JP3957896B2 - Automatic dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid sample such as a medicine or a specimen.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An automatic dispensing apparatus is known as an apparatus used when systematically performing tests such as biochemical reactions of substances. This automatic dispensing device automatically performs operations such as taking out and transferring liquid samples such as drugs and specimens stored in a sample storage section of a sample storage body. The sample storage body is provided with a large number of sample storage portions such as small recesses, and the liquid sample in the recesses is sucked and discharged by a dispensing tip attached to the dispensing head, and various kinds of dispensing are performed. Note operation is to be performed. The dispensing tip is used by replacing with a new one every time the kind of liquid sample to be dispensed changes or every dispensing operation.
[0003]
By the way, the dispensing tip of the dispensing head needs to be appropriately replaced. This replacement is performed by removing a used dispensing tip from the dispensing head and then mounting a new dispensing tip on the dispensing head.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The dispensing head has a number of dispensing tips corresponding to the arrangement of the sample storage portions of the sample storage body in a grid pattern, or a dispensing tip for a part of the sample storage portion of the sample storage body. Some of the dispensing heads are used depending on the content of the dispensing operation, but the dispensing tips can be replaced quickly and reliably with any dispensing head. It is desirable to do.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic dispensing device that can quickly and reliably attach a dispensing tip to a dispensing head.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The automatic dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a tip stocker stocks a tip holder having a dispensing stage for performing a dispensing operation of a liquid sample in a sample storage portion of a sample storage body and an upper plate for holding a dispensing tip. And a tip change stage, a transfer head that picks up the tip holder stocked in the tip stocker and transports it to the tip change stage, and moves between the tip change stage and the dispensing stage to perform dispensing work. A dispensing head to be performed; and a vertical movement means for moving the dispensing head up and down relatively with respect to the chip holder of the chip replacement stage, and dispensing to the nozzle of the dispensing head on the chip replacement stage a support member for supporting the top plate from below the upper plate by the load is in contact with the lower surface of the top plate so as not deflect downward when mounting the chip is provided, wherein Support member is a pin-like projections, and a support for installing a plurality Hontate set the pin-like projections on the tip exchange stage, provided elastic support means for resiliently supporting the supporting member vertically movably .
[0008]
In the present invention having the above-described configuration, the dispensing head provided in the tip holder is mounted on the dispensing head by moving the dispensing head up and down relatively with respect to the tip holder in the tip exchange stage. In this case, by supporting the upper plate of the chip holder from below with the support member, when the dispensing head is lowered and the dispensing tip is mounted, the upper plate bends downward due to the load of the dispensing head. This prevents the dispensing tip from being securely attached to the dispensing head. In this case, it is preferable that the pin serving as the support member is installed on the support body held by the holding means to generate an appropriate cushioning force on the dispensing tip and to be securely attached to the dispensing head. it can.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2A and 2B are partial perspective views of a dispensing head of the automatic dispensing device, and FIG. 3 is the automatic dispensing device. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the automatic dispensing device, FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the automatic dispensing device, FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the plate of the automatic dispensing device, and FIG. Is a perspective view of a support portion of the automatic dispensing device, FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a support portion on which the tip holder of the automatic dispensing device is placed, and FIG. 7C is a view of the automatic dispensing device. FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are side views of the tip replacement stage, and FIG. 14 is a piping diagram of the cylinder. Among these, FIGS. 8 to 13 show the dispensing tip mounting operation in the order of operation.
[0010]
First, the overall structure of the automatic dispensing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, an automatic dispensing apparatus 1 includes a frame 2 configured by combining mold materials and a base plate 3 fixed to the frame 2. The automatic dispensing apparatus 1 is divided into three parts, that is, a dispensing part A, a stock part B, and a processing part C by a frame 2 and a base plate 3. The dispensing unit A is disposed on the base plate 3 and performs a dispensing operation to a plate which is a sample storage body storing a sample. Stock part B stocks the plates and dispensing tips used in dispensing part A. The processing section C is sent to another apparatus such as an incubator after the dispensing operation, and performs processing such as analysis and washing of the returned plate.
