Cleaning device and cleaning system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a cleaning device and a cleaning system, the cleaning device is used for cleaning a test container of an atomized matrix, and the cleaning device comprises a box body and at least two positioning pieces; the box body is provided with a containing cavity and a collecting cavity, the box body is provided with at least one vent hole used for introducing purging gas, and the vent hole is sequentially communicated with the containing cavity and the collecting cavity; the positioning pieces are arranged in the containing cavity, and each positioning piece is provided with a plurality of positioning holes which are distributed at intervals and used for the test containers to penetrate through. The box body provides a closed accommodating cavity for the test container, so that the test container is prevented from being in direct contact with liquid in a cleaning tank of the ultrasonic cleaning machine; the plurality of positioning holes distributed at intervals in the positioning piece in the accommodating cavity can effectively fix the positions of the plurality of test containers, so that the risk of resonance breakage of the plurality of test containers is reduced; moreover, before ultrasonic cleaning of the test container, blowing gas can be introduced through the vent holes in the box body, so that chips in the test container are blown out to the collection cavity, and the risk that the chips scratch the inner wall surface of the test container is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of cleaning technology for atomized matrix test containers, and in particular to a cleaning device and cleaning system. Background Technology

[0002] A nebulizer is a device that heats and atomizes a matrix to produce mist / vapor / aerosol. The atomized matrix requires a gas chromatograph (GC) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for component analysis and other tests. The injection port liner (or simply liner) is a key component of GC and GC-MS instruments, made of quartz glass, and primarily used for sample vaporization, preventing sample overload, and protecting the chromatographic column. Typically, the liner needs to be cleaned and reused. Currently, the common method for cleaning liners is ultrasonic cleaning followed by drying. During cleaning, the liner is placed directly in a beaker containing cleaning solution, which is then placed in the cleaning tank of an ultrasonic cleaner. Simultaneous cleaning of multiple liners can easily lead to resonance and breakage, and the inert coating on the inner wall of the liner is easily damaged. Secondly, because one end of the beaker is open, liquid from the ultrasonic cleaner's cleaning tank can easily splash into the beaker and come into contact with the liner. The liquid in the ultrasonic cleaner's cleaning tank is usually not clean enough, resulting in incomplete cleaning of the liner and the presence of impurities. Furthermore, after prolonged use, the inner wall of the liner is prone to retaining high-boiling-point unvaporized substances, inlet septum fragments, and glass wool debris. These debris increase the risk of scratching the inner wall of the liner during ultrasonic cleaning. Utility Model Content

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by this application is to provide a cleaning device and a cleaning system that address at least one of the deficiencies mentioned in the background art.

[0004] In some embodiments, a cleaning device is provided for cleaning a test container of an atomized matrix, comprising a housing and at least two positioning members; the housing has a receiving cavity and a collecting cavity, and the housing has at least one vent for receiving purge gas, the vent being sequentially connected to the receiving cavity and the collecting cavity; the positioning members are disposed within the receiving cavity, each positioning member having a plurality of spaced positioning holes through which the test container passes.

[0005] In some embodiments, a plurality of elastic pads are also included, with at least one elastic pad provided in each of the positioning holes.

[0006] In some embodiments, the minimum interval between adjacent positioning holes on the same positioning element is 1 to 3 mm.

[0007] In some embodiments, at least one sealing element is further included, the sealing element being adapted to the vent hole, and the sealing element being detachably installed at the vent hole.

[0008] In some embodiments, the inner wall surface of the vent hole is provided with an internal thread, and the outer wall surface of the sealing member is provided with an external thread, wherein the external thread and the internal thread are adapted to each other; or, the sealing member and the vent hole are interference-fitted.

[0009] In some embodiments, the system further includes a cover, wherein the housing has an opening at a position corresponding to the collection chamber, the cover is placed over the opening, and the cover and the housing are rotatably connected or detachably connected.

[0010] In some embodiments, the housing and the cover are respectively provided with a first magnetic attractor and a second magnetic attractor, and the housing and the cover are magnetically connected through the first magnetic attractor and the second magnetic attractor; or, the housing and the cover are respectively provided with a first latching member and a second latching member, and the housing and the cover are fastened together through the first latching member and the second latching member.

[0011] In some embodiments, the enclosure is made of a transparent material.

