Measurement instrument, measurement device, measurement system, and measurement method

Abstract

This measurement instrument comprises: a cylindrical cell that houses a measurement fluid; a light source that is disposed outside the cell and directs inspection light at the measurement fluid; a detector that is disposed outside the cell and detects transmitted light or scattered light generated from the measurement fluid; a cleaning mechanism that is disposed inside the cell and cleans the inner wall surface of the cell; and a drive mechanism that causes the cell to rotate about a central axis.

Description

Measuring meter, measuring device, measuring system, and measuring method

[0001] The present application relates to a measurement meter, a measurement device, a measurement system, and a measurement method.

[0002] In a measuring instrument that uses light to measure a fluid, light is irradiated onto the fluid stored in a cell from outside the cell, and transmitted or scattered light generated by the fluid is detected. In this case, the inner wall of the cell becomes contaminated with dirt from the fluid, and therefore needs to be cleaned. Conventionally, as in Patent Document 1, for example, a cleaning body (such as a wiper or brush) that moves along the inner wall of the cell is provided inside the cell to clean the inner wall of the cell.

[0003] However, in the case of a measuring instrument that performs continuous measurement, there are times when light cannot be detected during measurement because the moving cleaning body blocks the light path. Furthermore, fluids that are heavily contaminated tend to require more frequent cleaning. In continuous measurement, it is desirable to eliminate light blocking times.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-157149

[0005] Therefore, an object is to provide a measuring meter, a measuring device, a measuring system, and a measuring method that are capable of performing continuous measurements without the light emitted from the light source being blocked by the cleaning body.

[0006] The measuring instrument comprises a cylindrical cell that contains the fluid to be measured; a light source that is arranged outside the cell and that irradiates the fluid to be measured with inspection light; a detector that is arranged outside the cell and that detects transmitted light or scattered light generated from the fluid to be measured; a cleaning mechanism that is arranged inside the cell and that cleans the inner surface of the cell; and a drive mechanism that rotates the cell around its central axis.

[0007] The measuring device comprises the measuring meter and a main body to which the measuring meter is detachably attached.

[0008] The measurement system includes the measurement device and a communication device capable of communicating with the measurement device.

[0009] The measurement method uses a measuring instrument that includes a cylindrical cell that contains the measurement fluid, a light source that is arranged outside the cell and that irradiates the measurement fluid with inspection light, a detector that is arranged outside the cell and that detects transmitted light or scattered light generated from the measurement fluid, a cleaning mechanism that is arranged inside the cell and that cleans the inner surface of the cell, and a drive mechanism that rotates the cell around its central axis.

[0010] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7; IX-IX in FIG. 7; a perspective view of the base of the measuring meter; a front view of the base of the measuring meter; a perspective view of the drive mechanism of the measuring meter;

[0011] An embodiment of a measurement system, a measurement device, and a measurement meter will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 12. Note that in each figure, the dimensional ratios in the drawing do not necessarily match the actual dimensional ratios, and the dimensional ratios between the drawings do not necessarily match.

[0012] 1 and 2, a measurement system 101 may include, for example, a measurement device 102 that measures a fluid, and a communication device 103 that can communicate with the measurement device 102 via communication means X1. Note that the fluid is not particularly limited and includes, for example, not only liquids but also gases, mixtures of liquids and gases, mixtures of liquids and solids, etc.

[0013] Although not particularly limited, the communication device 103 may be, for example, a mobile terminal (for example, a smart device, a tablet computer, a notebook PC, etc.) as in this embodiment. The communication means X1 may be, for example, a wireless communication means such as Wi-Fi or a wireless LAN, or may be, for example, a wired communication means such as a communication cable or a wired LAN.

[0014] The measuring device 102 may include, for example, a plurality of (five in this embodiment) measuring meters 104 for measuring fluid, and a main body 105 to which each measuring meter 104 is detachably attached. The number of measuring meters 104 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, one, two to four, or six or more.

[0015] The measuring meter 104 is not particularly limited as long as it is an instrument that measures values ​​related to the fluid (e.g., characteristic values, state values, etc.). For example, if the measuring meter 104 is a water quality meter that measures values ​​related to water, the measuring meter 104 may be, for example, a turbidity meter, a color meter, a pH meter, a residual chlorine concentration meter, a conductivity meter, a flow meter, a water temperature meter, etc. Note that the multiple measuring meters 104 may each measure different values ​​related to the fluid.