[0011]
Next, the dispensing part A will be described with reference to FIG. On the base plate 3, three stages on which the plate 4 is placed, that is, a dispensing stage 10, a buffer stage 11, and a standby stage 12 are provided. On the dispensing stage 10, a plate 4 for a medicine or sample to be dispensed is placed. The buffer stage 11 serves as a buffer for temporarily placing the plate 4 placed in the dispensing stage 10. The standby stage 12 is a stage for standby of the plate 4 that is transported to the lower processing section C through a transport hole 3 a provided in the base plate 3.
[0012]
On the side of the dispensing stage 10, a moving table 13 is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the dispensing stage 10. The moving table 13 is equipped with a box 14A in which a first dispensing head 14 (described later) is stored and a box 16A in which a second dispensing head 16 (described later) is stored. The head 14 and the second dispensing head 16 are individually moved on the dispensing stage 10 along the moving table 13 in the Y direction by driving means (not shown). That is, the dispensing stage 10 has a common work range for the first dispensing head 14 and the second dispensing head 16. On the lower surfaces of the dispensing heads 14 and 16, a nozzle 17 is provided as a mounting portion for detachably mounting the dispensing tip 15 (see also FIG. 10). In FIG. 11 to FIG. 13, the box 14A is omitted.
[0013]
Next, the dispensing tip 15 will be described with reference to FIG. The dispensing tip 15 is a taper-shaped nozzle component that is tapered, and is a so-called disposable component that is replaceably attached to the dispensing head and is replaced every time it is used. As shown in FIG. 2A, the first dispensing head 14 is provided with a plurality of dispensing tips 15 in a lattice shape (in this embodiment, 8 × 12 rows, 96 in total). As shown in FIG. 2B, the second dispensing head 16 has a plurality of dispensing tips 15 mounted in a row (eight in this embodiment).
[0014]
The tip portions of these dispensing tips 15 are lowered into the recesses 4a as the sample storage portions provided in a grid pattern on the plate 4 shown in FIG. Various dispensing operations such as sample transfer between different plates 4 are performed by discharging into the four recesses 4a. By using the first dispensing head 14, the samples in all the recesses 4 a of the plate 4 can be dispensed at once. Further, by using the second dispensing head 16, it is possible to select an arbitrary column of the plate 4 and dispense only the sample in the recess 4a constituting the column.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the dispensing tip 15 has an upper plate 5a (FIG. 7 (c)) on which the dispensing tip 15 is mounted in a lattice-like arrangement similar to the concave portion 4a of the plate 4 . It is held by the box-shaped tip holder 5, and when the dispensing heads 14, 16 are lowered on the tip holder 5, the dispensing tips 15 are forcibly applied to the nozzles 17 on the lower surface of the dispensing heads 14, 16. It is elastically inserted into and automatically attached. Further, after use, the dispensing heads 14 and 16 are moved up and down on a chip removal mechanism 19 (see FIG. 1) disposed in the dispensing part A, so that the comb-like plate of the chip removal mechanism 19 is formed. The dispensing tip 15 is locked and automatically removed from the dispensing heads 14 and 16. A lid removal unit 18 is disposed on the end of the base plate 3 opposite to the moving table 13. The lid removing unit 18 removes the lid that covers the plate 4 when the plate 4 is stocked.
[0016]
Next, the stock section B will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, a plate stocker 30 is disposed in the stock portion B. A Z-axis table 31 having a motor 31 a is fixed to the frame 2, and a back plate 33 is coupled to a slider 32 of the Z-axis table 31. A plurality of rows of shelf plates 34 are provided on the back plate 33, and the plate 4 is placed on the shelf plate 34.
