Sample collection device, physical property measuring device for non-flowing materials, and processing device for non-flowing materials

Abstract

To provide a sample collection device capable of accurately and quantitatively collecting samples from non-flowing materials. [Solution] This is a sampling device for collecting a sample from a non-flowing material 8 containing a liquid. The device includes a sampling mechanism that includes a tubular member 1 having an opening, a drive mechanism 2 that pushes the tubular member 1 into the non-flowing material 8 from the opening side to collect a sample inside the tubular member 1, and a stress sensor such as a load sensor 4 that measures the stress that the tubular member 1 receives from the non-flowing material 8 when the tubular member 1 is pushed into the non-flowing material 8, and controls the amount of sample collected inside the tubular member 1 from the opening based on the stress measured by the stress sensor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sample collection device, a physical property measurement device for non-fluid substances, and a processing device for non-fluid substances.

Background Art

[0002] In fields such as chemistry and materials, grasping the characteristics of an object being processed is very important for setting and managing processing conditions. When grasping the characteristics of an object, if a sample can be accurately collected in a required amount, it becomes possible to obtain good data without waste. When the objects to be characterized are gases and liquids, there are many existing devices and systems equipped with a syringe pump or a mechanism using a flow path and valves that can collect a desired amount of sample.

[0003] On the other hand, it is generally difficult to collect a sample from a solid using a syringe pump or the like. For this reason, a collection device equipped with a mechanism specialized for weighing and collecting a solid has been proposed (Patent Document 1). In addition, an apparatus has been proposed that measures the weight of a collected non-fluid substance and executes a process according to the measured weight in order to grasp the characteristics of a non-fluid substance containing a liquid (Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Unlike liquids and gases, non-flowing materials containing liquids, such as wet cakes, dehydrated slurries, and kneaded products, do not maintain a constant shape and may contain voids. When attempting to collect a sample from non-flowing materials using the sampling device proposed in Patent Document 1, the sample is easily affected by its shape and voids, making it difficult to collect the desired amount. Furthermore, since many non-flowing materials are adhesive, accurate weighing of the sample has been difficult.

[0006] Furthermore, the apparatus proposed in Patent Document 2 is designed to process non-flowing materials according to the amount collected. Therefore, it is not necessarily suitable for situations where only a predetermined amount of sample collection is required without processing, and the amount collected fluctuates significantly. In order to suppress fluctuations in the amount collected, the apparatus would have to be large-scale, which presented a challenge.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sampling device capable of accurately and quantitatively collecting samples from non-flowing materials. Another object of the present invention is to provide a physical property measuring device and a processing device for non-flowing materials equipped with this sampling device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In other words, the present invention provides a sampling device for collecting a sample from a non-flowing material containing a liquid, comprising: a tubular member having an opening; a sampling mechanism for pushing the tubular member into the non-flowing material from the opening side to collect a sample inside the tubular member; and a stress sensor for measuring the stress that the tubular member receives from the non-flowing material when the tubular member is pushed into the non-flowing material, wherein the amount of the sample collected inside the tubular member from the opening is controlled based on the stress measured by the stress sensor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sampling device that can accurately and quantitatively collect samples from non-flowing materials. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a physical property measuring device for non-flowing materials and a processing device for non-flowing materials equipped with this sampling device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the sample collection device of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method of using the sample collection device shown. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method of using the sample collection device shown. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the sample collection device of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of a conventional sample collection device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments. Common components for collecting solid samples include shovel-shaped, spatula-shaped, claw-shaped, and fork-shaped components. However, non-flowing materials containing liquids such as water or organic solvents tend to become amorphous and contain voids when subjected to processes such as filtration or kneading, making it difficult to collect samples using the above components. Furthermore, non-flowing materials often have adhesive properties, and the amount collected varies greatly depending on the collection site. In addition, a load is applied during collection, making it difficult to measure the mass while collecting.

[0012] Under these circumstances, the inventors investigated a method for accurately and quantitatively collecting samples from non-flowing materials. Specifically, they investigated various methods for collecting a fixed volume of sample. As a result, they found that a fixed amount of sample can be collected by pushing a tubular member with an opening (a so-called "pipe") into the non-flowing material for a certain length or longer. It is believed that a fixed amount of sample can be collected even when dealing with non-flowing materials because the frictional force between the inside of the pipe and the non-flowing material balances the stress generated by the deformation of the non-flowing material.

