Storage tank

Abstract

To provide a storage tank capable of completely discharging a sheath liquid from the inside.SOLUTION: The storage tank 20 is equipped with a main body part 22 in which a storage part for storing the sheath liquid is formed, a liquid quantity sensor 30 for detecting the quantity of the sheath liquid stored in the storage part, a sending-out hole 24 which is formed on the side 22A of the bottom part of the storage part and sends out the sheath liquid, and an introducing pipe 40 for introducing the sheath liquid from the upper part of the main body part to the storage part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage tank for storing sheath liquid. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, devices for analyzing formed elements in urine, for example, have been used as sample analysis and measurement devices. In these measurement devices, sheath fluid is supplied to a flow cell together with the specimen, and the formed elements contained in the specimen are detected (see Patent Document 1). The sheath fluid is supplied to the flow cell from a sheath fluid reservoir. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2020-173106 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the storage tank of Patent Document 1, the sheath fluid is discharged from the top of the sheath fluid storage section, making it difficult to completely drain the sheath fluid from the storage tank during maintenance, cleaning, or when moving the device.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a storage tank that can completely discharge sheath liquid from the inside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The storage tank of the present disclosure includes a main body having a storage section formed therein for storing sheath fluid, a fluid level sensor for detecting the amount of sheath fluid stored in the storage section, a delivery hole formed in the bottom of the storage section for delivering the sheath fluid, and an introduction tube for introducing the sheath fluid from an upper part of the main body to the storage section.

[0007] In the storage tank of the present disclosure, when the liquid level at a steady sheath liquid volume detected by the liquid volume sensor is defined as a steady liquid level position, it is preferable that the tip of the introduction tube is positioned below the steady liquid level position, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the sheath liquid is provided on the introduction tube below the steady liquid level position, and an air vent hole for venting air from inside the introduction tube is formed above the steady liquid level position.

[0008] In the storage tank of the present disclosure, it is preferable that the bottom of the storage section is formed with a slope with the delivery hole as the lowest point.

[0009] In the storage tank of the present disclosure, it is preferable that a discharge hole be formed in addition to the delivery hole at the bottom of the storage portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the storage tank of the present disclosure, the sheath liquid can be completely discharged from the inside. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a measurement device in which a storage tank according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a storage tank according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, as appropriate, arrows UP and DN in the drawings indicate the vertically upward and vertically downward directions, respectively.

[0013] The storage tank 20 of this embodiment stores sheath fluid S used for measurement by the measurement device 10. The measurement device 10 analyzes a sample using sheath fluid, and can be an example of a urine formed element analyzer.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the measurement device 10 includes a flow cell 12, a first pump 14, a second pump 15, a suction nozzle 16, piping connecting these, a storage tank 20, and a control device 18.

[0015] The suction nozzle 16 is used to aspirate the specimen contained in the spitz tube 13. The spitz tube 13 contains a specimen such as urine collected from a human body.

[0016] Flow cell 12 has a confluence channel 12A where the specimen and sheath fluid converge, and the specimen is measured by acquiring an image at a predetermined measurement position in confluence channel 12A. After measurement, the specimen and sheath fluid are discharged from flow cell 12 and collected, for example, in a waste liquid tank (not shown).

[0017] The piping includes L3 connecting the storage tank 20 with the first pump 14 and the second pump 15, L2 connecting the second pump 15 with the specimen inlet 12B of the flow cell 12, L5 connecting the first pump 14 with the sheath liquid inlet 12C of the flow cell 12, L6 connecting the piping L5 with the piping L2, and L1 connecting the suction nozzle 16 with the piping L2 (farther from the flow cell 12 than L6). These pipings are provided with switching valves (not shown), and predetermined flow paths are formed by switching the switching valves.

[0018] The first pump 14 is connected to the suction nozzle 16 via pipes L5, L6, L2, and L1, and aspirates the sample from the spitz tube 13. The first pump 14 is also connected to the storage tank 20 via pipe L3, and supplies sheath liquid from the storage tank 20 to the flow cell 12.

[0019] The second pump 15 is connected to the flow cell 12 via a pipe L2, and supplies the sample stored in the pipe L2 to the flow cell 12 by suction using the first pump 14. The second pump 15 is also connected to a storage tank 20 via a pipe L3, and supplies sheath liquid from the storage tank 20 to the flow cell 12.

[0020] The reservoir tank 20 is used to temporarily store the sheath fluid S delivered from the sheath fluid container A, and is a container made of a material with excellent chemical resistance, such as glass or synthetic resin. The sheath fluid is delivered from the sheath fluid container A to the reservoir tank 20 via a pipe L7. The capacity of the reservoir tank 20 can be set to 20 ml to 300 ml.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the storage tank 20 has a main body 22. The main body 22 has a bottom 22A, side portions 22B, and an upper portion 22C. A slope 22D is formed in the bottom portion 22A, and a delivery connection portion 25 is formed at the bottom of the slope 22D in correspondence with a delivery hole 24 that opens downward. A pipe L3 is connected to the delivery connection portion 25. A discharge hole 26 that opens downward is formed at the upper portion of the slope 22D. The discharge hole 26 is closed with a plug 27.

[0022] Side portion 22B is formed continuously from bottom portion 22A and has a cylindrical shape that gradually increases in diameter toward the top. Top portion 22C is shaped like a lid that closes the opening of side portion 22B. Sheath fluid S is stored in reservoir 20A formed within main body 22, and the liquid level is controlled to be maintained at a steady liquid level L0, which is a predetermined full-fill position.

[0023] An inlet hole 22C-1 and an exhaust hole 22C-2 are formed in the upper portion 22C. An inlet pipe 40 is attached to the inlet hole 22C-1, and an exhaust connection member 44 is attached to the exhaust hole 22C-2.

