Liquid dispensing device

Abstract

To provide a liquid dispensing device that can quantitatively collect even small amounts of liquid with high accuracy. [Solution] A liquid dispensing device for quantitatively sampling a liquid, comprising: a storage container for storing the liquid; and a quantitative pin that is movable relative to the storage container while in contact with the wall surface of the storage container, wherein a recess is formed in the contact surface where the quantitative pin and the wall surface of the storage container abut, and the recess is indented toward the quantitative pin side or the storage container side, and the quantitative pin is configured to be movable between a first position in which the recess is open to the inside of the storage container, a second position in which a sealed space is formed by the recess and the wall surface of the storage container, and a third position in which the recess is open to the outside of the storage container.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid discharge device for quantitatively collecting a liquid.

Background Art

[0002] When collecting a predetermined amount of liquid for liquid inspection or mixing with other liquids, it may be necessary to precisely measure and collect the amount of liquid. Particularly when precisely quantitatively collecting a small amount of liquid, special instruments and the skill of the operator are required. Patent Document 1 discloses a blood quantifier for quantitatively collecting blood. In the blood quantifier of Patent Document 1, a rod having a through-hole is inserted into an insertion hole while holding blood on the rod. By passing the rod through the insertion hole, the blood outside the through-hole is rubbed off, and the blood held in the through-hole is quantitatively collected. Patent Document 2 discloses a liquid quantitative filler for quantitatively filling a liquid. In the liquid quantitative filler of Patent Document 2, the liquid stored in the mother tank is transferred to the child tank, the mother tank and the child tank are separated by a valve, and then the liquid in the child tank is discharged downward.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the blood quantifier described in Patent Document 1, when a bubble is caught in the insertion hole, the bubble tries to escape upward due to buoyancy. However, since the insertion hole is formed in the horizontal direction, there is a possibility that the bubble cannot escape upward. In that case, there is a problem that the amount of blood to be collected decreases by the amount of the bubble, and the amount of blood cannot be precisely measured.

[0005] In the liquid quantitative filling device described in Patent Document 2, since the liquid is discharged from the sub-tank to the outside using only gravity acting on the liquid, there is a possibility that some liquid may adhere to the inner wall of the sub-tank and remain there. In that case, an error occurs in the amount of liquid discharged to the outside, which presents a problem in that the amount of liquid cannot be measured precisely.

[0006] The present invention provides a liquid dispensing device that can quantitatively collect even small amounts of liquid with high accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The liquid dispensing device of the present invention is a liquid dispensing device for quantitatively dispensing a liquid, comprising a storage container for storing the liquid, and a quantitative pin that is movable relative to the storage container while in contact with the wall surface of the storage container, wherein a recess is formed in the contact surface where the quantitative pin and the wall surface of the storage container abut, and the recess is recessed toward the quantitative pin side or toward the storage container side, and the quantitative pin is configured to be movable between a first position in which the recess is open to the inside of the storage container, a second position in which a sealed space is formed by the recess and the wall surface of the storage container, and a third position in which the recess is open to the outside of the storage container. In the liquid dispensing device configured as described above, when moving from the first position through the second position to the third position, the liquid stored in the storage container flows into the recess, and the liquid having a volume equal to the region of the recess formed on the contact surface between the metering pin and the wall surface of the storage container is moved from the inside to the outside of the storage container.

[0008] In the above configuration, the upper end of the recess of the quantitative pin may be configured to have an inclined portion whose diameter gradually decreases downwards. In the liquid dispensing device configured as described above, even if air bubbles are trapped in the recess of the quantitative pin when quantitatively sampling liquid, the inclined portion at the upper end of the recess allows the air bubbles to escape upward.

[0009] In the above configuration, the lower end of the recess of the quantitative pin may be configured to have an inclined portion whose diameter gradually increases downwards. In the liquid dispensing device configured as described above, the inclined portion at the lower end of the recess prevents the liquid inside the recess from remaining in it.

[0010] In the above configuration, the quantitative pin is inserted into a through hole formed in the bottom surface of the storage container, the quantitative pin is configured to move vertically within the through hole, and when the quantitative pin moves vertically within the through hole, the quantitative pin is configured to move between the first position, the second position, and the third position. In the liquid dispensing device configured as described above, when the recess of the metering pin moves from the top to the bottom of the through hole, the liquid stored in the storage container flows into the recess, and the liquid having a volume in the region enclosed by the recess and the through hole moves from the inside to the outside of the storage container.

[0011] In the above configuration, the storage container may have a limiting portion that restricts the downward movement of the quantitative pin, and when the downward movement of the quantitative pin is restricted by the limiting portion, the upper end of the recess may be positioned above the upper end of the through hole. In the liquid dispensing device configured as described above, when quantitative liquid sampling is not performed, the quantitative pin is held in the storage container such that the recess of the quantitative pin is positioned above the upper end of the through hole. In other words, the position of the quantitative pin is maintained with the liquid from the storage container entering the recess of the quantitative pin.

[0012] In the above configuration, the quantitative pin may be configured to be switchable between a first state in which downward movement is restricted by the limiting portion and a second state in which downward movement is not restricted by the limiting portion. In the liquid dispensing device configured as described above, the quantitative pin is kept in the first state when quantitative liquid sampling is not performed, and switched to the second state when quantitative liquid sampling is performed.

[0013] In the above configuration, the quantitative pin may be configured to have a positioning unit that positions it in the first state. In the liquid dispensing device configured as described above, the quantitative pin is positioned in the first state when quantitative sampling of liquid is not performed.

[0014] In the above configuration, the storage container may further include a filter for filtering the liquid when the liquid is injected into the storage container, and a piston that applies pressure to the liquid to facilitate its passage through the filter, wherein the piston can apply pressure to the liquid while the downward movement of the metering pin is restricted by the limiting portion. In the liquid dispensing device configured as described above, a filter is used to filter the liquid before it is injected into the storage container, and a piston is used to facilitate the liquid's passage through the filter. At this time, the pressure applied by the piston may be transmitted to the metering pin, but a limiting mechanism restricts the downward movement of the metering pin.

[0015] In the above configuration, the recess may be formed on the side surface of the quantitative pin. In the liquid dispensing device configured as described above, a predetermined volume of liquid is sealed between the metering pin and the wall of the storage container by allowing the liquid to flow into a recess formed on the side of the metering pin, thereby enabling quantitative sampling.

[0016] In the above configuration, the quantitative pin may be configured to be rotatable relative to the storage container, and when the quantitative pin rotates relative to the storage container, the quantitative pin may move between the first position, the second position, and the third position. In the liquid dispensing device configured as described above, when the metering pin rotates relative to the storage container, the liquid stored in the storage container flows into the recess, and the liquid having the volume of the region enclosed by the recess and the storage container moves from the inside to the outside of the storage container.

