Circulation type sample bottle tray assembly and automatic sample injector

Abstract

An autoinjector (100) for liquid chromatography, which collects a sample from a sample vial containing the sample using a mobile injection needle (114) and injects the sample into a mobile phase flowing toward an analysis column, is provided with a sample holder (104), the sample holder has one or more tray mounting regions (120) on which sample bottle trays for holding the sample bottles are mounted, and is disposed at a position specified by the sample introduction needle (114) so as to be able to collect samples from the sample bottles. The tray mounting region (120) of the sample holder (104) is defined as a flow-through sample bottle mounting region for mounting flow-through sample bottles (200).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a flow-through sample vial tray assembly and an autosampler. Background Technology

[0002] The liquid chromatography analysis system has an autosampler that automatically injects the sample into the mobile phase flowing toward the analytical column. The sample is typically placed into the autosampler by mounting a sample vial containing the sample on a pull-out sample holder and positioning the sample holder in a predetermined position within the autosampler (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] The autosampler is equipped with a movable sampling needle. When a sample is injected into the mobile phase, the needle moves to a position on the sample holder, descends from above the sample vial containing the sample, and draws in the sample from the vial through its tip. Furthermore, a flow-through sample vial exists, with an inlet and an outlet on its side. Pipes are connected to both the inlet and outlet. Solvent, supplied through the pipe connected to the inlet, enters the vial from the inlet and exits through the outlet (see Patent Document 2). Using a flow-through sample vial allows samples from devices such as a dissolution tester to be delivered to the vial, and the sample is drawn in by the needle for analysis.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-176749

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 6753535 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0009] Previously, autosamplers used in liquid chromatography included standard autosamplers that did not support flow-through vials and autosamplers that did support flow-through vials. Autosamplers that support flow-through vials have a structure for extending the tubing connecting the flow-through vials to the outside of the autosampler, and the area for placing the flow-through vials is separate from the area for placing standard vials, thus having a different structure from standard autosamplers.

[0010] There is a demand for placing flow-through vials within standard autosamplers. However, standard autosamplers have become increasingly miniaturized in recent years, making it difficult to secure a dedicated area for flow-through vials in addition to the area designated for standard vials. Furthermore, even if such an area could be secured, standard autosamplers typically only designate the needle movement to the area for standard vials or the injection port; moving the needle to the area for flow-through vials would require modifications to the needle movement mechanism. Therefore, until now, enabling flow-through vials in standard autosamplers has been challenging, necessitating the development of a separate autosampler specifically designed to support flow-through vials.

[0011] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to enable the use of flow-through sample vials without significantly altering the structure of a conventional autosampler.

[0012] Technical means to solve the problem

[0013] The autosampler involved in this invention is an autosampler for liquid chromatography, which uses a movable injection needle to collect the sample from a sample vial containing the sample and inject the sample into the mobile phase flowing toward the analytical column.

[0014] The sample holder has one or more tray-mounting areas for mounting and holding sample vials, and is positioned at a predetermined location to allow sample collection from the sample vials via the injection needle.

[0015] The tray mounting area of ​​the sample rack is defined as a flow-through sample bottle mounting area for holding flow-through sample bottles.

[0016] The flow-through sample vial tray assembly of the present invention is a flow-through sample vial tray assembly that enables the use of flow-through sample vials in an autosampler for liquid chromatography, which is provided with a leakage tank for receiving leaked liquid and a drainage path for directing the leaked liquid toward the leakage tank.

[0017] The autosampler is configured to collect samples from sample vials placed on a sample vial tray mounted on a sample rack positioned in a designated location.

[0018] The sample rack has one or more tray mounting areas for mounting the sample bottle trays.

[0019] The flow-through sample bottle tray assembly includes:

[0020] A flow-through sample vial tray, mounted on the tray mounting area of ​​the sample holder, has sidewalls defining the tray mounting area as a region for holding flow-through sample vials, and has drain ports on the sidewalls for discharging leaked liquid accumulated on the bottom surface of the flow-through sample vial tray to the outside of the flow-through sample vial tray; and

[0021] A leakage guide is configured to be located near the sample holder at the designated position and to form a flow path that receives leakage liquid flowing from the drain port of the flow-through sample bottle tray and guides it to the drain flow path.