[0024] The introduction pipe 40 extends in the vertical direction, and the entire introduction pipe serves as a temperature sensor 42 capable of detecting temperature. A tip 40A of the temperature sensor 42 is located below the steady-state liquid level L0, and is always located in the sheath liquid during operation of the measurement device 10 so as to detect the temperature of the sheath liquid. The tip 40A of the introduction pipe 40 is preferably located below the midpoint between the lowest part of the bottom 22A and the steady-state liquid level L0.

[0025] An air vent hole 41 is formed in the introduction tube 40 above the steady-state liquid level position L0. When the measurement device 10 is in operation, the air vent hole 41 is always located outside the sheath liquid, i.e., above the steady-state liquid level position L0. The air vent hole 41 removes air introduced together with the sheath liquid from the introduction tube 40. This prevents air from being introduced into the stored sheath liquid. The inner diameter of the introduction tube 30 can be 1 mm to 5 mm, and the diameter of the air vent hole 41 can be approximately 0.5 mm to 4 mm.

[0026] The exhaust connection member 44 is a hollow tube, one end of which is located above the steady-state liquid level position L0 inside the main body 22, and the other end of which is connected to a pipe L4 that is open to the outside. An air pump 11 (see FIG. 1) is provided in the pipe L4, and the sheath fluid is introduced from the sheath fluid container A into the reservoir tank 20 by discharging the air inside the reservoir tank 20 to the outside.

[0027] The liquid level sensor 30 is a so-called float-type liquid level sensor, and includes a shaft 32, a float 34, and a stopper 36. The shaft 32 is inserted into the main body 22 from the upper portion 22C. The float 34 is attached so as to be able to move up and down along the shaft 32 in accordance with the water level. The liquid level sensor 30 is connected to the control device 18, and sends water level data within the main body 22 to the control device. The control device 18 controls the output of the air pump 11 so that the water level data matches the steady-state liquid level position L0. Note that an optical or ultrasonic sensor can also be used as the liquid level sensor.

[0028] The control device 18 is connected to the first pump 14, the second pump 15, the liquid volume sensor 30, the liquid supply pump 11A, the air supply pump 11B, etc. The control device 18 controls the operation of each part of the measuring device 10 based on data and programs stored therein, acquired data received from the measuring device 10, etc.

[0029] The control device 18 controls the operation of the air pump 11 to introduce the sheath fluid in the sheath fluid container A into the storage tank 20. Specifically, when the liquid volume sensor 30 detects a water level within the steady liquid level position L0, the control device 18 stops the air pump 11. When the liquid volume sensor 30 detects a water level below the steady liquid level position L0, the control device 18 drives the air pump 11 to reduce the pressure in the storage tank 20 and introduce the sheath fluid in the sheath fluid container A into the storage tank 20. As a result, the sheath fluid in the storage tank 20 is maintained at the steady liquid level position L0.

[0030] During maintenance or cleaning of the storage tank 20, or when the device is moved, the pump 14 is used to completely drain the sheath fluid from the storage tank 20. The outlet hole 24 is provided in the bottom 22A and opens downward, so that the sheath fluid can be completely drained from the storage tank 20. In particular, in this embodiment, the outlet hole 24 is formed at the lowest part of the slope, so that the sheath fluid can be smoothly drained.

[0031] Furthermore, by removing the plug 27 inserted into the drain hole 26, the sheath fluid can also be discharged from the drain hole 26, thereby shortening the time required to discharge the sheath fluid.

[0032] Furthermore, since the tip 40A of the introduction tube 40 extends below the steady-state liquid level position L0, disturbance of the liquid level can be suppressed when introducing the sheath liquid into the storage tank 20, compared to when the sheath liquid flows down from above the liquid level. This makes it possible to suppress false detection when an optical or ultrasonic liquid level sensor is used.

[0033] Furthermore, a temperature sensor 42 is provided at the tip 40A of the introduction tube 40, and since the temperature sensor 42 is positioned below the steady-state liquid level position L0, it is possible to detect the temperature of the stored sheath liquid.

[0034] Furthermore, an air vent hole 41 is formed in the introduction tube 40 above the steady-state liquid level position L0, allowing air introduced along with the sheath liquid to be vented through the introduction tube 40. This prevents air from being introduced into the stored sheath liquid, and prevents the dissolved oxygen concentration of the sheath liquid from increasing. This is useful because a high dissolved oxygen concentration in the sheath liquid makes it more likely for bubbles to be generated due to temperature changes. Furthermore, since disturbance of the liquid level can be suppressed, false detection can be suppressed when an optical or ultrasonic liquid level sensor is used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 20 Storage Tank 22 Main body 22D slope 24 Outlet hole 30 Liquid level sensor 40 Introductory tube 42 Temperature Sensor L0 Steady liquid level position

Claims

1. a main body portion having a reservoir portion formed therein for storing sheath liquid; a fluid volume sensor that detects the amount of sheath fluid stored in the reservoir; a delivery hole formed in a bottom of the reservoir for delivering the sheath fluid; an introduction tube for introducing sheath fluid from an upper portion of the main body to the reservoir; A storage tank equipped with

2. If the liquid level at a steady sheath liquid level detected by the liquid level sensor is defined as a steady liquid level position, The tip of the introduction pipe is located below the steady liquid level position, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the sheath liquid is provided below the steady-state liquid level position in the introduction tube; an air vent hole for venting air from the inlet pipe is formed above the steady liquid level position; The storage tank of claim 1 .

3. The bottom of the storage section is formed with a slope with the delivery hole at the lowest point. The storage tank of claim 1 .

4. A discharge hole is formed in the bottom of the storage section in addition to the delivery hole. The storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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