[0017] In the above configuration, a columnar protrusion protruding upward is formed on the bottom surface of the storage container, and a communication hole is formed in the metering pin so as to penetrate the metering pin in the vertical direction, and the protrusion may be configured to be inserted into the communication hole. In the liquid discharge device configured as described above, when the protrusion formed on the bottom surface of the storage container is inserted into the communication hole, the liquid level of the liquid flowing into the bottom surface of the storage container is raised.

[0018] In the above configuration, a gap may be formed between the outer periphery of the protrusion and the communication hole, and the outer periphery of the metering pin and the storage container may be configured to be in contact with each other. In the liquid discharge device configured as described above, the liquid flowing into the bottom surface of the storage container is introduced between the outer periphery of the protrusion and the communication hole without entering between the outer periphery of the metering pin and the storage container.

[0019] In the above configuration, the outer periphery of the protrusion and the communication hole may be in contact with each other, and a gap may be formed between the outer periphery of the metering pin and the storage container. In the liquid discharge device configured as described above, the liquid flowing into the bottom surface of the storage container is introduced between the outer periphery of the metering pin and the storage container without entering between the outer periphery of the protrusion and the communication hole.

[0020] In the above configuration, a discharge hole for discharging the liquid to the outside of the storage container may be formed on the side surface of the storage container. In the liquid discharge device configured as described above, the liquid flowing into the bottom surface of the storage container is discharged to the outside of the storage container through the discharge hole formed on the side surface of the storage container.

[0021] In the above configuration, the discharge hole may be formed at a position communicating with the recess at the third position. In the liquid discharge device configured as described above, by communicating the discharge hole with the recess at the third position, the liquid is discharged to the outside of the storage container.

[0022] In the above configuration, the recess may be formed on the wall surface of the storage container. In the liquid dispensing device configured as described above, a predetermined volume of liquid is sealed between the metering pin and the wall of the storage container by flowing the liquid into a recess formed in the wall of the storage container, thereby enabling quantitative sampling.

[0023] In the above configuration, a groove opening into the interior of the storage container is formed on the side surface of the quantitative pin, and a discharge hole for communicating the liquid with the outside of the storage container is formed on the side surface of the quantitative pin at a position different from the position where the groove is formed in the circumferential direction of the quantitative pin, and the recess is open to the interior of the storage container through the groove at the first position, and the recess is open to the outside of the storage container through the discharge hole at the third position.

[0024] In the liquid dispensing device configured as described above, grooves and discharge holes are formed at different positions in the circumferential direction on the side surface of the metering pin. By rotating the metering pin relative to the storage container, the device switches between a position where the recess opens into the storage container through the groove and a position where the recess opens to the outside of the storage container through the discharge hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid dispensing device that can quantitatively collect even small amounts of liquid with high precision. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0026] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing the entire liquid dispensing device. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the entire liquid dispensing device. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of a storage container. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of the storage container taken along line AA in Figure 3. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of the storage container taken along line BB in Figure 3. [Figure 6]This is a perspective view of a syringe. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view of the syringe cut along the CC line in Figure 6. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of the piston. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the liquid before quantitative sampling. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the storage container and the syringe in the state shown in Figure 9. [Figure 11] This is a cross-sectional view showing the state during the quantitative sampling of a liquid. [Figure 12] This is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the storage container and the syringe in the state shown in Figure 11. [Figure 13] This is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the liquid after quantitative sampling. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the storage container and syringe. [Figure 15] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the storage container and syringe. [Figure 16] This is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the storage container and syringe. [Figure 17] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the storage container and syringe. [Figure 18] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the storage container and syringe. [Figure 19] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the storage container and syringe. [Figure 20] This figure shows another embodiment of the quantitative pin. [Figure 21] This figure shows another embodiment of the quantitative pin. [Figure 22] This figure shows another embodiment of the quantitative pin. [Figure 23] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the liquid dispensing device. [Figure 24] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the liquid dispensing device. [Figure 25] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the liquid dispensing device. [Figure 26]This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the liquid dispensing device. [Figure 27] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the liquid dispensing device. [Figure 28] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the liquid dispensing device. [Figure 29] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the liquid dispensing device. [Figure 30] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the liquid dispensing device. [Figure 31] This is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the liquid dispensing device. [Figure 32] This figure shows another embodiment of a storage container and syringe. [Figure 33] This figure shows another embodiment of a storage container and syringe. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0027] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings shown as an example. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the entire liquid dispensing device 1. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the entire liquid dispensing device 1. The liquid dispensing device 1 is a device for quantitatively collecting liquid. In this embodiment, a device for quantitatively collecting plasma after separating it from blood using a filter will be described as an example. In other words, in this embodiment, plasma is used as the example liquid. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the liquid dispensing device 1 includes a storage container 10 for storing liquid before quantitative collection, a syringe 20 for injecting liquid into the storage container 10 and quantitatively collecting the liquid, a recovery tube 30 for collecting the quantitatively collected liquid, a filter 40 for separating a part of the components of the liquid injected into the syringe 20, and a piston 50 for applying pressure to the liquid injected into the syringe 20.

[0028] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the storage container 10. The storage container 10 is made of resin or the like and has a cylindrical shape with an upward opening. The storage container 10 has a cylindrical container body 11, an inclined portion 12 whose diameter gradually decreases below the container body 11, a circular flange 13 extending outward from the upper end of the side surface of the container body 11, and a circular flange 14 extending outward from the side surface of the lower end of the inclined portion 12.

[0029] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the storage container 10 taken along line AA in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the storage container 10 taken along line BB in Figure 3. The container body 11 has a cylindrical liquid storage space inside. The inclined portion 12 is formed below the container body 11 and is continuous with the container body 11. The interior of the inclined portion 12 has a conical liquid storage space formed so that the diameter gradually decreases downwards. At the lower end of the inclined portion 12, a through hole 15 with a circular cross-section is formed so as to penetrate vertically through the bottom surface of the storage container 10. A circular opening 16 is formed at the upper end of the container body 11. Two notches 17 are formed inside the opening 16. The notches 17 have a rectangular cross-sectional shape in plan view and side view and are formed from the upper end of the container body 11 to a predetermined height position. In other words, the circular opening 16 has a rectangular shape that protrudes radially outward at the positions of the two notches 17 on the circumference. The two notches 17 are formed at opposite positions on the circumference of the opening 16, that is, 180° apart. Two projections 18 are formed at positions adjacent to each notch 17 in the circumferential direction, projecting upward from the upper surface of the container body 11. The projections 18 have a rectangular cross-sectional shape in both plan and side views. The projections 18 are formed only on one side of the notch 17 in the circumferential direction, and not on the other side. It can also be said that the inner wall on one side of the notch 17 extends vertically upward beyond the upper surface of the container body 11 (flange 13). Furthermore, a projection 19 is formed at a position midway between the two notches 17 (projections 18) in the circumferential direction (approximately 90° apart from the notches 17), projecting upward from the upper surface of the container body 11. The projections 19 have a rectangular cross-sectional shape in both plan and side views.