[0017]
The row of the shelf boards to be placed is specified according to the type of the plate 4, and as shown in FIG. 4, the dilution plate 4A containing the diluent is placed in the shelf board rows 34A and 34B, and the shelf board rows 34C and 34D. Is loaded with a drug plate 4B containing a drug, and the shelf plates 34E and 34F are loaded with a sample plate 4C containing a sample. By driving the motor 31 a of the Z-axis table 31, the arbitrary plate 4 placed on the shelf plate 34 can be raised and lowered to a height at which a transfer head (described later) can be clamped.
[0018]
Opposite to the plate stocker 30, a chip stocker 35 is disposed. The chip stocker 35 is configured by connecting a stock table 37 to a Z-axis table 36 that is vertically disposed and includes a motor 36a. On the stock table 37, the tip holders 5 holding the dispensing tips 15 are stacked and stocked. By driving the Z-axis table 36, the stocked chip holder 5 can be raised and lowered to a height at which a transfer head (described later) can be clamped.
[0019]
Next, with reference to FIG. 1, the ceiling sending robot 20 which is a conveying means will be described. The ceiling traveling robot 20 includes a Y-axis table 21, an X-axis table 23, a lifting / lowering unit 24, and a transfer head 26. The Y-axis table 21 is disposed in the longitudinal direction on the end frame 2, and the X-axis table 23 is driven at one end by the Y-axis table 21, and the other end by a guide rail 22 arranged on the frame 2. It is supported. The lifting / lowering rotation unit 24 is driven by the X-axis table 23, and a transfer head 26 is attached to the lower end portion of the arm 25 depending from the lifting / lowering rotation unit 24.
[0020]
The ceiling sending robot 20 conveys the plate 4 and the chip holder 5 between the dispensing unit A and the stock unit B or between the dispensing unit A and another device. That is, the plate 4 on the shelf plate 34 of the plate stocker 30 and the chip holder 5 on the stock table of the chip stocker 35 are clamped and held by the transfer head 26, conveyed to a predetermined position, and placed.
[0021]
Next, the processing unit C will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, an analyzer 40 and a washer 41 are disposed below the base plate 3. The analyzer 40 performs analysis such as various measurements on the sample contained in the plate 4. The washer 41 cleans the plate 4 that has undergone the necessary analysis. A waste liquid tank 49 is disposed on the side of the cleaning device 41. The waste liquid tank 49 is supplied from a non-illustrated treated water tank, and stores treated wastewater after use used for the washing treatment by the washing device 41.
[0022]
Next, with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the 2nd conveyance means which conveys the plate 4 between the dispensing part A and the process part C is demonstrated. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a Y-axis table 42 is disposed on the lower surface outside the opening 3a of the base plate 3, and a Z-axis table 43 having a motor 43a is provided on the Y-axis table 42. It is connected vertically. A vertical transfer arm 44 having two L-shaped claws is attached to the Z-axis table 43. The vertical transfer arm 44 moves up and down by driving the motor 43a. The vertical transfer arm 44 is located at the same position as the opening 3 a, and the plate 4 is placed on the vertical transfer arm 44 and transferred in the vertical direction parallel to the Z-axis table 43.
[0023]
A slide unit 45 is disposed on the lower surface of the base plate 3 in parallel with the Y-axis table 42, and a horizontal transfer arm 48 is attached to the slider 46 of the slide unit 45 via a connecting member 47. . The horizontal transfer arm 48 extends to the base plate 3 through the opening 3a, and transfers the plate 4 in the horizontal direction on the base plate 3. By driving the slide unit 45 and positioning the horizontal transfer arm 48 between the two claws of the vertical transfer arm 44, the plate 4 placed on the horizontal transfer arm 48 is positioned above the vertical transfer arm 44. Moving. Next, the plate 4 is transferred onto the vertical transfer arm 44 by moving the slide unit 45 backward while the vertical transfer arm 44 is raised and the plate 4 is lifted.