[0012] In some embodiments, the housing is a cuboid, and the vent is located on the short side of the housing.

[0013] In some embodiments, this application also provides a cleaning system comprising an ultrasonic cleaner and the cleaning apparatus described in any of the above embodiments, wherein the ultrasonic cleaner has a cleaning tank for placing the cleaning apparatus.

[0014] According to the cleaning device of the above embodiment, the housing can provide a sealed accommodating cavity for the test container (e.g., liner) of the atomized matrix, avoiding direct contact between the test container and the liquid in the cleaning tank of the ultrasonic cleaner; the multiple spaced positioning holes on the positioning member in the accommodating cavity can effectively fix the position of multiple test containers, reducing the risk of multiple test containers resonating and breaking; and before ultrasonic cleaning of the test container, purge gas can be introduced through the vent on the housing to blow out the debris inside the test container to the collection cavity, reducing the risk of these debris scratching the inner wall surface of the test container during ultrasonic cleaning. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 These are three-dimensional structural diagrams of the cleaning system in some embodiments;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional perspective structural diagram of the cleaning device with a liner in some embodiments.

[0017] The accompanying figure is labeled as follows:

[0018] 1-Cleaning device, 10-Box body, 11-Containing cavity, 12-Collection cavity, 13-Ventilation hole, 14-Sealing component, 15-Opening;

[0019] 20 - Positioning element, 21 - Positioning hole;

[0020] 30 - Liner;

[0021] 40 - Cover;

[0022] 50 - Ultrasonic cleaning machine; 51 - Cleaning tank;

[0023] In the attached figures, the reference numerals include solid arrow leaders and arrowless leaders. Solid arrow leaders point to virtual space, while arrowless leaders point to solid structures. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Similar elements in different embodiments are referred to by related similar element reference numerals. In the following embodiments, many details are described to facilitate a better understanding of the present application. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that some features may be omitted in different situations, or may be replaced by other elements, materials, or methods. In some cases, certain operations related to the present application are not shown or described in the specification. This is to avoid obscuring the core parts of the present application with excessive description. For those skilled in the art, detailed description of these related operations is not necessary; they can fully understand the related operations based on the description in the specification and general technical knowledge in the art.

[0025] Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any suitable manner to form various embodiments. At the same time, the steps or actions in the method description can be rearranged or adjusted in a manner obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various orders in the specification and drawings are only for the clear description of a particular embodiment and do not imply a necessary order, unless otherwise stated that a particular order must be followed.

[0026] The serial numbers assigned to components in this document, such as "first" and "second," are used only to distinguish the described objects and have no sequential or technical meaning. The terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this application, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (linkages).

[0027] Please see Figure 1In some embodiments, this application provides a liner cleaning system, which includes an ultrasonic cleaner 50 and a cleaning device 1. The cleaning device 1 and the ultrasonic cleaner 50 are used in conjunction. Specifically, in some embodiments, the ultrasonic cleaner 50 includes a cleaning tank 51, an ultrasonic generator (not shown), and an ultrasonic transducer (not shown). The cleaning tank 51 is used to hold liquid and the cleaning device 1. The ultrasonic generator is the core driving component of the ultrasonic cleaner 50, used to convert electrical energy into high-frequency electrical signals; the ultrasonic transducer is used to convert the high-frequency electrical signals generated by the ultrasonic generator into mechanical vibrations. The ultrasonic transducer is generally installed at the bottom or side of the cleaning tank 51 to ensure uniform propagation of ultrasonic waves in the liquid.

[0028] Cleaning device 1 is used to clean the test container of the atomizing matrix. The atomizing matrix refers to the atomizing matrix used in the atomizing device, which generates mist / vapor / aerosol by heating the atomizing matrix. The test container of the atomizing matrix refers to the container used in tests such as component analysis. For example, in some embodiments, the test container of the atomizing matrix includes a liner 30 of a gas chromatograph (GC) and / or a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system. The liner 30 is an important component of the sample introduction system and is typically made of quartz glass or stainless steel. The liner 30 is approximately 10 cm long and 1 cm in diameter. The liner 30 is the vaporization chamber after the liquid sample (e.g., a liquid atomizing matrix) is introduced, where the sample is heated and instantly vaporized.