[0013] However, even when using tubular members (pipes), it was difficult to eliminate the variation in sample volume depending on the sampling location. This is thought to be because when sampling at locations containing voids, even if a certain volume of sample is collected, voids will be included, making it impossible to collect the required amount (mass) of sample. As a result of further investigation, the inventors found that it is effective to measure the stress that the tubular member receives from the non-flowing material when it is pressed into the non-flowing material, and to control the amount of sample collected inside the tubular member based on the measured stress, leading to the present invention.

[0014] In other words, one embodiment of the sample collection device of the present invention is a device for collecting a sample from a non-flowing material containing a liquid, and comprises a tubular member having an opening, a sampling mechanism for collecting a sample inside the tubular member, and a stress sensor. The sampling mechanism is the part that pushes the tubular member into the non-flowing material from the opening side to collect a sample inside the tubular member. The stress sensor is the part that measures the stress that the tubular member receives from the non-flowing material when the tubular member is pushed into the non-flowing material. Furthermore, the sample collection device of this embodiment is a device that controls the amount of sample collected from the opening into the tubular member based on the stress measured by the stress sensor.

[0015] <Sample collection device> FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a sample collection device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the sample collection device of this embodiment includes a tubular member 1 having an opening, a collection mechanism including a drive mechanism 2 for collecting a sample inside the tubular member 1, and a stress sensor such as a load cell 4. The non-fluid substance 8 to be sampled is a mixture of liquid and solid such as moisture and organic solvent, and it itself has no fluidity. Examples of the non-fluid substance 8 include wet cake, dewatered slurry, kneaded product, and kneaded mixture.

[0016] (Tubular member) The tubular member 1 has an opening which is an inlet (intake port) for collecting a sample. The cross-sectional shape of the opening orthogonal to the sample entry direction may be any shape such as circular, square, and triangular. Also, the tubular member 1 is preferably straight. The larger the diameter of the tubular member 1, the greater the sample collection amount. Therefore, the diameter of the tubular member 1 can be selected according to the required sample collection amount. However, from the viewpoint of more accurately and quantitatively collecting a sample, the inner diameter of the tubular member 1 is preferably 50 mm or less. When the cross-sectional shape of the opening is other than circular, the "inner diameter" of the tubular member 1 means the "maximum diameter".

[0017] Examples of the material of the tubular member 1 include metal, alloy, and resin. Among them, it is preferable to use an annular member 1 formed of a material that is not significantly deformed by the stress from the non-fluid substance 8 and does not specifically interact with the non-fluid substance 8. [[ID=十一]]

[0018] (Collection mechanism) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sample collection device of this embodiment includes a collection mechanism including a drive mechanism 2 that advances the tubular member 1 in the direction of the non-fluid 8. That is, the collection mechanism is a part that pushes the tubular member 1 into the non-fluid 8 from the opening side and collects a sample 9 inside the tubular member 1. As the drive mechanism 2, a mechanism driven based on various powers such as a motor, a hydraulic cylinder, and a pneumatic cylinder can be used. From the viewpoint of stress detection, it is preferable to use a drive mechanism 2 that can drive the tubular member 1 at a constant speed.

[0019] The tubular member 1 is provided on a transmission member 3 such as a shaft that transmits the operation of the drive mechanism 2 so that the axis of the tubular member 1 coincides with the driving direction of the drive mechanism 2 and the opening is located at the tip of the advancing direction of the tubular member 1. During sample collection, the tubular member 1 advances due to the drive of the drive mechanism 2 and the opening is pushed into the non-fluid 8, and the sample 9 is held inside the tubular member 1. Then, the tubular member 1 retreats due to the drive of the drive mechanism 2, and the sample 9 can be collected from the non-fluid  8.

[0020] (Stress sensor) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sample collection device of this embodiment includes a stress sensor such as a load cell 4 disposed between the drive mechanism 2 and the tubular member 1 that measures the stress (vertical stress) received by the tubular member 1 from the non-fluid 8 when the tubular member 1 is pushed into the non-fluid 8. More specifically, the stress (vertical stress) received by the tubular member 1 from the non-fluid 8 can be calculated from the load read by a stress sensor such as the load cell 4 and the cross-sectional area of the tubular member 1.