[0024]
Thereafter, the motor 43a of the Z-axis table 43 is driven to lower the plate 4 on the vertical transfer arm 44, and the Y-axis table 42 is further driven, so that the plate 4 is transferred to the analyzer 40 and the washer 41. . Further, a disposal box 39 is provided on the side of the stock part B. The used dispensing tips 15 are stored in the tip holder 5, then transported by the ceiling carrying robot 20, and dropped on the chute 38 to be collected in the disposal box 39.
[0025]
Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the arrangement | positioning of the stage in the dispensing stage 10 of the dispensing part A is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 4, six stages of 10A to 10F are set in the dispensing stage 10, and the type of the plate 4 placed on each stage is specified. A specimen plate 4C is placed on the stages 10A and 10B, a dilution plate 4A that is a sample storage body is placed on the stage 10C, and a chemical solution plate 4B is placed on the stage 10D. The stage 10E is a chip exchange stage, and the chip holder 5 on which the dispensing chip 15 is set is placed.
[0026]
Next, the structure of the chip exchange stage 10E will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 50 denotes a recessed portion locally provided in the base plate 3, and a cylinder 51 is installed therein. A plate-like support 53 is supported on the rod 52 of the cylinder 51. When the rod 52 of the cylinder 51 protrudes, the support 53 moves up and down. A guide rod 54 guides the vertical movement of the support 53.
[0027]
On the support body 53, a base body 56 in which a plurality of pin-like protrusions 55 are erected is placed (see also FIG. 7A). The chip holder 5 is clamped by the transfer head 26 and transferred onto the support 53 (see also FIGS. 7B and 7C). As shown in FIG. 7C, in this state, the protrusion 55 contacts the lower surface of the upper plate 5a holding the dispensing tip 15 of the tip holder 5, and the flexible upper plate 5a is moved downward. It is a support member that is supported from below so as not to disturb. The chip holder 5 is made of a flexible material such as synthetic resin.
[0028]
FIG. 14 shows the piping system of the cylinder 51. The pressure source 60 is connected to the cylinder 51 via a plurality (two in this example) of regulators (pressure regulators) 61 and 62 and a valve 63. The regulators 61 and 62, the valve 63, and the like constitute pressure adjusting means 64 that adjusts the magnitude of air pressure applied to the cylinder 51. The valve 63 is controlled by the control unit 65.
[0029]
The regulator 61 and the regulator 62 are switched according to the number and type of the dispensing tips 15 of the dispensing head. In this example, when there are eight dispensing tips 15, one regulator 61 is connected to the cylinder 51. When the number of dispensing tips 15 is 96, the other regulator 62 is connected to the cylinder 51. That is, the cylinder 51 is a holding means for holding the tip holder 5 so as to be movable up and down from below, but when the number of dispensing tips 15 is small, a regulator 61 having a low pressure is connected to the cylinder 51, When the number is large, a regulator 62 having a large pressure is connected to the cylinder 51.
[0030]
Next, the vertical movement means of the dispensing head will be described with reference to FIG. The dispensing head 14 is held by a holder 70. A nut 71 is attached to the holder 70, and a vertical feed screw 72 is screwed into the nut 71. When the feed screw 72 is rotated by driving the motor 73, the nut 71 moves up and down along the feed screw 72, and the dispensing head 14 moves up and down relative to the tip holder 5 on the support 53. A belt 74 transmits the rotation of the motor 73 to the feed screw 72. Accordingly, the nut 71, the feed screw 72, the motor 73, the belt 74, and the like serve as the vertical movement means of the dispensing head 14.
[0031]
In FIG. 10, the feed screw 72 is attached to a key-shaped frame 75. A slider 76 on the back surface of the frame 75 is slidably fitted to a horizontal guide rail 13 a on the front surface of the moving table 13. 10 shows the holding structure of the first dispensing head 14, the holding structure of the second dispensing head 16 is the same as the holding structure of the first dispensing head 14 shown in FIG. .