[0029] Please see Figure 2In some embodiments, the cleaning device 1 includes a housing 10 and at least two positioning elements 20. A gap is left between adjacent positioning elements 20. The housing 10 has a receiving cavity 11 and a collecting cavity 12. All positioning elements 20 are disposed within the receiving cavity 11, and each positioning element 20 has multiple spaced positioning holes 21 through which a test container for the atomized matrix passes. The liner 30 is described below as the test container; however, in other embodiments, the liner 30 may be replaced with other specific test containers. Each positioning hole 21 allows one liner 30 to pass through; the shape and size of each positioning hole 21 are adapted to the liner 30, providing support and positioning for the liner 30. The liner 30 passing through the positioning hole 21 means that the liner 30 passes through at least a portion of the cavity of the positioning hole 21; for example, the liner 30 may pass through the entire cavity of one of the positioning holes 21; or, the liner 30 may have its end inserted into the cavity of one of the positioning holes 21, with the end of the liner 30 only passing through a portion of the cavity of the positioning hole 21 and its end abutting against the inner wall of the positioning hole 21. The liner 30 to be cleaned can be placed in the receiving cavity 11 and supported and fixed by the positioning holes 21. Each liner 30 is positioned by at least two positioning holes 21; that is, each liner 30 is positioned at at least two points. Each positioning member 20 is provided with multiple positioning holes 21, which can be used for positioning multiple liner 30s.

[0030] The housing 10 has at least one vent 13. The vent 13 connects the external atmospheric environment and the receiving cavity 11. The receiving cavity 11 and the collecting cavity 12 are connected. The vent 13 sequentially connects the receiving cavity 11 and the collecting cavity 12. That is, the external atmospheric environment, the vent 13, the receiving cavity 11, and the collecting cavity 12 are sequentially connected. Thus, one end of the liner 30 placed in the receiving cavity 11 is connected to the vent 13, and the other end of the liner 30 placed in the receiving cavity 11 is connected to the collecting cavity 12. The vent 13 is used to introduce purge gas. The purge gas is used to purge the liner 30 in the receiving cavity 11. The purge gas may include inert gas and air, etc. The purge gas introduced from the vent 13 flows from the end of the liner 30 near the vent 13 to the end of the liner 30 near the collection chamber 12. The purge gas flows through the inside of the liner 30 and can blow the debris and fragments attached to the inner wall of the liner 30 into the collection chamber 12.

[0031] When using the cleaning device 1 of the above embodiment, the liner 30 can be placed into the receiving cavity 11 of the housing 10, and a single liner 30 can be passed through at least two positioning holes 21 in sequence to fix the liner 30 at two points. If multiple liner 30s need to be cleaned at the same time, multiple liner 30s can be fixed in different positioning holes 21 respectively. After the liner 30 is positioned, a pipe can be connected to the vent hole 13, and the end of the pipe away from the vent hole 13 is connected to the air source of the purging gas. Purging gas is introduced through the vent hole 13 to blow the debris and debris attached to the inner wall surface of the liner 30 into the collection cavity 12. Then, the debris and debris in the collection cavity 12 are poured out, and cleaning liquid is poured into the collection cavity 12 to immerse the liner 30 in the cleaning liquid. Then, the housing 10 containing the liner 30 and the cleaning liquid is placed in the cleaning tank 51 of the ultrasonic cleaner 50. The cleaning tank 51 contains liquid. The ultrasonic transducer converts the high-frequency electrical signal generated by the ultrasonic generator into mechanical vibration. The vibration wave is transmitted sequentially to the liquid in the cleaning tank 51, the cleaning fluid in the housing 10, and the cleaning fluid in the collection chamber 12, performing ultrasonic vibration cleaning on the liner 30. That is, the cleaning fluid used to immerse the liner 30 and the liquid in the cleaning tank 51 of the ultrasonic cleaner 50 are isolated by the housing 10. The liquid in the cleaning tank 51 of the ultrasonic cleaner 50 is usually not clean enough; the housing 10 isolation prevents direct contact between the liner 30 and the liquid in the cleaning tank 51 of the ultrasonic cleaner 50. During the ultrasonic vibration cleaning of the liner 30, since the debris and debris inside the liner 30 have been cleaned beforehand, the risk of these debris scratching the inner wall of the liner 30 is effectively reduced. The entire cleaning device 1 can improve cleaning efficiency while also increasing cleaning safety and convenience.