[0022] The effects of the invention

[0023] According to the autosampler of the present invention, since the sample vial mounting area of ​​the sample holder is defined as a flow-through sample vial placement area, it is not necessary to ensure a dedicated area for placing flow-through sample vials outside the sample holder, nor is it necessary to change the mechanism for moving the injection needle. Thus, it is possible to create an autosampler that supports flow-through sample vials without significant modifications, based on the structure of a conventional autosampler.

[0024] According to the flow-through sample vial tray assembly of the present invention, by mounting the flow-through sample vial tray on the tray mounting area of ​​the sample holder and configuring the leakage guide near the sample holder located at a predetermined position within the autosampler, even if leakage occurs in the flow-through sample vial, the leakage will be discharged from the drain port provided on the side wall of the flow-through sample vial tray to the outside of the flow-through sample vial tray and guided to the drain path by the leakage guide. Thus, even if leakage occurs in the flow-through sample vial on the sample holder, the leakage can be guided to the leakage trough. Therefore, flow-through sample vials can be placed and used on the sample holder without significant changes to the structure of a conventional autosampler. Attached Figure Description

[0025] [ Figure 1 [Illustration 1] is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a flow-through sample bottle tray assembly.

[0026] [ Figure 2 [Illustration 1] is an internal structural diagram viewed from above, representing an embodiment of an autosampler.

[0027] [ Figure 3 [Illustration 1] shows the state in which the sample holder is pulled out to the front side in the same embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the autosampler and flow-through sample vial tray assembly of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] First, use Figure 1 An embodiment of a flow-through sample bottle tray assembly is described.

[0030] The flow-through sample vial tray assembly 1 includes a flow-through sample vial tray 2 and a leakage guide 4. The flow-through sample vial tray 2 and the leakage guide 4 are separate entities. The flow-through sample vial tray 2 is mounted on the sample holder 104 of the autosampler 100 described later (see reference). Figure 2 The leakage guide 4 is configured within the autosampler 4 so as not to interfere with the operation of the sample holder 104.

[0031] The flow-through sample vial tray 2 has a tray mounting area for the sample rack 104 defined for holding the flow-through sample vials 200 (see reference). Figure 2 The sidewall 6 is a dedicated flow-through sample vial placement area. Flow-through sample vials 200 are placed on the bottom surface of a flow-through sample vial tray 2 surrounded by the sidewall 6. A drain port 8 is provided on one of the sidewalls 6a to allow leakage liquid accumulated on the bottom surface of the flow-through sample vial tray 2 to flow out into the interior of the tray 2 when the liquid level exceeds a certain height. In this embodiment, the drain port 8 is implemented by a cut from the upper end of the sidewall 6a, but the invention is not limited to this; the drain port 8 can also be implemented by a through hole provided on the sidewall 6a. A conduit portion 10 is provided on the outer side of the sidewall 6a to guide the leakage liquid flowing from the drain port 8 to the side of the sidewall 6a.

[0032] One end of the leakage guide 4 (the end on the left in the figure) is positioned below the conduit portion 10 of the flow-through sample vial tray 2, and the other end (the end on the right in the figure) is positioned within the leakage flow path 110 provided in the autosampler 100 (see reference). Figure 2 Thus, a flow path is formed for guiding the leaking liquid flowing from the drain port 8 of the flow-through sample bottle 2 to the leaking liquid flow path 110. The leaking liquid guide 4 has a guide wall 12 for guiding the leaking liquid received at one end to the other end, and a drain port 14 on the other end side for allowing the leaking liquid reaching the other end to drip downwards. In this embodiment, the drain port 14 is configured to allow the leaking liquid to flow out in a direction intersecting with the draining direction of the drain port 8 of the flow-through sample bottle tray 2, but the invention is not limited to this. The drain port 14 may also be provided on the guide wall 12 furthest from the flow-through sample bottle tray 2, allowing the leaking liquid to flow out in the same direction as the draining direction of the drain port 8.

[0033] Next, use Figure 2 and Figure 3 An embodiment of an autosampler is described.

[0034] In addition to the flow-through sample vial tray assembly 1 mentioned above, the autosampler 100 also includes a base 102, a sample holder 104, a leakage groove 108, a leakage flow path 110, a support plate 112, an injection needle 114, an arm 116, and an external panel 118.

[0035] The base 102 has a generally horizontal bottom surface. The sample holder 104 is inserted into the autosampler 100 from the front end via a sample holder insertion port 119 provided on the outer panel 118 of the autosampler 100, and can slide on the base 102 in one direction (vertical direction in the figure). A sample holder handle 122 is provided at the base end of the sample holder 104. When the sample holder 104 is positioned in a predetermined position on the base 102, the sample holder handle 122 forms an integral plane with the outer panel 118, constituting part of the outer casing of the autosampler 100.