[0032]
This automatic dispensing apparatus is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below. 3, the chip holder 5 stocked in the chip stocker 35 is transferred onto the support 53 of the chip exchange stage 10E by the transfer head 26 (see FIGS. 8 and 9 above).
[0033]
Next, the first dispensing head 14 or the second dispensing head 16 is positioned on the tip holder 5 (FIG. 10). Next, the tip holder 5 is lowered and the nozzle 17 of the first dispensing head 14 or the second dispensing head 16 is forcibly inserted into the head of the dispensing tip 15 and attached (FIG. 11). , FIG. 12). At this time, if the dispensing tip used in the previous dispensing operation has already been attached to the first dispensing head 14 or the second dispensing head 16, prior to the placement of the dispensing tip 15. The already installed dispensing tip is removed by the tip removing mechanism 19.
[0034]
11 and 12 show a state in which the dispensing head 14 is lowered and the nozzle 17 is forcibly inserted into the head of the dispensing tip 15 and mounted. When the dispensing head 14 is lowered, the nozzle 17 is inserted into the cylindrical head of the dispensing tip 15 (FIG. 11). The nozzle 17 and / or the dispensing tip 15 are formed of a material having a slight elasticity such as a synthetic resin. Therefore, the nozzle 17 can be elastically forcibly attached to the head of the dispensing tip 15. At this time, the support 53 is held by the rod 52 of the cylinder 51. Therefore, when the dispensing head 14 is still slightly lowered as shown in FIG. 12, the rod 52 of the cylinder 51 is pulled downward against the elastic force of the cylinder 51 by this descending force, and dispensed to the nozzle 17. The head of the chip 15 can be completely inserted. In this case, as described with reference to FIG. 7C, the protrusion 55 supports the upper plate 5a of the chip holder 5 from below so that the upper plate 5a does not bend downward due to the load of the dispensing head 14. Therefore, the nozzle 17 can be reliably attached to the head of the dispensing tip 15.
[0035]
Next, as shown in FIG. 13, when the dispensing head 14 is raised, the dispensing tip 15 is picked up by being picked up by the nozzle 17, and the rod 52 of the cylinder 51 is raised to the original position by releasing the load. . Thus, the mounting operation of the dispensing tip 15 is completed. The mounting operation of the dispensing tip 15 is the same for the second dispensing head 16.
[0036]
The number of dispensing tips 15 attached to the first dispensing head 14 is 96. Therefore, when the dispensing tip 15 is attached to the first dispensing head 14 as described above, a regulator 62 having a large pressure is connected to the cylinder 51, and the support 53 is thereby elastically moved from below by a large elastic force. Hold it. The number of dispensing tips 15 attached to the second dispensing head 16 is eight. Therefore, when the dispensing tip 15 is attached to the second dispensing head 16 as described above, a regulator 61 having a low pressure is connected to the cylinder 51, so that the support 53 is elastically moved from below with a small holding force. Hold it.
[0037]
In this way, by adjusting the elastic force of the support 53 according to the number and type of the dispensing tips to be attached to the dispensing head, the dispensing head is lowered and the dispensing tips are attached to the nozzles. A moderate cushioning force in the vertical direction can be obtained, so that a large number of dispensing tips can be securely attached to the dispensing head collectively, and the dispensing tips can be prevented from being damaged at the time of attachment. Further, by securing the cushioning force, even if there is a slight deviation in the downward stroke of the dispensing head, this deviation can be absorbed by the cushioning force. In this embodiment, two regulators 61 and 62 are used to switch the resilient force of the cylinder 51 to the first dispensing head 14 and the second dispensing head 16 in two stages. The magnitude of the force may be switched in any number of steps, or may be switched in an analog manner.
