further, the invention is characterized in that the liquid is ink.

Further, the present invention provides an optical characteristic measuring cell comprising a first plate and a second plate, wherein the first plate is placed on the second plate. A method of manufacturing, comprising preparing flat third and fourth plates made of a transparent material, wherein the fourth plates have outer dimensions smaller than the outer dimensions of the third plates. Then, the fourth plate is bonded by bringing the plate surfaces into close contact with the center of the third plate, thereby forming the first plate, and the fourth plate being inward. An accommodating hole is formed through and the thickness is
A flat fifth plate body slightly larger than the thickness of the plate body;
A flat sixth plate made of a transparent material is prepared, and the fifth plate and the sixth plate are joined by closely contacting the plate surfaces, thereby forming the second plate. It is characterized in that it is formed. Further, the present invention is characterized in that both the third plate and the fourth plate are formed in a circular shape in plan view and are joined coaxially. Further, the invention is characterized in that the fifth plate body and the sixth plate body are both formed in a circular shape in plan view and are coaxially joined. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the thickness of the fifth plate is larger than the thickness of the fourth plate by 1 μm to 500 μm.
Further, the invention is characterized in that the third to sixth plate members are formed of quartz glass or BK7 glass. Further, the invention is characterized in that the fifth plate is formed of a ceramic material. Further, the present invention is characterized in that a groove extending from the hole to an outer edge of the fourth plate is formed on a surface opposite to a surface where the fourth plate is closely attached to the fifth plate. And

In the cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to the present invention,
Since a space is formed between the side surface of the convex portion of the first plate and the side surface of the concave portion of the second plate, the liquid to be measured is dropped into the concave portion of the second plate, When the plate is placed on the second plate, the liquid overflowing from the gap between the convex portion of the first plate and the concave portion of the second plate is stored in the space. Therefore, the liquid does not overflow out of the recess, and the overflowed liquid intervenes in the abutting portion between the first and second plate bodies as in the related art, so that the size of the gap changes and the thickness of the liquid layer is reduced. Does not occur. Also, since a sufficient amount of liquid can be stored in the space, even if the liquid volatilizes and dries in the space, the liquid contained in the gap is not immediately affected, so The measurement operation can be completed before the effects of volatilization and drying appear. In the method for producing a cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to the present invention, the fourth to sixth plates are used to easily produce the cell for measuring optical properties.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on embodiments with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional side view showing a state where a first plate is separated from a second plate, and FIG.
Partial enlarged cross-sectional view of a state in which the plate body is mounted on the second plate body.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the second plate body. The cell 2 for measuring the optical properties of the liquid is for storing ink (liquid according to the present invention) to be measured by irradiating light in the form of a film. It is configured to be placed on the body 6. Each of the first and second plate bodies 4 and 6 is formed of quartz glass and has the same diameter and is circular in plan view.

The upper surface of the first plate 4 is formed as a flat surface,
The first plate body 4 has a convex portion 8 having a circular shape in plan view at the center of the lower surface,
A lower surface side contact portion 402 is provided around the convex portion 8. The tip surface 12 of the projection 8 is formed as a flat surface, and the side surface 18 of the projection 8
Is formed of a cylindrical surface, the lower contact portion 402 is formed of an annular flat surface, and the distal end surface 12, the lower contact portion 402, and the first
The upper surfaces of the plate members 4 are parallel to each other.

The lower surface of the second plate 6 is formed as a flat surface,
The second plate 6 has a concave portion 10 having a circular shape in a plan view in which the convex portion 8 is accommodated at the center of the upper surface, and has an upper surface side contact portion 9 around the concave portion 10. The bottom surface 14 of the concave portion 10 is formed with a flat surface, the side surface 19 of the concave portion 10 is formed with a cylindrical surface, the upper surface side contact portion 9 is formed with a flat surface, and the bottom surface 14, the upper surface side contact portion 9 and the second The lower surfaces of the plate members 6 are parallel. As shown in FIG. 3, four grooves 7 (corresponding to the air vent path in the claims) extending from the side surface 19 of the concave portion 10 to the outer peripheral surface of the second plate body 6 are formed in the upper surface side contact portion 9. They are formed at equal intervals.