[0036] The sample rack 104 has one or more tray mounting areas 120 (three in this embodiment) for mounting sample vial trays. Sample vials containing samples are placed on sample vial trays, which are mounted on any of the tray mounting areas 120 of the sample rack 104, and the sample rack 104 is positioned at a predetermined location on the base 102, thereby placing the sample vials in the autosampler 100. Figure 2 This indicates that the sample holder 104 is configured in the specified position. Figure 3 This indicates that the sample holder 104 has been pulled out from the designated position in the outward direction (lower direction in the figure).

[0037] A leakage tank 108, serving as a container for receiving leaked liquid, is provided below the base 102. A leakage sensor 109 for detecting leaked liquid is provided on the leakage tank 108, enabling automatic detection of leaks occurring within the autosampler 100. An opening 106 is provided on the base 102 for allowing leaked liquid occurring on the base 102 to flow down towards the leakage tank 108. A leakage liquid flow path 110 is provided on the base 102, which guides leaked liquid occurring at any location on the base 102 (e.g., injection port, cleaning port, pump, etc.) to the opening 106. The opening 106 and the leakage liquid flow path 110 constitute a drainage flow path for guiding leaked liquid occurring within the autosampler 100 to the leakage tank 108.

[0038] The support plate 112 is mounted on the base 102. The support plate 112 is a plate for mounting a substrate (not shown) for the type of test sample plate, and is used to protect the solvent from contacting the substrate.

[0039] The injection needle 114 is used to draw a sample from a sample vial positioned on a sample holder 104. Its tip faces vertically downward and is held by an arm 116. The arm 116 is capable of moving the injection needle 114 in both the horizontal and vertical directions, drawing a sample from a desired sample vial on the sample holder 104 and injecting the sample into the mobile phase flowing toward the analytical column of the liquid chromatography via an injection port (not shown).

[0040] On a tray mounting area 120 of the sample rack 104 (here, the tray mounting area closest to the base end of the sample rack support 122), a flow-through sample vial tray 2 of the flow-through sample vial tray assembly 1 is mounted, thereby defining the tray mounting area 120 as the flow-through sample vial placement area. The flow-through sample vial tray 2 is placed on the sample rack 2 such that the drain port 8 faces a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction (vertical direction in the figure) of the sample rack 104.

[0041] The leakage guide 4 of the flow-through sample vial tray assembly 1 is disposed on the base 102 such that when the sample holder 104 is disposed in the designated position, one end of the guide tube portion 10 of the flow-through sample vial tray 2 is located below it, and the drain port 14 disposed on the other end is located on the leakage flow path 110. The leakage guide 4 can be configured such that the other end with the drain port 14 is lower than the end receiving leakage from the flow-through sample vial tray 2. In this embodiment, one end of the leakage guide 4 is disposed on the support plate 112, so that the bottom surface of the leakage guide 4 is inclined and gradually descends toward the drain port 14. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited thereto; even if the leakage guide 4 itself is horizontally disposed, the bottom surface of the leakage guide 4 can be inclined to guide the leakage received from the drain port 8 of the flow-through sample vial tray 2 to the drain port 14.

[0042] The leakage guide 4 can be simply placed on the base 102 or fixed to the base 102. The leakage guide 4 is structured such that while receiving leakage liquid dripping from the front end of the conduit portion 10 of the flow-through sample vial tray 2, the sidewall 12 does not interfere with the conduit portion 10 when the sample holder 104 slides on the base 102. Therefore, the sample holder 104 can be positioned in a predetermined position or withdrawn from the outside of the autosampler 100 while maintaining the leakage guide 4 in a predetermined position on the base 102.

[0043] On the flow-through sample vial tray 2, flow-through sample vials 200, sealed by septa 202, are placed. Fluid connections 204 from external equipment such as a dissolution testing machine are made to the flow-through sample vials 200. Although the figure depicts each flow-through sample vial 200 connected to a single pipe 204, each flow-through sample vial 200 has an inlet for introducing solvent and an outlet for discharging solvent on its side, with inlet and outlet pipes respectively connected as inlet and outlet pipes 204.