[0038]
Now, the mounting operation of the dispensing tip 15 is performed as described above. In parallel with this mounting operation, the sample plates in which the samples are stored in the stages 10A and 10B from the shelf rows 34E and 34F of the plate stocker 30 are stored. 4C, the stage 10C has a dilution plate 4A containing a diluent, and the stage 10D has a drug plate 4B transported from each shelf of the plate stocker 30 and placed thereon.
[0039]
Next, the dilution series creation operation performed using the second dispensing head 16 will be described with reference to FIG. First, a predetermined amount of the chemical solution is sucked from the drug plate 4B on the stage 10D by the one row of the dispensing tips 15 provided in the second dispensing head 16, and the first row of recesses in the dilution plate 4A on the stage 10C. It inject | pours into 4a and stirs the inside of the recessed part 4a with the dispensing tip 15. FIG. Thereby, the chemical solution is mixed with the diluent already contained in the recess 4a of the dilution plate, and a diluted chemical solution having a predetermined dilution rate is created.
[0040]
Next, the dilute drug solution is again sucked by a specified amount by the dispensing tip 15 of the second dispensing head 16 and injected into the second row of recesses 4a of the same dilution plate 4A. As a result, a diluted chemical solution obtained by further diluting the diluted chemical solution in the first row of recesses 4a by a predetermined dilution ratio is created in the second row of recesses 4a. By repeating the same operation, a plurality of rows of diluted drug solutions obtained by diluting the same drug at different dilution rates, that is, a dilution series, is created on the dilution plate 4A.
[0041]
Next, these diluted drug solutions are dispensed together by the first dispensing head 14 onto the sample plate 10C placed on the stages 10A and 10B. Since the first dispensing head 14 is equipped with the dispensing tips 15 corresponding to the arrangement of the concave portions 4a of the plate 4, it is possible to dispense the diluted drug solutions having different dilution ratios by one operation. it can.
[0042]
Thus, by providing the 1st dispensing head 14 and the 2nd dispensing head 16 which use the plate stage 10 which mounts the several plate 4 as a common work range, the dilution chemical | medical solution ( The operation of creating a dilution series) and the operation of dispensing the created dilution series to the sample plate 4C at once can be performed in the same dispensing stage 10. Conventionally, these operations, which have been performed by multiple dispensing devices, can be performed by the same dispensing device, so a low-cost automatic dispensing device that saves space can be realized and concentrated in the same stage. Thus, the working efficiency can be improved by performing the dispensing operation.
[0043]
Thereafter, the specimen plate 4C into which a predetermined diluted drug solution has been injected is carried out of the plate stage 10 by the transfer head 26 and transferred to another test apparatus such as an incubator (not shown). The sample plate 4C that has completed the predetermined test operation is received again by the transfer head 26, placed on the standby stage 12, and waits. The specimen plate 4C is transported to the processing section C through the opening 3a by the second transport means.
[0044]
The operation at this time will be described. In FIG. 5, the waiting specimen plate 4C is first placed on the horizontal transfer arm 48, then transferred to the vertical transfer arm 44 (arrow a), lowered from the opening 3a (arrow b), and then the analyzer 40. (Arrow c). Thereafter, among the sample plates 4C for which the predetermined analysis operation has been completed, those for which a further test operation is performed are transported again to the dispensing section A by the second transport means, and then the plate of the stock section B is transferred by the transfer head 26. It is transported to a predetermined shelf 34 of the stocker 30 or to another test apparatus.
[0045]
The sample plate 4C for which the test operation has been completed is transferred to the cleaning device 41 of the processing unit C, and stored in a predetermined shelf 34 of the plate stocker 30 after performing a cleaning process. At this time, the dispensing unit A and the processing unit C are in the vertical position relationship of the same device, and are located very close to each other, so the transport distance is short, and the time required for transport is shortened compared with the conventional automatic dispensing device. Thus, the efficiency of the test work can be greatly improved.