Height A of projection 8 of first plate 4 (FIG. 1)
Is 1 μm to 500 μm lower than the depth B of the concave portion 10 of the second plate 6. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the first plate 4 is accommodated in the second plate 6, the projection 8 is accommodated in the recess 10, and the lower surface contact portion 9 and the upper surface contact portion 402 are accommodated. A gap 16 having a uniform height of about 1 μm to 500 μm is formed between the tip end surface 12 of the convex portion 8 and the bottom surface 14 of the concave portion 10 in a state of being abutted. Further, the diameter of the concave portion 10 of the second plate 6 is sufficiently larger than the diameter of the convex portion 8 of the first plate 4, and therefore, as shown in FIG.
Is placed on the second plate body 6 and communicates with the gap 16 between the side surface 18 of the projection 8 of the first plate body 4 and the side surface 19 of the concave portion 10 of the second plate body 6. An annular space 20 is formed.

When colorimetry of ink is performed using the optical characteristic measuring cell 2 having such a configuration, first, the first plate 4
Is detached from the second plate 6, the second plate 6 is disposed horizontally, and several drops of the ink to be measured are dropped into the concave portion 10 of the second plate 6. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the first plate body 4 is accommodated in the convex portion 8 in the concave portion 10, and the lower surface side contact portion 9 and the upper surface side contact portion 402 are brought into contact with each other to form the second plate member 4. Place on top of 6. Here, when the first plate 4 is placed on the second plate 6, the air in the concave portion 10 is smoothly discharged through the groove 7.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the ink 21 is accommodated in the form of a film in the gap 16 between the tip end face 12 of the projection 8 and the bottom face 14 of the recess 10, while the gap 16 is
Of the ink 21 overflowing from the portion of the first plate 4
Is accommodated in a space 20 formed between the side surface 18 of the second plate body 6 and the side surface 19 of the concave portion 10 of the second plate body 6. The colorimetry is performed on the optical property measuring cell 2 containing the ink as described above.
The irradiation is performed by irradiating light from above the first plate 4 to pass through the cell 2 for measuring the optical properties of the liquid, and detecting and detecting the transmitted light below the second plate 6.

Therefore, in the optical characteristic measuring cell 2 of this embodiment, the ink does not overflow out of the concave portion 10,
The first and second plates 4 are filled with ink overflowing in the conventional manner,
6 does not cause the problem that the size of the gap 16 changes and the thickness of the ink layer changes, and colorimetry can be performed accurately. Further, since a sufficient amount of ink can be stored in the space 20, even if the ink volatilizes and dries in the space 20,
The ink contained in the gap 16 is not affected immediately, so that the measurement operation can be completed before the influence of volatilization and drying appears, and accurate color measurement can be performed.

The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, this is merely an example, and the present invention can be implemented in various forms without being limited to this example. For example, it is also effective to perform a water-repellent treatment on the surfaces of the first and second plate bodies 4 and 6 so that the optical property measuring cell 2 can be efficiently cleaned. The first and second plate members 4 and 6 may be formed of, for example, BK7 glass, instead of being formed of quartz glass. Further, by inclining the side surface 18 of the concave portion 10 of the second plate body 6 outward as shown by a two-dot chain line W in FIG. 2, it is possible to enhance the cleaning property in the concave portion 10. It is.
Then, the peripheral portion 22 of the concave portion 10 including the upper surface side contact portion 9 and the groove 7 of the second plate body 6 shown in FIG. 1 is formed of a ceramic material, and the optical characteristic measuring cell 2 is used repeatedly. Wear can be prevented, and the durability of the optical property measuring cell 2 can be increased. In addition, since light only needs to be transmitted at the location of the convex portion 8 of the first plate 4, a portion of the first plate 4 around the convex 8 and the recess 10 of the second plate 6 The peripheral portion may be formed of an opaque material. Further, the cell 2 for measuring the optical properties of this liquid
Can be performed not only by the transmission method but also by the reflection method. In this case, for example, a white reflector is arranged on the lower surface side of the second plate member 6, and the color is measured above the first plate member 4. It is sufficient that the light incident from above is reflected upward by this reflector and detected above the first plate 4.