[0016] 3, the measuring device 102 may include, for example, an inlet 102a into which a fluid flows, an outlet 102b from which the fluid flows, and a flow path 102c through which the fluid flows from the inlet 102a to the outlet 102b, as in this embodiment. Although not shown, the measuring device 102 may include a structure that allows a fluid (e.g., a chemical solution for cleaning, a calibration solution for calibration, etc.) different from the fluid to be measured (e.g., water) to flow through the flow path 102c.

[0017] Also, for example, as in this embodiment, the measuring device 104 may have a measurement flow path 104a through which a fluid flows, the main body 105 may have a main body flow path 105a through which a fluid flows, and the measurement flow path 104a and the main body flow path 105a may form the flow path 102c. Then, by attaching the measuring device 104 to the main body 105, the measurement flow path 104a and the main body flow path 105a may be connected to each other to form the flow path 102c.

[0018] 4, the measuring meter 104 and the main body 105 may each include, for example, measuring units 104b and 105b that measure the fluid. The measuring device 102 (specifically, each measuring meter 104 and main body 105) and the communication device 103 may each include, for example, input units 103c, 104c, and 105c to which various data are input, and output units 103d, 104d, and 105d to which various data are output, as in this embodiment.

[0019] Furthermore, the measuring device 102 (specifically, each measuring meter 104 and main body 105) and the communication device 103 may, for example, as in this embodiment, be equipped with acquisition units 103e, 104e, 105e that acquire various data, memory units 103f, 104f, 105f that store various data, calculation units 103g, 104g, 105g that calculate the various data, and control units 103h, 104h, 105h that control the devices 102 (104, 105) and 103 based on the various data.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, the measuring device 102 (specifically, each measuring meter 104 and main body 105) and the communication device 103 may be equipped with a computer having processors 103i, 104i, 105i such as a CPU and an MPU (e.g., calculation units 103g, 104g, 105g, control units 103h, 104h, 105h), memories 103j, 104j, 105j such as a ROM and RAM (e.g., acquisition units 103e, 104e, 105e, storage units 103f, 104f, 105f), various interfaces 104k, 105k, 103k (e.g., acquisition units 103e, 104e, 105e), etc.

[0021] Then, the processors 103i, 104i, 105i execute the programs 103m, 104m, 105m stored in the memories 103j, 104j, 105j, and the software and hardware work together to realize the calculation units 103g, 104g, 105g and control units 103h, 104h, 105h of the measuring device 102 (specifically, each measuring meter 104 and main body 105) and the communication device 103.

[0022] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a measuring instrument 1, which is one of the multiple measuring instruments 104 shown in Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figure 6, the measuring instrument 1 is formed in a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that is elongated in the vertical direction D3. In the following description, the direction in which the inlet pipe 71 and the outlet pipe 72 (described later) are arranged side by side is referred to as the second horizontal direction D2, and the direction perpendicular to the second horizontal direction D2 and the vertical direction D3 is referred to as the first horizontal direction D1. The measuring instrument 1 includes a measuring unit 1a and a case 1b and a cover 1c that surround the measuring unit 1a.

[0023] Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the measuring unit 1a with the case 1b and cover 1c removed. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the measuring unit 1a shown in Fig. 7 taken along line VIII-VIII. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the measuring unit 1a shown in Fig. 7 taken along line IX-IX.

[0024] The measurement unit 1a includes a cell 2, a light source 3, a detector 4, a cleaning mechanism 5, and a drive mechanism 6. The measurement unit 1a further includes a base 7 connected to the main body 105, and a housing 8.

[0025] The cell 2 contains a fluid to be measured (hereinafter referred to as the measurement fluid). The cell 2 is made of a light-transmitting material. While not particularly limited, light-transmitting materials include glass, acrylic resin, fluorine-based resin, and silicone resin, and preferably borosilicate glass, which is highly light-transmitting and hard.

[0026] The cell 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The central axis CL of the cell 2 is disposed along the vertical direction D3, which is the axial direction D3 of the cell 2. The outer diameter of the cell 2 is, for example, 34 to 36 mm. The cylindrical thickness of the cell 2 is constant in the axial direction D3 except for both ends in the axial direction D3. The cylindrical thickness of the cell 2 is preferably 3 mm or less, and more preferably 2 mm or less. The cell 2 is rotated around the central axis CL by the drive mechanism 6.