[0044] A hole 124 for the tubing 204 to pass through is provided on the sample holder handle 122. Because the hole 124 is provided on the sample holder handle 122, it is unnecessary to provide a hole for the tubing 204 to pass through on the outer panel 118 of the autosampler 100. In this way, the autosampler 100 can be constructed simply by adding the flow-through sample vial tray assembly 1, except for the sample holder handle 122, while maintaining the existing structure of an autosampler for liquid chromatography. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to this; the hole for the tubing 204 may also be provided on the outer panel 118.

[0045] The flow-through sample vial tray assembly 1 and autosampler 100 described above are merely one example of an embodiment of the flow-through sample vial tray assembly and autosampler involved in this invention. The embodiments of the flow-through sample vial tray assembly and autosampler involved in this invention are described below.

[0046] In one embodiment of the autosampler involved in this invention, it is an autosampler for liquid chromatography that uses a movable injection needle to collect the sample from a sample vial containing the sample and inject the sample into a mobile phase flowing toward an analytical column.

[0047] The sample holder has one or more tray-mounting areas for mounting and holding sample vials, and is positioned at a predetermined location to allow sample collection from the sample vials via the injection needle.

[0048] The tray mounting area of ​​the sample rack is defined as a flow-through sample bottle mounting area for holding flow-through sample bottles.

[0049] In a first aspect of one embodiment of the autosampler described above, the sample rack has two or more tray mounting areas, one of which is defined as the flow-through sample vial placement area. According to this aspect, a standard sample vial rack can be mounted on a tray mounting area of ​​the sample rack that is not defined as the flow-through sample vial placement area.

[0050] Furthermore, because flow-through sample vials require piping to external devices of the autosampler, such as dissolution testing machines, there is a risk of leakage at the piping connection points. However, standard sample vials do not have fluid-connected piping, so the risk of leakage from the sample holder is not considered in standard autosamplers. If leaked solvent accumulates on the sample holder for an extended period, there is a risk of solvent evaporation leading to equipment malfunction within the autosampler.

[0051] Therefore, in a second aspect of one embodiment of the autosampler described above, the flow-through sample vial placement area is defined by a flow-through sample vial rack mounted on the tray placement area of ​​the sample holder. The flow-through sample vial rack has a sidewall defining the tray placement area as the flow-through sample vial placement area, and this sidewall is provided with a drain port for discharging leaked liquid accumulated on the bottom surface of the flow-through sample vial tray to the outside of the tray. According to this second aspect, leakage liquid accumulation on the sample holder can be prevented. This second aspect can be combined with the first aspect described above.

[0052] In the second aspect described above, the autosampler may include: a leakage tank for receiving leakage fluid occurring within the autosampler; a drainage path for guiding the leakage fluid to the leakage tank; and a leakage guide disposed near the sample holder at the designated location, forming a flow path that receives leakage fluid flowing from the drain port of the flow-through sample vial tray and guides it to the drainage path. In this way, leakage fluid occurring in the flow-through sample vial placement area can be drained into the leakage tank.

[0053] In the above-described configuration, the autosampler can further include a leakage sensor for detecting leakage liquid being guided to the leakage tank through the drainage path. This allows for the detection of leakage from the flow-through sample vial.

[0054] In a third aspect of one embodiment of the autosampler described above, a sample holder handle is provided at the base of the sample holder, forming part of the autosampler casing when the sample holder is positioned at the predetermined location. The sample holder handle has a hole for allowing fluid to pass through a hose connected to a flow-through sample vial placed in the flow-through sample vial placement area. According to this third aspect, it is unnecessary to perform machining such as openings on the casing of a conventional autosampler to support the flow-through sample vial. This third aspect can be combined with the first and / or second aspects described above.

[0055] In the third aspect described above, the tray-mounting area closest to the sample rack handle among the multiple tray-mounting areas disposed on the sample rack can be defined as the flow-through sample vial placement area. This shortens the length of the tubing introduced from the outside into the autosampler, making it less likely for the externally introduced tubing to interfere with other components within the autosampler, such as the injection needle.

[0056] In one embodiment of the flow-through sample vial tray assembly according to the present invention, a flow-through sample vial tray assembly is provided for use in an autosampler for liquid chromatography, which is provided with a leakage tank for receiving leakage liquid and a drainage path for flowing the leakage liquid toward the leakage tank.

[0057] The autosampler is configured to collect samples from sample vials placed on a sample vial tray mounted on a sample rack positioned in a designated location.

[0058] The sample rack has one or more tray mounting areas for mounting the sample bottle trays.