[0030] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the syringe 20. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the syringe 20 taken along the CC line in Figure 6. The syringe 20 is made of resin or the like. The syringe 20 has a syringe body 21 with a cylindrical shape that opens upward, a cylindrical metering pin 22 that extends downward from the bottom surface of the syringe body 21, and a circular flange 23 that extends outward at the upper end of the syringe body 21. The metering pin 22 has a circular cross-sectional shape in plan view. The outer diameter of the metering pin 22 is formed to be approximately the same as (slightly smaller than) the inner diameter of the through hole 15 formed in the bottom surface of the storage container 10. The lower end of the metering pin 22 is inserted into the through hole 15 from above. The metering pin 22 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction within the through hole 15.

[0031] Two projections 24 are formed on the outer circumference of the syringe body 21, projecting outwards. The projections 24 have a rectangular cross-sectional shape in both plan and side views. The two projections 24 are formed on opposite sides of the circular opening 25 in a plan view, i.e., 180° apart. The external dimensions of the projections 24 are formed to be approximately the same as (slightly smaller than) the dimensions of the notch 17 formed on the inside of the container body 11 of the storage container 10. When the projections 24 are inserted into the notch 17, they are configured to slide vertically within the notch 17. This allows the syringe 20 to move vertically along the notch 17 relative to the storage container 10. Furthermore, when the projections 24 are positioned above the container body 11 (flange 13) of the storage container 10, the bottom surface of the projections 24 abuts against the top surface of the container body 11, allowing the syringe 20 to rotate horizontally on the container body 11.

[0032] A circular opening 25 is provided at the upper end of the syringe body 21. The syringe 20 is configured to allow liquid to be injected from above the opening 25. A circular communication hole 26 is formed in the center of the bottom surface of the syringe body 21. The communication hole 26 penetrates vertically through the center of the bottom surface of the syringe body 21 and diagonally crosses the metering pin 22, opening on the side of the metering pin 22. When liquid is injected into the syringe 20, the communication hole 26 functions as a liquid channel that guides the liquid from the bottom surface of the syringe body 21 through the metering pin 22 to the storage container 10.

[0033] A recess 27 is formed on the side of the quantitative pin 22 below the exit of the communication hole 26. The recess 27 is a portion of the quantitative pin 22 whose volume is reduced by a predetermined volume compared to the case where the outer shape of the quantitative pin 22 was assumed to be a perfect cylinder. As will be described in detail later, when the recess 27 moves from top to bottom through the through hole 15 formed in the bottom surface of the storage container 10, the liquid having a volume in the region enclosed by the recess 27 and the inner wall of the through hole 15 moves from the inside to the outside of the storage container 10. By designing the recess 27 to have a predetermined volume, a liquid of a predetermined volume can be moved from the storage container 10 to the recovery tube 30. The predetermined volume is, for example, 20 μl. As shown in the partially enlarged view of Figure 7, the upper end of the recess 27 has a linear inclined portion 27A in side view that gradually decreases in diameter toward the bottom. The lower end of the recess 27 has a linear inclined portion 27B in side view that gradually increases in diameter toward the bottom. Between the inclined portion 27A and the inclined portion 27B, an arc-shaped intermediate portion 27C is formed in a side view. The inclined portion 27A and the inclined portion 27B are inclined at an angle θ with respect to the vertical direction.

[0034] The recovery tube 30 has a cylindrical shape with an upward opening. The recovery tube 30 is positioned below the syringe 20. The upper end of the recovery tube 30 is configured to be detachably attached to the outside of the lower end of the storage container 10. When a quantitative amount of liquid is collected using the syringe 20 with the recovery tube 30 attached to the storage container 10, the liquid that flows out of the syringe 20 is collected by the recovery tube 30. The recovery tube 30 is pre-filled with a chemical solution, and the liquid collected quantitatively by the syringe 20 and the chemical solution filled inside the recovery tube 30 are mixed inside the recovery tube 30. As shown in Figure 1, a flange 31 extending outward is formed on the outer circumference of the recovery tube 30. When the liquid dispensing device 1 is placed on a rack or the like, the bottom surface of the flange 31 can support the liquid dispensing device 1.

[0035] A cylindrical filter 40 is positioned in the center of the bottom surface of the syringe body 21. The filter 40 is positioned to block the communication hole 26 on the bottom surface of the syringe body 21 from above. The liquid injected into the syringe 20 passes through the filter 40 before being introduced into the communication hole 26. The filter 40 is a device for separating some of the components of the liquid. By injecting the liquid into the communication hole 26 via the filter 40, some of the components in the liquid remain in the filter 40 and are not introduced into the communication hole 26. In this embodiment, only plasma is extracted from the blood by the filter 40 and the plasma is injected into the communication hole 26 as a liquid.

[0036] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the piston 50. The piston 50 is positioned above the syringe 20. The piston 50 has a piston body 51 inserted inside the syringe body 21 of the syringe 20, a flat plate portion 52 that can be pressed from above, a cylindrical shaft 53 connecting the piston body 51 and the flat plate portion 52, and an engaging portion 54 that engages with the flange 23 of the syringe 20. The piston body 51 has a circular outer shape in plan view. The outer diameter of the piston body 51 is formed to be approximately the same as (slightly smaller than) the inner diameter of the syringe body 21 of the syringe 20. The flat plate portion 52 is roughly circular in plan view and has a larger outer shape in plan view than the storage container 10 and the syringe 20. The engaging portion 54 has a vertical portion 54A that extends vertically downward from the bottom surface of the flat plate portion 52 and a claw portion 54B that extends radially inward from the lower end of the vertical portion 54A. The claw portion 54B has a flat surface on its upper side and an inclined portion on its lower side. The inclined portion gradually slopes upward toward the radially inward side. When the piston 50 is pressed downward toward the flange 23, force is applied to the inclined portion, causing the engaging portion 54 to elastically deform toward the radially outward side, and the flange 23 engages between the flat plate portion 52 and the engaging portion 54.

[0037] The operation of each component when quantitatively sampling liquid using the liquid dispensing device 1 will be explained below with reference to Figures 9 to 13. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the state before quantitative sampling of liquid, and Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the storage container 10 and the syringe 20 in that state. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the state during quantitative sampling of liquid, and Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the storage container 10 and the syringe 20 in that state. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the state after quantitative sampling of liquid.

[0038] In the state shown in Figures 9 and 10, the bottom surface of the projection 24 that protrudes outward from the syringe body 21 of the syringe 20 is positioned on the upper surface of the container body 11 (flange 13) of the storage container 10. At this time, the side surface of the projection 24 is in contact with the side surface of the projection 19 that protrudes upward from the container body 11, as shown in Figure 10. Because the projection 24 and projection 19 are in contact, the syringe 20 cannot rotate any further counterclockwise from the state shown in Figure 10. In other words, the projection 19 positions the syringe 20 horizontally relative to the storage container 10. In this state, even if the syringe 20 is pressed downward against the storage container 10, the downward movement of the syringe 20 (metering pin 22) is restricted because the bottom surface of the projection 24 is in contact with the upper surface of the container body 11. The state of the syringe 20 (metering pin 22) when its downward movement is restricted is called the first state.