[0027] A first holder 21 and a second holder 22 are connected to both sides of the cell 2 in the axial direction D3. The first holder 21 and the second holder 22 are made of resin. Although not particularly limited, the resin making up the first holder 21 is ABS resin, and the resin making up the second holder 22 is POM resin.

[0028] The first holder 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The first holder 21 has a cylindrical first connection portion 21 a that covers the outer peripheral surface of the cell 2 and a closing portion 21 b that is provided inside the first connection portion 21 a. The closing portion 21 b closes the upper end of the cell 2.

[0029] The first connecting portion 21a has two O-ring grooves 211, 212 formed apart in the vertical direction D3. The O-ring grooves 211, 212 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the first connecting portion 21a over the entire circumferential direction. O-rings 23a, 23b are disposed in the O-ring grooves 211, 212, respectively. The upper O-ring 23a ensures sealing between the cell 2 and the first holder 21 and prevents leakage of the measurement fluid outside the cell 2. The lower O-ring 23b increases the frictional force between the cell 2 and the first holder 21, allowing the cell 2 to rotate with rotation of the first holder 21.

[0030] The second holder 22 is formed in a cylindrical shape and has a cylindrical second connection portion 22 a that covers the outer peripheral surface of the cell 2 and a cylindrical extension portion 22 b that extends downward from the second connection portion 22 a.

[0031] The second connection portion 22a has two O-ring grooves 221, 222 formed apart in the vertical direction D3. The O-ring grooves 221, 222 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second connection portion 22a over the entire circumferential direction. O-rings 23c, 23d are disposed in the O-ring grooves 221, 222, respectively. The upper O-ring 23c increases the frictional force between the cell 2 and the second holder 22, allowing the second holder 22 to rotate as the cell 2 rotates. The lower O-ring 23d ensures a seal between the cell 2 and the second holder 22 and prevents the measurement fluid from leaking outside the cell 2.

[0032] The inner peripheral surface of the extension portion 22b is substantially flush with the inner peripheral surface of the cell 2. The outer peripheral surface of the extension portion 22b is sealed by two X-rings 24 arranged apart in the vertical direction D3. The X-rings 24 have an X-shaped cross section, have low friction, and are suitable for sealing between the rotating extension portion 22b and the housing 8.

[0033] The light source 3 is disposed outside the cell 2 as shown in FIG. 9 . The light source 3 is embedded in the housing 8. The light source 3 irradiates the measurement fluid in the cell 2 with test light L1. The light source 3 is, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED) having a peak wavelength in the near-infrared region. The light source 3 is attached to an LED substrate 31, which is attached to the housing 8. In this embodiment, in order to reduce the size of the measurement meter 1, no optical lens is disposed in front of the light source 3.

[0034] A reference light detection unit 32 is disposed to the side of the light source 3. The reference light detection unit 32 detects the intensity of a portion of the light irradiated from the light source 3 as reference light. The intensity of the reference light detected by the reference light detection unit 32 is used to correct the intensity of the transmitted light or scattered light obtained by the detector 4.

[0035] The detector 4 is disposed outside the cell 2 as shown in FIG. 9 . The detector 4 is embedded in the housing 8. The detector 4 detects transmitted light or scattered light generated from the measurement fluid in the cell 2. The detector 4 is, for example, a photodiode whose peak sensitivity wavelength is close to the peak wavelength of the LED. For example, the detected scattered light is used to measure the turbidity of the fluid, and the detected transmitted light is used to measure the chromaticity of the fluid.

[0036] The detector 4 is attached to a photodiode substrate 41, which is attached to the housing 8. In this embodiment, the detector 4 is a scattered light detector that detects scattered light L2 generated from the measurement fluid. The scattered light detector 4 and the light source 3 are disposed at positions offset by 90° in the rotation direction RD of the cell 2.

[0037] The cleaning mechanism 5 is disposed inside the cell 2 as shown in Fig. 9. The cleaning mechanism 5 is disposed outside the optical paths of the inspection light L1 and the scattered light L2. Specifically, the cleaning mechanism 5 is disposed between the light source 3 and the scattered light detector 4 in the rotation direction RD of the cell 2. The cleaning mechanism 5 is disposed at positions offset by 45° from the light source 3 and the scattered light detector 4 in the rotation direction RD of the cell 2. As a result, the cleaning mechanism 5 is not disposed in the optical paths of the inspection light L1 and the scattered light L2 and does not interfere with the measurement.