Such a cell for measuring the optical properties of a liquid is as follows:
Based on the method for producing the liquid optical characteristic measuring cell 2 according to the present invention, it can be easily produced, for example, by the following procedure. FIG. 4 is a process chart showing an example of a method for producing a cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to the present invention, and shows a state in which each material at each stage is viewed from the side. In the drawings, the same elements as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this method of manufacturing a cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid, first, FIG.
As shown in (A), third, fourth, and sixth plates 24, 26, and 30 made of quartz glass or BK7 glass are prepared, and a fifth plate 28 made of ceramic is prepared. I do. In the present embodiment, the third, fourth, and sixth plate members 24, 26, and 30 are all flat surfaces having upper and lower surfaces parallel to each other and formed in a circular shape in plan view. The fifth plate body 30 is formed in an annular shape with flat upper and lower surfaces parallel to each other, and a hole is formed at the center thereof, and reference numeral 18 denotes an inner peripheral surface thereof. The third, fifth, and sixth plates 24, 28, 30 have the same diameter, and the fourth plate 26
Have the third, fifth, and sixth plate bodies 24, 28, 3
0 smaller than the diameter. The thickness of the fifth plate 28 is 1 μm to 500 μm larger than the thickness of the fourth plate 26, and the inner diameter of the hole of the fifth plate 30 is larger than the diameter of the fourth plate 26, Four grooves 7 extending from the peripheral surface 18 to the outer peripheral surface are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the upper surface of the plate body 30.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the plate surfaces are brought into close contact with each other at the center of the third plate member 24, and the fourth plate member 26 is arranged to join the two plate members 24, 26 together. Thus, the first plate body 4 is formed. The third and fourth plates 24 and 26 are joined by, for example, UV using an adhesive that is cured by ultraviolet rays.
Bonding and anodic bonding can be performed. Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the fifth plate 28 is arranged and joined to form the recess 10 on the sixth plate 30 to form the second plate 6. . The joining of the fifth plate 30 and the sixth plate 28 is also performed by the third and fourth plates 24 and 26.
Can be performed by the same technique as in the case of bonding. The first plate body 4 is placed on the second plate body 6 thus formed, with the fourth plate body 26 facing down and housed inside the fifth plate body 28. By doing so, the cell for measuring optical properties of the liquid shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is completed.

In addition to the method described here, the first and second methods for producing a liquid optical characteristic measuring cell include grinding a plate made of a transparent material such as quartz glass. It is also possible to manufacture the plate bodies 4 and 6 of FIG. In that case, for example, the first plate body 4 is formed by grinding a peripheral portion of a plate member having a circular shape in a plan view to form a convex portion 8 at a central portion. The second plate 6 is formed by grinding to form the recess 10.

[0022]

As described above, in the cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to the present invention, a space is formed between the side surface of the convex portion of the first plate and the side surface of the concave portion of the second plate. So
After the liquid to be measured is dropped into the concave portion of the second plate,
When the plate is placed on the second plate, the liquid overflowing from the gap between the convex portion of the first plate and the concave portion of the second plate is stored in the space. Therefore, the liquid does not overflow out of the recess, and the overflowed liquid intervenes in the abutting portion between the first and second plate bodies as in the related art, so that the size of the gap changes and the thickness of the liquid layer is reduced. This does not cause a problem that the liquid is changed, and the optical characteristics of the liquid can be accurately measured. Also, since a sufficient amount of liquid can be stored in the space, even if the liquid volatilizes and dries in the space, the liquid contained in the gap is not immediately affected, so The measurement operation can be completed before the effects of volatilization and drying appear, and the optical characteristics of the liquid can be accurately measured. The liquid optical property measuring cell of the present invention can be easily manufactured by the liquid optical property measuring cell manufacturing method of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view showing a state where a first plate is separated from a second plate.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state where a first plate is placed on a second plate.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second plate body.