[0039] With the downward movement of the syringe 20 restricted (first state), liquid is injected into the syringe 20 from above. After the liquid is injected, the piston body 51 of the piston 50 is placed on the upper opening 25 of the syringe body 21, and a downward force is applied to the syringe body 21 from above (flat plate portion 52) of the piston 50. The engagement portion 54 of the piston 50 elastically deforms, causing the flange 23 to lock between the flat plate portion 52 and the engagement portion 54. Figures 9 and 10 show the state in which the flange 23 is locked between the flat plate portion 52 and the engagement portion 54. As the piston 50 is fixed to the syringe 20 in a downward-pressurized state, a sealed space is formed between the bottom surface of the piston body 51 and the inner wall of the syringe body 21, pressurizing the liquid injected into the syringe 20. This facilitates the liquid passing through the filter 40. At this time, the downward movement of the syringe 20 is restricted by the projection 24, so even if a downward force is applied to the syringe 20 from the piston 50, the syringe 20 will not move downward relative to the storage container 10. The liquid that has passed through the filter 40 is discharged to the outside of the syringe 20 through the communication hole 26 via the inside of the syringe body 21. The outlet of the communication hole 26 is formed on the side of the metering pin 22, and since the metering pin 22 is inserted into the container body 11 of the storage container 10, the liquid discharged from the communication hole 26 is injected into the container body 11 and stored inside the container body 11. When the syringe 20 is in the first state, the upper end of the recess 27 formed below the metering pin 22 is located above the upper end of the through hole 15 of the storage container 10. Also, the lower end of the recess 27 is located above the lower end of the through hole 15 of the storage container 10. Furthermore, the upper end of the recess 27 is located below the liquid level of the liquid stored in the container body 11 of the storage container 10. In other words, the recess 27 is open to the inside of the storage container 10. The position of the syringe 20 relative to the storage container 10 at this time is called the first position.

[0040] Figures 11 and 12 show the state after the cylinder 20 has been rotated relative to the storage container 10 from the state shown in Figures 9 and 10. After the liquid has been stored in the storage container 10, the syringe 20 is rotated approximately 90° horizontally (clockwise in Figure 12) relative to the storage container 10. By rotating the cylinder 20, the projection 24 that was in contact with projection 19 moves away from projection 19 and comes into contact with projection 18. When projection 24 comes into contact with projection 18, projection 24 is positioned to overlap with the notch 17 in a plan view. In this state, projection 24 does not interfere with the upper surface of the container body 11, so it becomes possible to move the syringe 20 downward relative to the storage container 10. When the syringe 20 moves downward relative to the storage container 10, the liquid that has flowed into the recess 27 of the metering pin 22 is surrounded by the recess 27 and the inner wall of the through hole 15 in the state shown in Figure 11. In other words, a sealed space is formed when the recess 27 and the inner wall surface of the through-hole 15 of the storage container 10 come into contact, and a liquid with the same volume as this sealed space is sealed inside. The position of the syringe 20 relative to the storage container 10 at this time is called the second position.

[0041] If the syringe 20 is moved further downward relative to the storage container 10 from the state shown in Figures 11 and 12, the bottom surface of the projection 24 will come into contact with the bottom surface of the notch 17. Figure 13 shows the state in which the bottom surface of the projection 24 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the notch 17. When the bottom surface of the projection 24 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the notch 17, the lower end of the inclined portion 27B of the recess 27 is located below the lower end of the through hole 15 formed in the storage container 10. As a result, the area enclosed by the recess 27 and the inner wall of the through hole 15 is opened downward, and the liquid that was sealed between the recess 27 and the inner wall of the through hole 15 is injected into the recovery tube 30. In other words, the recess 27 is open to the outside of the storage container 10. The position of the syringe 20 relative to the storage container 10 at this time is called the third position. Since the syringe 20 is moved downward while the liquid is sealed, the liquid is discharged toward the recovery tube 30. As a result, the liquid having a volume in the region enclosed by the recess 27 and the inner wall of the through hole 15 is transferred from the storage container 10 to the recovery tube 30. The state of the syringe 20 (metering pin 22) when the projection 24 overlaps with the notch 17 and the downward movement of the syringe 20 (metering pin 22) is not restricted is called the second state.

[0042] As described above, in the liquid dispensing device 1 of the present invention, when the quantitative pin 22 moves from top to bottom while in contact with the wall surface of the through hole 15 of the storage container 10, and the recess 27 moves from the first position to the third position via the second position, a liquid having the volume of the region enclosed by the recess 27 and the through hole 15 can be moved from the inside to the outside of the storage container 10. By setting the recess 27 to a predetermined volume, the syringe 20 is moved downward while the liquid is sealed, so that a liquid of a predetermined volume can be dispensed and quantitatively collected. By forming an inclined portion 27A at the upper end of the recess 27, even if air bubbles are trapped in the recess 27, the air bubbles can be released upward. Furthermore, by forming an inclined portion 27B at the lower end of the recess 27, the downward discharge of liquid into the recess 27 can be further promoted. In other words, by adopting the above configuration, liquid can be quantitatively collected with high accuracy. The projection 24 of the syringe 20 contacts the upper surface of the container body 11 of the storage container 10, thereby functioning as a limiting part that restricts the downward movement of the metering pin 22 (syringe 20). When the downward movement of the metering pin 22 is restricted (when no quantitative liquid is being sampled), the upper end of the recess 27 is positioned above the upper end of the through hole 15, so that the liquid stored in the storage container 10 flows into the area enclosed by the recess 27 and the inner wall of the through hole 15. The metering pin 22 is configured to be switchable between a first state in which the projection 24 of the metering pin 22 contacts the upper surface of the flange 13 and restricts the downward movement of the metering pin 22, and a second state in which the projection 24 of the metering pin 22 overlaps with the notch 17 and the downward movement of the metering pin 22 is not restricted. This allows the quantitative pin 22 to be switched to a first state when injecting liquid into the storage container 10 or when applying pressure to the liquid with the piston 50, and to be switched to a second state only when quantitatively sampling liquid. The projection 19 formed on the upper surface of the container body 11 functions as a positioning part that positions the quantitative pin 22 in the first state. When quantitative sampling of liquid is not performed, the projection 19 can be used to position the quantitative pin 22 in the first state. Even when pressure is applied to the liquid with the piston 50 while the downward movement of the quantitative pin 22 is restricted, the syringe 20 can be prevented from moving downward relative to the storage container 10.