[0021] For example, if the measured and calculated stress exceeds a certain threshold, it can be detected that "a certain amount of sample has been collected." The stress threshold varies depending on the configuration of the tubular member and the sampling mechanism. Specifically, the stress threshold varies depending on the shape of the tubular member, the driving (progressing) speed of the tubular member when pushing it into the non-flowing material, and the distance (length) the tubular member is pushed into the non-flowing material. For this reason, it is preferable to acquire stress data corresponding to the configuration of the tubular member and sampling mechanism in advance and set the threshold. Furthermore, the stress threshold also varies depending on the properties of the non-flowing material, such as its hardness (viscosity) and specific gravity. For this reason, it is preferable to adjust the amount of sample collected according to the properties of the non-flowing material in question. Specifically, it is preferable to acquire stress data in advance for locations in the non-flowing material where there are virtually no voids and other structures, and where sampling is suitable, and adjust the threshold.

[0022] (Removal mechanism) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the sample collection device of this embodiment preferably includes an extraction mechanism such as an extrusion mechanism 5 including a rod-shaped member 6 that pushes the sample 9 collected inside the tubular member 1 out of the tubular member 1. The rod-shaped member 6 is a member whose outer diameter is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the tubular member 1 and is slidably arranged inside the tubular member 1. By sliding this rod-shaped member 6 and pressing the rear end of the sample 9 collected inside the tubular member 1, the sample 9 can be pushed out (removed) from the opening of the tubular member 1.

[0023] Furthermore, the sample collection device of this embodiment preferably includes a separation mechanism that separates the sample 9, which has been pushed out of the tubular member 1, from the tip of the rod-shaped member 6. By providing such a separation mechanism, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of the sample to the rod-shaped member and suppress a decrease in the accuracy of the sample collection amount. As for the separation mechanism, a non-contact type separation mechanism 7 that can separate the sample 9 by blowing air or the like, as shown in Figure 3, is preferred from the viewpoint of suppressing re-adhesion to the separation mechanism.

[0024] <Apparatus and apparatus for measuring the physical properties of non-flowing materials> Next, the apparatus and apparatus for measuring the physical properties of non-flowing substances of the present invention will be described. One embodiment of the apparatus for measuring the physical properties of non-flowing substances of the present invention is an apparatus equipped with the aforementioned sample collection device. Furthermore, the apparatus for processing non-flowing substances of the present invention is an apparatus equipped with the aforementioned sample collection device.

[0025] A physical property measuring device for non-flowing materials is equipped with the aforementioned sample collection device and is a device for measuring the physical properties of a sample collected using the sample collection device. Examples of physical properties of the sample to be measured include weight, absorbance, particle size, and viscosity. For example, a physical property measuring device for non-flowing materials can be constructed by combining various measuring devices corresponding to the physical properties to be measured with the aforementioned sample collection device.

[0026] A non-flowable material processing device is equipped with the aforementioned sample collection device and is a device for processing samples collected using the sample collection device. Sample processing methods include dissolution, dispersion, drying, and pulverization. For example, a non-flowable material processing device can be constructed by combining various devices corresponding to the processing content with the aforementioned sample collection device. [Examples]

[0027] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited in any way by the following examples unless it exceeds the gist of the invention.

[0028] <Configuration and evaluation of sample collection devices> (Example 1) A sampling device with the configuration shown in Figure 1 was prepared. As shown in Figure 2, the opening of the tubular member 1 is pushed into the non-flowing material 8 by the drive mechanism 2, and a sample 9 is collected inside the tubular member 1. The stress that the tubular member 1 receives from the non-flowing material 8 is measured by a load cell 4 via the extrusion mechanism 5 and the transmission member 3. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the sample 9 collected inside the tubular member 1 is pushed out of the tubular member 1 by the rod-shaped member 6 and then separated by a non-contact separation mechanism 7.

[0029] 100 parts by mass of CI Pigment Violet 19 (manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), 500 parts by mass of sodium chloride, and 100 parts by mass of diethylene glycol were mixed and then uniformly stirred to obtain a non-flowing pigment composition. Using a sampling apparatus with the configuration shown in Figure 1, samples were taken from the non-flowing material (pigment composition) according to the procedure shown in Figures 1 to 3. The amount of sample taken was appropriately adjusted considering the characteristics of the non-flowing material (hardness, etc.). A total of 10 samples were taken, and the mass of each sample was measured, and the variation (mass %) of the sampled amount was calculated. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0030] (Example 2) A sample was collected from a non-flowing material (pigment composition) in the same manner as in Example 1 described above, except that a sampling device with the configuration shown in Figure 4 was used, and the variation (mass %) of the collected amount was calculated. The results are shown in Table 1. The sampling device shown in Figure 4 is a device equipped with a contact-type separation mechanism 10.