[0046]
In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which a plurality of dispensing tips arranged in a grid and a row are mounted on the first dispensing head and the second dispensing head, respectively. Is not limited to the arrangement mode of the dispensing tips, and may be a different arrangement mode other than a grid shape or a row shape, and a plurality of dispensing tips having the same arrangement mode mounted thereon. It may be provided with a note head. Even in these cases, by operating a plurality of dispensing heads in a common dispensing stage, it is possible to perform the work conventionally performed using a plurality of dispensing apparatuses with the same dispensing apparatus. In addition, a low-cost automatic dispensing device that saves space can be realized, and the working efficiency of the dispensing operation can be improved.
[0047]
As described above, since a plurality of dispensing heads having a common dispensing stage as a work range is provided, by performing these operations conventionally performed by a plurality of dispensing devices with the same dispensing device, A low-cost automatic dispensing device that saves space can be realized, and the working efficiency of the dispensing operation can be improved. Furthermore, if a plurality of dispensing tips arranged in a grid are attached to the first dispensing head, and a plurality of dispensing tips arranged in a row are attached to the second dispensing head. The operation of creating a dilution series of the drug and the operation of dispensing the diluted drug solution all together on the sample plate can be performed in the same dispensing stage. Therefore, it is possible to greatly improve the efficiency of the dispensing work that requires the separate use of the dispensing head.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the dispensing tip provided in the tip holder can be automatically and quickly mounted on the dispensing head. In addition, by installing the pin, which is a support member, on the support that is held by the holding means, the dispensing tip is more securely attached to the dispensing head, and the dispensing tip is prevented from being damaged when attached. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 (a) is a partial perspective view of a dispensing head of an automatic dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a dispensing head of an automatic dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view of the automatic dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the automatic dispensing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the plate of the automatic dispensing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 7A is a perspective view of a support portion of an automatic dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a support portion on which a chip holder of the automatic dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is placed. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the support portion on which the chip holder of the automatic dispensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention is placed. FIG. FIG. 9 is a side view of a chip exchange stage according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a side view of a chip exchange stage according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a side view of a chip exchange stage according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a side view of a chip exchange stage according to an embodiment of the present invention. Piping diagram of cylinder of one embodiment [Explanation of symbols]
1 Automatic dispensing device 3 Base plate 4 Plate (sample container)
4a Concave part (sample storage part)
5 Chip holder 5a Upper plate 10 Dispensing stage 10E Chip replacement stage 14 First dispensing head 15 Dispensing chip 16 Second dispensing head 17 Nozzle (mounting part)
20 overhead traveling robot 21 Y-axis table 23 X-axis table 26 transfer head 30 plate stocker 34 shelf board 35 chip stocker 40 analyzer 41 washing device 42 Y-axis table 45 slide unit 51 cylinder 53 support 55 protrusion (support member)
61, 62 Regulator 63 Valve 64 Pressure adjusting means

Claims (1)

Dispensing stage for dispensing a liquid sample in the sample container of the sample container, chip stocker for stocking a chip holder having an upper plate for holding a dispensing tip, a chip exchange stage, and stock in the chip stocker A transfer head that picks up the transferred chip holder and conveys it to a chip exchange stage, a dispensing head that moves between the chip exchange stage and the dispensing stage and performs a dispensing operation, and a dispensing head And a vertical movement means for moving the tip exchange stage up and down relatively with respect to the tip holder, and the upper plate is loaded by a load when a dispensing tip is attached to the nozzle of the dispensing head on the tip exchange stage. There is provided a support member for supporting the contact with the upper plate from below to the lower surface of the upper plate so as not flex downwards, is the support member is a pin-like projections, One a support the chip the pin-shaped projection in exchange stage installed with a plurality Hontate set, automatic dispensing you characterized in that a resiliently supporting means for resiliently supporting the supporting member vertically movably apparatus.

Images