[0043] Figure 14 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the storage container and syringe, and Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view. In this embodiment, the only differences from the above-described embodiment are that the storage container 10 has been changed to a storage container 110, the syringe 20 has been changed to a syringe 120, and a spacer 130 has been added. The other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment. Below, only the differences from the above-described embodiment will be explained. The storage container 110 differs from the storage container 10 only in that it does not have the notches 17, protrusions 18 and 19. The syringe 120 differs from the syringe 20 only in that it does not have the protrusions 24. In this embodiment, instead of forming the notches 17, protrusions 18, protrusions 19 and 24, a spacer 130 separate from the storage container 110 and syringe 120 is provided. Figure 14 shows the spacer 130 removed from the syringe 120, and Figure 15 shows the spacer 130 attached to the syringe 120. The spacer 130 is preferably made of a flexible material such as resin. The spacer 130 has an annular gripping portion 131 with a cavity in the center, an annular spacer body 132 with a cavity in the center and a part cut out, and a connecting portion 133 that connects the gripping portion 131 and the spacer body 132. The spacer body 132 has an inner diameter that is approximately the same as (slightly larger than) the outer diameter of the syringe body 121 of the syringe 120. By elastically deforming the cut-out portion of the spacer body 132 to spread it outward, the spacer body 132 can be attached to and detached from the outer circumference of the syringe body 121. When the spacer body 132 is attached to the outer circumference of the syringe body 121, the spacer body 132 fills the vertical space between the storage container 110 and the syringe 120, as shown in Figure 15. In other words, if you try to move the syringe 120 downward relative to the storage container 110 from the state shown in Figure 15, the spacer 130 interferes between the storage container 110 and the syringe 120, restricting the downward movement of the syringe 120. As described above, in this embodiment, the spacer 130 functions as a limiting part that restricts the downward movement of the metering pin. When the spacer 130 is attached to the syringe 120, the syringe 120 enters a first state in which its downward movement is restricted by the limiting part.Furthermore, when the spacer 130 is removed from the syringe 120, the syringe 120 enters a second state in which its downward movement is not restricted by the limiting part. The device is configured to allow switching between the first and second states by attaching and detaching the spacer 130.

[0044] Figure 16 is a perspective view showing yet another embodiment of the storage container and syringe, and Figures 17, 18, and 19 are cross-sectional views. In this embodiment, the only differences from the above-described embodiment are that the storage container 10 has been changed to a storage container 210 and the syringe 20 has been changed to a syringe 220; the other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment. Below, only the differences from the above-described embodiment will be explained. Compared to the storage container 10, the storage container 210 differs in that it does not have a notch 17 and a projection 19, and has a flange 211 that has a different shape from the flange 13. Compared to the syringe 20, the syringe 220 differs in that it does not have a projection 24, and at the upper end of the syringe 220, it has a projection 221 that protrudes downward from the bottom surface of a circular flange 223 that extends outward, and an engaging portion 222 is formed at the lower end of the projection 221. The flange 211 of the storage container 210 has an arc-shaped cross-section in a side view, as shown in Figure 17, etc. The projections 221 are formed at two locations on the bottom surface of the flange 223, separated by 180°. The engaging portion 222 has a bottom surface 222A configured to abut against the top surface of the flange 211 of the storage container 210, a top surface 222B configured to abut against the bottom surface of the flange 211 of the storage container 210, and a connecting surface 222C that connects the bottom surface 222A and the top surface 222B with an arc-shaped curved surface. The projections 221 and the engaging portion 222 are preferably made of a flexible material such as resin. In the state shown in Figures 16 and 17, the bottom surface 222A of the engaging portion 222 of the syringe 220 is in contact with the top surface of the storage container 210, and in this state, the downward movement of the syringe 220 is restricted. When the syringe 220 is pressed downward with a force greater than a certain amount, the projection 221 and the engaging portion 222 elastically deform, and the connecting surface 222C of the engaging portion 222 overcomes the arc-shaped side surface of the flange 211 of the storage container 210. As a result, as shown in Figure 18, the upper surface 222B of the engaging portion 222 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the flange 211. In this state, the syringe 220 can descend until the bottom surface of the flange 223 comes into contact with the top surface of the storage container 210. Figure 19 shows the state in which the bottom surface of the flange 223 of the syringe 220 comes into contact with the top surface of the storage container 210. As described above, in this embodiment, the projection 221 and the engaging portion 222 function as limiting parts that restrict the downward movement of the metering pin.When the engaging portion 222 of the syringe 220 comes into contact with the upper surface of the storage container 210, the syringe 220 enters a first state in which its downward movement is restricted by the limiting portion. When the engaging portion 222 moves over the side surface of the flange 211, the syringe 220 enters a second state in which its downward movement is not restricted by the limiting portion. The first and second states can be switched by engaging or disengaging the engaging portion 222 with the flange 223.

[0045] Figures 20 to 22 show another embodiment of the quantitative pin. The quantitative pin 322 shown in Figure 20 has a recess 327. The recess 327 is formed in an arc shape in a side view from the upper end to the lower end. The quantitative pin 422 shown in Figure 21 has a recess 427. The recess 427 is formed in an arc shape in a side view from the upper end to the lower end. Furthermore, unlike recesses 27 and 327, the recess 427 is formed so that its diameter decreases over the entire circumference of the quantitative pin 422. The recess 427 has the same cross-sectional shape regardless of where it is cut when cut vertically along a line passing through the center of the quantitative pin 422. The quantitative pin 522 shown in Figure 22 has a recess 527. The upper end of the recess 527 has a linear inclined portion 527A in a side view where the diameter gradually decreases downwards, and the lower end of the recess 527 has a linear inclined portion 527B in a side view where the diameter gradually increases downwards. Between the inclined portion 27A and the inclined portion 27B, an arc-shaped intermediate portion 527C is formed in a side view. Also, similar to the recess 427, the recess 527 has the same cross-sectional shape regardless of the position at which it is cut when cut vertically along a line passing through the center of the quantitative pin 522.

[0046] Figures 23 to 27 are cross-sectional views showing another embodiment of the liquid dispensing device. The liquid dispensing device 600 in this embodiment comprises a storage container 610, a syringe 620, a recovery tube 630, a filter 640, and a piston 650. The syringe 620 has a syringe body 621 with a cylindrical shape that opens upward and a cylindrical metering pin 622 that extends downward from the bottom surface of the syringe body 621. The recovery tube 630, filter 640, and piston 650 differ in shape from the recovery tube 30, filter 40, and piston 50, but have the same function, so their description is omitted. The storage container 610 differs from the storage container 10 in the following respects. The storage container 610 does not have a through hole formed on its bottom surface, and a cylindrical projection 611 is formed that protrudes upward from the bottom surface. In addition, a discharge hole 612 for discharging liquid to the outside is provided on the side surface of the storage container 610. Syringe 620 differs from syringe 20 in the following respects: A communication hole 623 for discharging the liquid injected into the syringe body 621 to the storage container 610 is formed so as to penetrate vertically through the center of the metering pin 622. In addition, a communication hole 624 is formed in the metering pin 622, which penetrates the side wall surface of the metering pin 622 from the communication hole 623 and communicates with the outside of syringe 620. Furthermore, when syringe 620 is moved downward relative to the storage container 610, syringe 620 is configured to be rotatable relative to the storage container 610.