[0031] (Example 3) 100 parts by mass of CI Pigment Violet 19 (manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), 500 parts by mass of sodium chloride, and 70 parts by mass of diethylene glycol were mixed and then uniformly stirred to obtain a non-flowing pigment composition. Samples were taken in the same manner as in Example 1 described above, except that the non-flowing material (pigment composition) obtained in this way was used, and the variation (mass %) of the sampled amount was calculated. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0032] (Example 4) A sampling apparatus similar to the one shown in Figure 1 was prepared, except that it lacked a separation mechanism. A sample was then collected from the non-flowing material (pigment composition) in the same manner as in Example 1, except that this prepared sampling apparatus was used, and the variation in the collected amount (mass %) was calculated. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0033] (Comparative Example 1) Except for using a spatula-shaped member, samples were taken from a non-flowing material (pigment composition) in the same manner as in Example 1 described above, and the variation (mass %) of the sampled amount was calculated. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0034] (Comparative Example 2) A sample was collected from the non-flowing material (pigment composition) in the same manner as in Example 1 described above, except that a sampling device with the configuration shown in Figure 5 was used, and the variation (mass %) of the collected amount was calculated. The results are shown in Table 1. The sampling device shown in Figure 5 is a device that does not have a stress sensor such as a load cell to measure the stress that the tubular member 1 receives from the non-flowing material 8.

[0035] TIFF2026103104000002.tif61170

[0036] This embodiment includes the following configuration. (Configuration 1) A sampling device for collecting a sample from a non-flowing material containing a liquid, The device comprises a tubular member having an opening, a sampling mechanism for pushing the tubular member into the non-flowing material from the opening side to collect a sample inside the tubular member, and a stress sensor for measuring the stress the tubular member receives from the non-flowing material when the tubular member is pushed into the non-flowing material. A sample collection device characterized by controlling the amount of the sample collected into the tubular member from the opening based on the stress measured by the stress sensor. (Configuration 2) A sample collection device according to Configuration 1, which corrects the amount of sample to be collected according to the characteristics of the non-flowing material. (Configuration 3) Furthermore, it is equipped with a removal mechanism for removing the collected sample from the tubular member to the outside, The extraction mechanism includes a rod-shaped member that pushes the sample from the inside to the outside of the tubular member, A sample collection device according to configuration 1 or 2, comprising a non-contact type separation mechanism for separating the sample, which has been pushed out of the tubular member, from the tip of the rod-shaped member. (Configuration 4) A physical property measuring device for non-flowable materials, comprising a sample collection device as described in any one of Configurations 1 to 3. (Configuration 5) A processing device for non-flowable materials, comprising a sample collection device as described in any one of Configurations 1 to 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1: Tubular member 2: Drive mechanism 3: Transmission member 4: Load cell 5: Extrusion mechanism 6: Rod-shaped member 7: Non-contact separation mechanism 8: Non-flowing materials 9: Sample 10: Contact-type disconnection mechanism

Claims

1. A sampling device for collecting samples from non-flowing materials containing liquids, The device comprises a tubular member having an opening, a sampling mechanism for pushing the tubular member into the non-flowing material from the opening side to collect a sample inside the tubular member, and a stress sensor for measuring the stress the tubular member receives from the non-flowing material when the tubular member is pushed into the non-flowing material. A sample collection device characterized by controlling the amount of the sample collected into the tubular member from the opening based on the stress measured by the stress sensor.

2. The sample collection apparatus according to claim 1, which corrects the amount of the sample to be collected according to the characteristics of the non-flowing material.

3. Furthermore, it is equipped with a removal mechanism for removing the collected sample from the tubular member to the outside, The extraction mechanism includes a rod-shaped member that pushes the sample from the inside to the outside of the tubular member, The sample collection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a non-contact type separation mechanism for separating the sample, which has been pushed out of the tubular member, from the tip of the rod-shaped member.

4. A physical property measuring device for non-flowing materials, comprising a sample collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A processing apparatus for non-flowable materials comprising a sample collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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