[0032] After the liner 30 is cleaned by ultrasonic vibration, the operator can directly remove the housing 10 from the cleaning tank 51 of the ultrasonic cleaner 50, and connect the purge gas through the vent 13 to blow out and air dry the cleaning liquid remaining on the inner wall of the liner 30. That is, the vent 13 used to connect the purge gas can also serve to air dry the cleaned liner 30.

[0033] In summary, according to the cleaning device 1 of the above embodiments, the housing 10 provides a sealed accommodating cavity 11 for the test container (e.g., liner 30) of the atomized matrix, preventing direct contact between the test container and the liquid in the cleaning tank 51 of the ultrasonic cleaner 50; the multiple spaced positioning holes 21 on the positioning member 20 in the accommodating cavity 11 can effectively fix the position of multiple test containers, reducing the risk of multiple test containers resonating and breaking; and, before ultrasonic cleaning of the test containers, purge gas can be introduced through the vent hole 13 on the housing 10 to blow out the debris inside the test containers to the collection cavity 12, reducing the risk of these debris scratching the inner wall surface of the test containers during ultrasonic vibration cleaning. In some embodiments, multiple elastic pads (not shown) are also included, with at least one elastic pad provided in each positioning hole 21. The elastic pad can fit tightly with the liner 30 to prevent the liner 30 from slipping. Specifically, the elastic pad is made of materials such as silicone or rubber. In some embodiments, the elastic pad can be annular, and the annular elastic pad and the liner 30 are interference-fitted. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the elastic pad may be of other shapes, as long as it can contact the liner 30.

[0034] In some embodiments, the minimum interval between adjacent positioning holes 21 on the same positioning element 20 is 1 to 3 mm. This ensures that there is sufficient interval between adjacent positioning holes 21 on the same positioning element 20 to prevent the individual liner tubes 30 from resonating and breaking during ultrasonic cleaning.

[0035] In some embodiments, the cleaning device 1 further includes at least one sealing element 14, which is adapted to the vent 13 and is detachably installed at the vent 13. When purge gas is not required, the sealing element 14 seals the vent 13, ensuring the airtightness of the accommodating cavity 11. When purge gas is required, the sealing element 14 can be removed from the vent 13.

[0036] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the inner wall surface of the vent 13 is provided with internal threads, and the outer wall surface of the sealing member 14 is provided with external threads. The external threads and internal threads are compatible, thereby achieving a tight connection between the vent 13 and the sealing member 14. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the sealing member 14 and the vent 13 are interference-fitted, and the inner wall surfaces of the sealing member 14 and the vent 13 are tightly fitted together by the interference fit force, giving the vent 13 good sealing performance. Furthermore, for better sealing effect, the sealing member 14 can be an elastic element, and can be made of materials such as silicone or rubber.

[0037] like Figure 2As shown, in some embodiments, the cleaning device 1 further includes a cover 40. The housing 10 has an opening 15 at the position corresponding to the collection chamber 12, and the cover 40 is placed over the opening 15. The cover 40 and the housing 10 are rotatably connected or detachably connected. After the cover 40 covers the opening 15, it can ensure the sealing of the collection chamber 12 and the receiving chamber 11. The opening 15 is used to pour out the debris and fragments in the collection chamber 12, and can also be used to add cleaning fluid to the collection chamber 12. Specifically, after the purging gas is introduced through the vent 13, the debris and fragments attached to the inner wall of the liner 30 are blown into the collection chamber 12. Subsequently, the operator can open the cover 40, pour out the debris and fragments in the collection chamber 12 through the exposed opening 15, and then pour the cleaning fluid into the collection chamber 12 through the opening 15, so that the liner 30 is immersed in the cleaning fluid. Then, the cover 40 is closed and the opening 15 is covered to ensure the sealing of the collection chamber 12 and the receiving chamber 11. The sealed housing 10, with the cover 40 closed, is then placed into the ultrasonic cleaner 50 for ultrasonic cleaning of the liner 30. This prevents the liner 30 from directly contacting the liquid in the cleaning tank 51 of the ultrasonic cleaner 50. Furthermore, to increase the seal between the cover 40 and the opening 15, the cleaning device 1 may also include a sealing ring that fits the opening 15. The sealing ring can be fixed to the housing 10 along the edge contour of the opening 15, or it can be fixed to the cover 40. When the cover 40 is closed, the sealing ring seals the gap between the cover 40 and the opening 15, ensuring good sealing of the housing 10 before it is placed into the ultrasonic cleaner. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, when the housing 10 is placed into the ultrasonic cleaner 50, the opening 15 of the housing 10 may face upwards, and the top surface of the housing 10 may not directly contact the liquid in the cleaning tank 51 of the ultrasonic cleaner 50.