[0047] The operation of each component when quantitatively sampling liquid using the liquid dispensing device 600 will be explained below, with reference to Figures 23 to 27, focusing on the differences from the liquid dispensing device 1. Figure 23 is a cross-sectional view showing the state before quantitative sampling of liquid. In the state shown in Figure 23, the syringe 620 is restricted from moving downward relative to the storage container 610. In this state, after injecting liquid into the syringe body 621 from above, the piston 650 is placed on the syringe body 621, and a downward force is applied to the piston 650 from above. As a result, the liquid passes through the filter 640, is discharged downward from the syringe 620 via the communication hole 623, and is introduced into the storage container 610. A protrusion 611 is located directly below the communication hole 623, and the liquid is stored at the bottom of the storage container 610 around the protrusion 611. After introducing the liquid from the syringe 620 into the storage container 610, the syringe 620 is rotated horizontally relative to the storage container 610. This allows the syringe 620 to move downward relative to the storage container 610. Figure 24 shows the syringe 620 in the downward position. In the state shown in Figure 24, the protrusion 611 of the storage container 610 is inserted into the communication hole 623 of the syringe 620. Here, the inner diameter of the communication hole 623 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the protrusion 611, and a gap is formed between the protrusion 611 and the communication hole 623 through which liquid can flow. On the other hand, the outer diameter of the metering pin 622 and the inner diameter of the lower end of the storage container 610 are formed to be almost the same, and the outer circumference of the metering pin 622 is in contact with the storage container 610, and the space between the outer circumference of the metering pin 622 and the storage container 610 is prevented from flowing in. As the protrusion 611 is inserted into the communication hole 623, liquid flows between the outer circumference of the protrusion 611 and the inner circumference of the communication hole 623 of the metering pin 622, as shown by the arrow in the blowout in Figure 24, and the water level gradually rises. Figure 25 shows the syringe 620 moved downward until the lower end of the metering pin 622 contacts the bottom surface of the storage container 610. As shown by the arrow in the blowout in Figure 25, the liquid flows out of the metering pin 622 through the communication hole 624 from the communication hole 623. A recess 625 is formed on the outer circumference of the metering pin 622, and the liquid flows between the recess 625 and the storage container 610. In this state, the recess 625 can be said to be open to the inside of the storage container 610.In other words, the position of the syringe 620 relative to the storage container 610 at this time is the first position.

[0048] After the recess 625 is filled with liquid, the syringe 620 is rotated horizontally relative to the storage container 610. The recess 625 is not formed around the entire circumference of the metering pin 622, but only on a portion of it. Also, the wall surface of the storage container 610 has a radial gap between it and the metering pin 622 at the rotation position shown in Figure 25, but is configured to be in close contact with the metering pin 622 at the position shown in Figure 26. When the syringe 620 is rotated to a predetermined angle, it moves to a position where the recess 625 is hidden behind it, as shown in Figure 26. At this time, the liquid that has flowed into the recess 625 is sealed by the recess 625 and the wall surface of the storage container 610. In other words, a sealed space is formed by the recess 625 and the inner wall surface of the storage container 610, and a liquid with the same volume as the volume of this sealed space is sealed. The position of the syringe 620 relative to the storage container 610 at this time is the second position. If the syringe 620 is rotated further from the state shown in Figure 26, the recess 625 will be in a position to communicate with the discharge hole 612 formed in the storage container 610, as shown in Figure 27. As a result, the area enclosed by the recess 625 and the inner wall of the storage container 610 will be opened to the side, and the liquid will be injected into the recovery tube 630. In other words, the recess 625 is open to the outside of the storage container 610. At this time, the position of the syringe 620 relative to the storage container 610 is the third position. At this time, the lower end of the discharge hole 612 is located below the lower end of the recess 625. As described above, with the liquid dispensing device 600, by rotating the syringe 620 horizontally relative to the storage container 610 while it is in contact with the storage container 610, a predetermined volume of liquid can be dispensed and quantitatively collected, similar to the storage container 10.

[0049] Figures 28 to 31 are cross-sectional views showing another embodiment of the liquid dispensing device. The liquid dispensing device 700 in this embodiment comprises a storage container 710, a syringe 720, a recovery tube 730, a filter 740, and a piston 750. The syringe 720 has a syringe body 721 with a cylindrical shape that opens upward and a cylindrical metering pin 722 that extends downward from the bottom surface of the syringe body 721. The recovery tube 730, filter 740, and piston 750 differ in shape from the recovery tube 30, filter 40, and piston 50, but have the same function, so their description is omitted. The storage container 710 differs from the storage container 10 in the following respects. The storage container 710 does not have a through hole formed on its bottom surface, and a cylindrical projection 711 is formed that protrudes upward from the bottom surface. In addition, a discharge hole 712 for discharging liquid to the outside is provided on the side surface of the storage container 710. Syringe 720 differs from syringe 20 in the following respects: A communication hole 723 for discharging the liquid injected into the syringe body 721 to the storage container 710 is formed so as to penetrate vertically through the center of the metering pin 722. In addition, when syringe 720 is moved downward relative to the storage container 710, syringe 720 is configured to be rotatable relative to the storage container 710.

[0050] The operation of each component when quantitatively sampling liquid using the liquid dispensing device 700 will be explained below, with reference to Figures 28 to 31, focusing on the differences from the liquid dispensing device 1. Figure 28 is a cross-sectional view showing the state before quantitative sampling of liquid. In the state shown in Figure 28, the syringe 720 is restricted from moving downward relative to the storage container 710. In this state, after injecting liquid into the syringe body 721 from above, the piston 750 is placed on the syringe body 721, and a downward force is applied to the piston 750 from above. As a result, the liquid passes through the filter 740, is discharged downward from the syringe 720 via the communication hole 723, and is introduced into the storage container 710. A protrusion 711 is located directly below the communication hole 723, and the liquid is stored at the bottom of the storage container 710 around the protrusion 711. After introducing the liquid from the syringe 720 into the storage container 710, the syringe 720 is rotated horizontally relative to the storage container 710. This allows the syringe 720 to move downward relative to the storage container 710. Figure 29 shows the syringe 720 in the downward position. In the state shown in Figure 29, the protrusion 711 of the storage container 710 is inserted into the communication hole 723 of the syringe 720. Here, the inner diameter of the communication hole 723 and the outer diameter of the protrusion 711 are formed to be almost the same (the inner circumference of the communication hole 723 and the outer circumference of the protrusion 711 are in contact), and the space between the protrusion 711 and the communication hole 723 is configured so that no liquid flows in. On the other hand, a gap is formed between the outer circumference of the metering pin 722 and the inner wall of the lower end of the storage container 710. As the protrusion 711 is inserted into the communication hole 723, liquid flows in between the outer circumference of the metering pin 722 and the inner wall of the lower end of the storage container 710, as shown by the arrow in the blowout in Figure 29, and the water level gradually rises. A recess 724 is formed on the outer circumference of the metering pin 722, and the liquid flows between the recess 724 and the storage container 710. In this state, the recess 724 can be said to be open to the inside of the storage container 710. In other words, the position of the syringe 720 relative to the storage container 710 at this time is the first position.