FIG. 4 is a process chart showing an example of a method for producing a cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an example of a conventional colorimetric cell.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a lower glass plate constituting the color measuring cell of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Cell for measuring optical properties of liquid 4 First plate 6 Second plate 8 Convex portion 10 Concave 16 Gap 18, 19 Side surface 20 Space 24 Third plate 26 Fourth plate 28 Fifth plate Body 30 Sixth plate

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A cell for measuring an optical property for irradiating a liquid for measuring an optical property by irradiating light in a film form, wherein a first plate is placed on a second plate. The first and second plate members are formed at least at a central portion of a transparent material, and the first plate member has a convex portion at a central portion of a lower surface,
A lower surface side contact portion is provided on a lower surface around the convex portion, and the second plate body has a concave portion for accommodating the convex portion at a central portion of the upper surface, and an upper surface side on the upper surface around the concave portion. A front end surface of the convex portion and a bottom surface of the concave portion are formed as flat surfaces; a first plate body is accommodated on the second plate body, and the convex portion is accommodated in the concave portion; A gap having a uniform height is formed between the distal end surface of the convex portion and the bottom surface of the concave portion in a state where the side contact portion and the upper surface contact portion are placed in contact with each other, and the side surface of the convex portion is formed. A space that communicates with the gap is formed between the gap and a side surface of the recess around the gap. 2. A state in which the first plate body is placed on the second plate body with the convex portion being accommodated in the concave portion and the lower surface side contact portion and the upper surface side contact portion being in contact with each other. , At least one of the first plate member and the second plate member is provided with an air vent path communicating the space with the outside of the first plate member or the space with the outside of the second plate member. The cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to claim 2, wherein the air vent path is formed by a groove formed on the upper surface of the upper surface side contact portion. 4. The optical characteristic of the liquid according to claim 1, wherein the side surface of the concave portion is formed so as to be inclined outwardly away from the central portion as it goes upward. Measurement cell. 5. The cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to claim 1, wherein both the convex portion and the concave portion are formed in a circular shape in plan view. 6. The optical characteristic measurement of a liquid according to claim 1, wherein the outer shapes of the first and second plate bodies are formed with substantially the same outline in plan view. Cell. 7. The height of the gap is 1 μm to 500 μm.
The cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein m is m. 8. The optical characteristic of the liquid according to claim 1, wherein at least a central portion of the first and second plate bodies is formed of quartz glass or BK7 glass. Measurement cell. 9. The cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to claim 1, wherein a portion surrounding the concave portion of the second plate is formed of a ceramic material. 10. The water repellent treatment is applied to the entire lower surface including the convex portion of the first plate and the entire upper surface including the concave portion of the second plate. 10. A cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to any one of the above items 9 to 9. 11. The cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is ink. 12. A method for producing a cell for measuring optical characteristics, comprising a first plate and a second plate, wherein the first plate is placed on the second plate. Preparing flat third and fourth plate members made of a transparent material, wherein the fourth plate member has an outer dimension smaller than that of the third plate member; The fourth plate member is joined by bringing the plate surfaces into close contact with the center of the plate member of No. 3, thereby forming the first plate member, and the hole in which the fourth plate member can be accommodated inside. Is formed through,
A flat fifth plate body having a thickness slightly larger than the thickness of the fourth plate body, and a flat sixth plate body made of a transparent material are prepared. 6. The method for producing a cell for measuring optical characteristics of a liquid according to claim 6, wherein the plate members of No. 6 are bonded together by bringing the plate surfaces into close contact with each other, thereby forming the second plate member. 13. The liquid optical characteristic measuring cell according to claim 12, wherein both the third plate and the fourth plate are formed in a circular shape in plan view and are coaxially joined. Production method. 14. The cell for measuring optical properties of liquid according to claim 12, wherein the fifth plate and the sixth plate are both formed in a circular shape in plan view and are coaxially joined. Method of manufacturing. 15. The liquid optical characteristic measuring cell according to claim 12, wherein the thickness of the fifth plate is larger than the thickness of the fourth plate by 1 μm to 500 μm. Production method. 16. The liquid optical characteristic measuring cell according to claim 12, wherein the third to sixth plate bodies are formed of quartz glass or BK7 glass. Production method. 17. The device according to claim 12, wherein the fifth plate is formed of a ceramic material.
13. A method for producing a cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to claim 1. 18. A groove extending from the hole to an outer edge of the fourth plate body is formed on a surface opposite to a surface of the fourth plate body that is in close contact with the fifth plate body. A method for producing a cell for measuring optical properties of a liquid according to any one of claims 12 to 17.