[0038] In some embodiments, the housing 10 and the cover 40 are respectively provided with a first magnetic attractor (not shown) and a second magnetic attractor (not shown). Specifically, the first magnetic attractor can be disposed near the opening 15 of the housing 10, and can be disposed on the outer or inner surface of the housing 10; the second magnetic attractor can be disposed on the surface of the cover 40 facing the inside of the collection cavity 12. The housing 10 and the cover 40 are magnetically connected by the first magnetic attractor and the second magnetic attractor. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the housing 10 and the cover 40 are respectively provided with a first latching member (not shown) and a second latching member (not shown), and the housing 10 and the cover 40 are fastened together by the first latching member and the second latching member. One of the first latching member and the second latching member can be formed with a groove, and the other can be formed with a protrusion. The first latching member and the second latching member are fastened together by the engagement of the protrusion and the groove.

[0039] In some embodiments, the enclosure 10 is made of a transparent material. The transparent material may include one or more of transparent glass, transparent plastic, quartz, and transparent resin. Transparent plastics may include polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Further, the transparent material is not limited to the above-mentioned materials; the transparent material of the enclosure 10 only needs to be able to conduct ultrasonic waves. This allows visualization of the interior of the enclosure 10, enabling personnel to visually observe the cleaning process of the lining tube 30 inside the enclosure 10.

[0040] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the housing 10 is a cuboid with two short sides and two long sides. The liner 30 is placed within the receiving cavity 11 along the extending direction of the long side; that is, the length direction of the liner 30 placed within the receiving cavity 11 is consistent with the extending direction of the long side of the housing 10. A vent 13 is provided on the short side of the housing 10. Thus, the airflow direction of the purge gas entering through the vent 13 is consistent with the length direction of the liner 30, resulting in better airflow stability.

[0041] The above-described specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this invention. Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains can make various simple deductions, modifications, or substitutions based on the concept of this invention.

Claims

1. A cleaning device for cleaning test containers of atomized substrates, characterized in that, include: The housing (10) has a receiving cavity (11) and a collecting cavity (12), and the housing (10) has at least one vent (13) for receiving purge gas, the vent (13) being connected in sequence to the receiving cavity (11) and the collecting cavity (12); At least two positioning elements (20) are disposed within the accommodating cavity (11), each of the positioning elements (20) having a plurality of spaced positioning holes (21) through which the test container passes.

2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a plurality of elastic pads, with at least one of the elastic pads provided in each of the positioning holes (21).

3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The minimum interval between adjacent positioning holes (21) on the same positioning element (20) is 1 to 3 mm.

4. The cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes at least one sealing element (14) that is adapted to the vent (13) and is detachably mounted at the vent (13).

5. The cleaning device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The inner wall of the vent (13) is provided with an internal thread, and the outer wall of the sealing member (14) is provided with an external thread, the external thread and the internal thread being compatible; Alternatively, the sealing element (14) and the vent (13) are interference-fitted.

6. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a cover (40), the box (10) has an opening (15) at the position corresponding to the collection chamber (12), the cover (40) is placed on the opening (15), and the cover (40) and the box (10) are rotatably connected or detachably connected.

7. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The box (10) and the cover (40) are respectively provided with a first magnetic attractor and a second magnetic attractor, and the box (10) and the cover (40) are magnetically connected through the first magnetic attractor and the second magnetic attractor; Alternatively, the box body (10) and the cover body (40) are respectively provided with a first fastener and a second fastener, and the box body (10) and the cover body (40) are fastened together by the first fastener and the second fastener.

8. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The box (10) is made of transparent material.

9. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The box (10) is a cuboid, and the vent (13) is located on the short side of the box (10).

10. A cleaning system, characterized in that, Includes an ultrasonic cleaner (50) and a cleaning device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the ultrasonic cleaner (50) has a cleaning tank (51) for placing the cleaning device (1).

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