[0051] After the recess 724 is filled with liquid, the syringe 720 is rotated horizontally relative to the storage container 710. The recess 724 is not formed around the entire circumference of the metering pin 722, but only on a portion of it. Also, the wall surface of the storage container 710 has a radial gap between it and the metering pin 722 at the rotation position shown in Figure 29, but is configured to be in close contact with the metering pin 722 at the position shown in Figure 30. When the syringe 720 is rotated to a predetermined angle, it moves to a position where the recess 724 is hidden behind it, as shown in Figure 30. At this time, the liquid that has flowed into the recess 724 is sealed by the recess 724 and the wall surface of the storage container 710. In other words, a sealed space is formed by the recess 724 and the inner wall surface of the storage container 710, and a liquid with the same volume as the volume of this sealed space is sealed. The position of the syringe 720 relative to the storage container 710 at this time is the second position. If the syringe 720 is rotated further from the state shown in Figure 30, the recess 724 will be in a position to communicate with the discharge hole 712 formed in the storage container 710, as shown in Figure 31. As a result, the area enclosed by the recess 724 and the inner wall of the storage container 710 will be opened to the side, and the liquid will be injected into the recovery tube 730. In other words, the recess 724 is open to the outside of the storage container 710. At this time, the position of the syringe 720 relative to the storage container 710 is the third position. At this time, the lower end of the discharge hole 712 is located below the lower end of the recess 724. As described above, with the liquid dispensing device 700, by rotating the syringe 720 horizontally while it is in contact with the storage container 710, a predetermined volume of liquid can be dispensed and quantitatively collected, similar to the storage container 10.

[0052] Figure 32 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view taken along line DD showing another embodiment of the storage container and syringe (metering pin). Figure 33 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view taken along line EE showing the syringe from Figure 32 rotated relative to the storage container. The storage container 810 and syringe 820 in this embodiment differ from previous embodiments in that the recess is formed on the wall surface of the storage container 810 rather than on the syringe 820. A through-hole 811 with a circular cross-sectional shape is formed so as to penetrate vertically through the bottom surface of the storage container 810. A recess 812 is formed on the inner wall of the through-hole 811, recessed toward the outside (storage container side). The recess 812 is a portion that increases the volume of the through-hole 811 by a predetermined volume compared to the case where the inner wall of the through-hole 811 was assumed to be a perfect cylinder. The syringe 820 is inserted into the through-hole 811 so as to abut against the inner wall of the through-hole 811. The syringe 820 is configured to be rotatable and movable vertically relative to the storage container 810. A groove 821 is formed on the side of the syringe 820 at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction. The groove 821 has an arc-shaped cross-section when viewed from above. The groove 821 opens into the interior of the storage container 810 at the top and extends to a predetermined position in the vertical direction. A discharge hole 822 is formed on the side of the syringe 820 at a position different from the groove 821 in the circumferential direction. The opening of the discharge hole 822 is located at the opposite position (180° apart) from the groove 821 in the circumferential direction. The discharge hole 822 has an L-shape when viewed in cross-section, extends horizontally inward from the side of the syringe 820, and extends downward from the center of the syringe 820 to communicate with the outside of the storage container 810.

[0053] In the state shown in Figure 32, the groove 821 is positioned to communicate with the recess 812. The liquid injected into the storage container 810 flows into the recess 812 via the groove 821. In this state, the recess 812 can be said to be open to the inside of the storage container 810 via the groove 821. In other words, the position of the syringe 820 relative to the storage container 810 at this time is the first position. After the recess 812 is filled with liquid, when the syringe 820 is rotated by a predetermined angle, the recess 812 is positioned so that it does not communicate with either the groove 821 or the discharge hole 822. In other words, a sealed space is formed by the recess 812 and the outer wall surface of the syringe 820, and a liquid with the same volume as the volume of this sealed space is sealed. The position of the syringe 820 relative to the storage container 810 at this time is the second position. When the syringe 820 is rotated further, as shown in Figure 33, the recess 812 is positioned to communicate with the discharge hole 822. As a result, the area enclosed by the recess 812 and the outer wall surface of the syringe 820 is open to the outside of the storage container 810 through the discharge hole 822. In this state, the liquid flows out to the outside of the storage container 810 through the discharge hole 822. The position of the syringe 820 relative to the storage container 810 at this time is the third position. As described above, by rotating the syringe 820 horizontally while it is in contact with the storage container 810, a predetermined volume of liquid can be dispensed and quantitatively collected, similar to the storage container 10.

[0054] In the above embodiments, plasma was used as an example of a liquid, but the liquid is not limited to plasma. For example, the present invention can be applied when quantitatively sampling various liquids such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and beverages. Furthermore, although an example of separating plasma from blood using a filter was described, the filter is not limited to a filter for separating plasma. It is also possible to use a filter for separating blood cells from blood. It is also possible to use a filter for separating specific components from liquids other than blood. It is also possible to have a configuration that does not use filters or pistons.

[0055] In the above embodiment, a configuration in which a quantitative pin is formed at the tip of a syringe was described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Other structures are not particularly limited as long as the structure involves moving a quantitative pin that has a recess formed in it relative to the storage container. For example, it is also possible to have a structure in which the quantitative pin is directly installed relative to the storage container without a syringe. In that case, for example, a limiting part such as a protrusion is formed on the quantitative pin, and the downward movement of the quantitative pin relative to the storage container is restricted by bringing the limiting part of the quantitative pin into contact with the storage container.

[0056] In the above embodiment, recesses 27, 327, 427, and 527 were given as examples of the shape of the recesses of the quantitative pin, but the shape of the recesses is not limited to these. Even when the entire recess is formed in an arc shape, as in recesses 327 and 427, the upper end of the recess may have a sloping portion where the diameter gradually decreases downwards, and the lower end of the recess may have a sloping portion where the diameter gradually increases downwards. Recesses 427 and 527 were formed so that they have the same shape regardless of where they are cut in the vertical direction, but the shape may differ depending on the cutting position. It is also possible to form the recess by dividing it into multiple parts. In any case, the recesses should be formed so that the total volume of the recesses equals a predetermined volume. The volumes of the recesses described in the embodiment are merely examples. It is also possible to create a structure that quantitatively collects not only liquids with a volume of several μl, but also, for example, liquids with a volume of several ml.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the projection 24 of the syringe 20, the spacer 130, the projection 221 of the syringe 220, and the engaging portion 222 were exemplified as limiting parts that restrict the downward movement of the quantitative pin. However, the structure of the limiting part is not limited to the structure described above. As long as the structure can restrict the downward movement of the quantitative pin, it is possible to use structures other than those described above as limiting parts.

[0058] In the above embodiment, a projection 19 is exemplified as a positioning part for positioning the quantitative pin in the first state, but the structure of the positioning part is not limited to a projection 19. As long as the structure positions the quantitative pin in the first state, it is possible to use a structure other than the above as the positioning part. The spacer 130 and projection 221 function as both a limiting part and a positioning part. It is also possible to use a structure in which claws or the like are provided on the positioning part to fix the quantitative pin so that it does not move from the first state.