[0059] The flow-through sample bottle tray assembly includes:

[0060] A flow-through sample vial tray, mounted on the tray mounting area of ​​the sample holder, has sidewalls defining the tray mounting area as a region for holding flow-through sample vials, and has drain ports on the sidewalls for discharging leaked liquid accumulated on the bottom surface of the flow-through sample vial tray to the outside of the flow-through sample vial tray; and

[0061] A leakage guide, configured to be located near the sample holder at the designated position, forms a flow path that receives leakage liquid flowing from the drain port of the flow-through sample vial tray and guides it to the drain flow path.

[0062] Explanation of icon numbers

[0063] 1. Flow-through sample bottle tray assembly

[0064] 2. Flow-through sample bottle tray

[0065] 4. Leakage fluid guide

[0066] 6. Side wall of flow-through sample vial tray

[0067] 8 drain port

[0068] 10. Catheter section

[0069] 12. Guide wall of the leaking fluid guide component

[0070] 14 drain port

[0071] 100 Autosampler

[0072] 102 Base

[0073] 104 Sample rack

[0074] 106. Opening of the base

[0075] 108 Leakage Tank

[0076] 109 Leakage Sensor

[0077] 110 Leaking fluid flow path

[0078] 112 Support Plate

[0079] 114 injection needle

[0080] 116 arms

[0081] 118 Exterior Panel

[0082] 120 Pallet Loading Area

[0083] 122 Sample rack handle

[0084] 124 holes

[0085] 200 flow-through sample vials

[0086] 202 Spare Part

[0087] 204 Piping

Claims

1. An autosampler for liquid chromatography, comprising using a movable injection needle to collect a sample from a sample vial containing a sample and injecting the sample into a mobile phase flowing toward an analytical column. The sample holder has one or more tray-mounting areas for mounting and holding sample vials on a tray, and is positioned at a predetermined location to allow sample collection from the sample vials via the injection needle. The tray mounting area of ​​the sample rack is defined as a flow-through sample bottle mounting area for holding flow-through sample bottles.

2. The autosampler according to claim 1, wherein, The sample rack has two or more tray mounting areas, one of which is defined as the flow-through sample bottle placement area.

3. The autosampler according to claim 1, wherein, The flow-through sample vial placement area is defined by the flow-through sample vial rack mounted on the tray placement area of ​​the sample rack. The flow-through sample bottle rack has a sidewall that defines the tray mounting area as the flow-through sample bottle placement area, and the sidewall is provided with a drain port for discharging leaked liquid accumulated on the bottom surface of the flow-through sample bottle tray to the outside of the flow-through sample bottle tray.

4. The autosampler according to claim 3, further comprising: A leak tank for receiving leaked liquid that occurs within the autosampler; A drainage path for guiding the leaked liquid to the leak tank; and A leakage guide is disposed near the sample holder at the designated location and forms a flow path that receives leakage liquid flowing from the drain port of the flow-through sample bottle tray and guides it to the drain flow path.

5. The autosampler according to claim 4, further comprising a leakage sensor for detecting leakage liquid being guided to the leakage tank through the drainage path.

6. The autosampler according to claim 1, wherein, At the base of the sample holder, a sample holder handle is provided, which forms part of the autosampler casing when the sample holder is positioned in the designated position. The sample holder handle has a hole through which a hose for fluid connection to a flow-through sample vial placed in the flow-through sample vial placement area passes.

7. The autosampler according to claim 6, wherein, The tray mounting area located closest to the sample rack handle among the multiple tray mounting areas provided on the sample rack is defined as the flow-through sample bottle placement area.

8. A flow-through sample vial tray assembly for use in an autosampler for liquid chromatography with a leakage trough for receiving leaked liquid and a drainage path for directing the leaked liquid toward the leakage trough. The autosampler is configured to collect samples from sample vials placed on a sample vial tray mounted on a sample rack positioned in a designated location. The sample rack has one or more tray mounting areas for mounting the sample bottle trays. The flow-through sample bottle tray assembly includes: A flow-through sample vial tray, mounted on the tray mounting area of ​​the sample holder, has sidewalls defining the tray mounting area as a region for holding flow-through sample vials, and has drain ports on the sidewalls for discharging leaked liquid accumulated on the bottom surface of the flow-through sample vial tray to the outside of the flow-through sample vial tray; and A leakage guide is configured to be located near the sample holder at the designated position and to form a flow path that receives leakage liquid flowing from the drain port of the flow-through sample bottle tray and guides it to the drain flow path.

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