[0059] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the liquid quantitatively sampled with a quantitative pin is collected in a collection tube, but the present invention is not limited to this. The collection tube can be omitted, and the liquid can be collected using a structure other than a collection tube. Furthermore, although an example was described in which the collection tube is pre-filled with a chemical solution and the collected liquid and the chemical solution are mixed inside the collection tube, mixing the collected liquid with the chemical solution is not essential.

[0060] In the above embodiments, embodiments were described in which a recess is formed on the side surface of a quantitative pin (syringe) and in which a recess is formed on the inner wall of the through-hole of a storage container into which the quantitative pin is inserted. In other words, a recess is formed on the contact surface where the side surface of the quantitative pin and the wall surface of the storage container come into contact, and the recess is recessed toward the quantitative pin or the storage container. By moving the recess from a position where it is open to the inside of the storage container, through a sealed position, to a position where it is open to the outside of the storage container, a liquid of a predetermined volume can be dispensed and quantitatively collected.

[0061] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It goes without saying that those skilled in the art will understand this, - Apply the mutually interchangeable members and configurations disclosed in the above embodiments by appropriately changing their combinations. • Although not disclosed in the above embodiments, it is possible to appropriately substitute and modify the combinations of publicly known components and components that are interchangeable with those disclosed in the above embodiments. • Although not disclosed in the above embodiments, the members and components that a person skilled in the art could conceive of as substitutes for those members and components disclosed in the above embodiments based on prior art, etc., may be appropriately substituted, and their combinations may be modified for application. This is disclosed as one embodiment of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0062] 1...Liquid dispensing device, 10...Storage container, 11...Container body, 12...Inclined section, 13...Flange, 14...Flange, 15...Through hole, 16...Opening, 17...Notch, 18...Protrusion, 19...Protrusion, 20...Syringe, 21...Syringe body, 22...Measuring pin, 23...Flange, 24...Protrusion, 25...Opening, 26...Communication hole, 27...Recess, 30...Recovery tube, 31...Flange, 40...Filter, 50...Piston, 51...Piston body, 52...Flat plate section, 53...Shaft, 54...Engaging section, 110...Storage container, 120...Syringe, 121...Syringe body, 130...Spacer, 131...Gripping section, 132...Spacer body, 133...Connecting section, 210...Storage container, 211...Flange, 220...Syringe, 221...Protrusion, 222...Engaging section, 223...Flange, 322... Measuring pin, 327... Recess, 422... Measuring pin, 427... Recess, 522... Measuring pin, 527... Recess, 600... Liquid dispensing device, 610... Storage container, 611... Protrusion, 612... Discharge hole, 620... Syringe, 621... Syringe body, 622... Measuring pin, 623... Communication hole, 624... Communication hole, 625... Recess, 630... Recovery tube, 640... Filter, 650... Piston, 700…Liquid dispensing device, 710…Storage container, 711…Protrusion, 712…Discharge port, 720…Syringe, 721…Syringe body, 722…Measuring pin, 723…Communication hole, 724…Recess, 730…Recovery tube, 740…Filter, 750…Piston, 810…Storage container, 811…Through hole, 812…Recess, 820…Syringe, 821…Groove, 822…Discharge port.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing device for quantitatively sampling liquid, A storage container for storing the aforementioned liquid, The storage container is equipped with a quantitative pin that is movable relative to the storage container while in contact with the wall surface of the storage container, A recess is formed in the contact surface where the quantitative pin and the wall surface of the storage container come into contact, with the recess extending toward either the quantitative pin side or the storage container side. A liquid dispensing device characterized in that the quantitative pin is configured to be movable between a first position in which the recess opens into the interior of the storage container, a second position in which a sealed space is formed by the recess and the wall surface of the storage container, and a third position in which the recess opens to the outside of the storage container.

2. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the recess is formed on the side surface of the quantitative pin.

3. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 2, characterized in that when the recess of the quantitative pin moves from a first position through a second position to the third position, the liquid having a volume in the region enclosed by the recess and the wall surface of the storage container moves from the inside to the outside of the storage container.

4. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper end of the recess of the quantitative pin has an inclined portion whose diameter gradually decreases toward the downward direction.

5. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower end of the recess of the quantitative pin has an inclined portion whose diameter gradually increases downward.

6. The quantitative pin is inserted into a through hole formed in the bottom surface of the storage container. The quantitative pin is configured to be movable vertically through the through hole. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the quantitative pin is configured to move between the first position, the second position and the third position when the quantitative pin moves vertically through the through hole.

7. The storage container has a limiting portion that restricts the downward movement of the quantitative pin. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 6, characterized in that when the downward movement of the quantitative pin is restricted by the limiting portion, the upper end of the recess is positioned above the upper end of the through hole.

8. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 7, characterized in that the quantitative pin is configured to be switchable between a first state in which downward movement is restricted by the limiting portion and a second state in which downward movement is not restricted by the limiting portion.

9. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 8, further comprising a positioning unit for positioning the quantitative pin in the first state.

10. A filter for filtering the liquid when pouring the liquid into the storage container, The system further comprises a piston that applies pressure to the liquid to facilitate its passage through the filter, The liquid dispensing device according to claim 7, characterized in that it is configured so that pressure can be applied to the liquid by the piston while the downward movement of the quantitative pin is restricted by the limiting portion.

11. The quantitative pin is configured to be rotatable relative to the storage container. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the metering pin is configured to move between the first position, the second position and the third position when the metering pin rotates relative to the storage container.

12. A cylindrical projection is formed on the bottom surface of the storage container, projecting upward. The quantitative pin has a communication hole formed to penetrate the quantitative pin in the vertical direction. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 11, characterized in that the protruding portion is configured to be inserted into the communication hole.

13. A gap is formed between the outer circumference of the protruding portion and the communication hole. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 12, characterized in that the outer circumference of the quantitative pin and the storage container are in contact.

14. The outer circumference of the protruding portion and the communication hole are in contact with each other. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 12, characterized in that a gap is formed between the outer circumference of the quantitative pin and the storage container.

15. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 11, characterized in that a discharge hole for discharging the liquid to the outside of the storage container is formed on the side surface of the storage container.

16. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 15, characterized in that the discharge hole is formed at the third position in a position that communicates with the recess.

17. The liquid dispensing device according to claim 11, characterized in that the recess is formed on the wall surface of the storage container.

18. A groove is formed on the side of the quantitative pin, which opens into the inside of the storage container. On the side surface of the quantitative pin, a discharge hole is opened at a position different from the position where the groove is formed in the circumferential direction of the quantitative pin, allowing the liquid to communicate with the outside of the storage container. At the first position, the recess is open to the inside of the storage container via the groove, The liquid dispensing device according to claim 17, characterized in that, at the third position, the recess is open to the outside of the storage container through the discharge hole.

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