[0038] It is also possible to provide a plurality of cleaning mechanisms 5. In this embodiment, another cleaning mechanism 5 is provided at a position facing the cleaning mechanism 5 between the light source 3 and the scattered light detector 4 across the central axis CL of the cell 2. In this case, the upper ends of the two cleaning mechanisms 5 are connected to each other by a reinforcing member 53 (see FIG. 10 ).

[0039] The cleaning mechanism 5 cleans the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2. Although not particularly limited, the cleaning mechanism 5 includes a wiper 51 that wipes away dirt from the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2 and a wiper fixing portion 52 that fixes the wiper 51.

[0040] The wiper 51 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The wiper 51 has a contact portion 51a that contacts the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2 over a predetermined range in the axial direction D3. The contact portion 51a is positioned so as to overlap at least the light source 3 and the detector 4 when viewed in the rotation direction RD of the cell 2. As a result, the contact portion 51a of the wiper 51 can wipe the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2 located in front of the light source 3 and the detector 4 as the cell 2 rotates. At this time, the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2 is cleaned by rotating the cell 2 relative to the cleaning mechanism 5 fixed inside the cell 2, so that the inspection light L1 irradiated from the light source 3 is not blocked by the cleaning mechanism 5, allowing continuous measurement.

[0041] Furthermore, the contact portion 51a is inclined with respect to the central axis CL so that the upper end of the contact portion 51a is positioned further forward in the rotation direction RD of the cell 2 than the lower end (see FIG. 11 ). This prevents dirt and air collected by the contact portion 51a from accumulating below the contact portion 51a.

[0042] The wiper fixing portion 52 extends upward from the upper end surface of the base 7. In this embodiment, the wiper fixing portion 52 is formed integrally with the base 7. As shown in FIG. 9 , the cross section of the wiper fixing portion 52 is formed in a fan shape. The central angle of the fan shape of the wiper fixing portion 52 is 90°. A small gap exists between the outer peripheral surface of the wiper fixing portion 52 and the inner peripheral surface of the cell 2. The contact portion 51a of the wiper 51 protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the wiper fixing portion 52. The radius 52r of the fan shape of the wiper fixing portion 52 is smaller than the radius 2r of the inner peripheral surface of the cell 2, and is approximately half of the radius 2r. Because the wiper fixing portion 52 has a fan-shaped cross section and is disposed between the light source 3 and the scattered light detector 4 in the rotation direction RD of the cell 2, it is possible to suppress stray light from being received by the scattered light detector 4, thereby enabling more accurate measurement. When an optical lens is not disposed in front of the light source 3 as in this embodiment, the inspection light L1 is diffused, so it is effective to block stray light with the wiper fixing portion 52.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, the drive mechanism 6 includes a motor 61, a drive gear 62 that is rotationally driven by the motor 61, and a driven gear 63 that rotates while meshing with the drive gear 62.

[0044] The motor 61 is fixed to the upper part of the housing 8 via a gear base 65. The motor 61 is, for example, a stepping motor. The drive gear 62 is attached to the rotation shaft of the motor 61.

[0045] The driven gear 63 is rotatably supported by a gear base 65 (not shown in FIG. 12 ) via a bearing 64. The outer diameter of the driven gear 63 is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the first holder 21, and a plurality of teeth (not shown in FIG. 12 ) are formed on the outer circumferential surface. The driven gear 63 is coaxially fixed to the first holder 21 and rotates the first holder 21 around the central axis CL of the cell 2. As a result, the drive mechanism 6 can rotate the first holder 21 by rotating the drive gear 62 with the motor 61 and rotating the driven gear 63 with the drive gear 62. As a result, the drive mechanism 6 can rotate the cell 2 fixed to the first holder 21 around the central axis CL.

[0046] As the cell 2 rotates around the central axis CL, the wiper 51 cleans the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2. The drive mechanism 6 can rotate the cell 2 continuously or intermittently depending on the degree of contamination of the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2, etc.

[0047] 8, the second holder 22 is rotatably supported on the housing 8 via a bearing 66. The bearing 66 is, for example, a low-friction cylindrical member made of resin. The bearing 66 is disposed between the two X rings 24.

[0048] The base 7 has an inlet pipe 71 and an outlet pipe 72 connected to the main body 105 on its bottom surface. The inlet pipe 71 and the outlet pipe 72 are arranged side by side in the second horizontal direction D2. As shown in FIG. 10 , the base 7 has a rectangular portion 7a to which the housing 8 is attached and a cylindrical portion 7b extending from the rectangular portion 7a in the axial direction D3. The cylindrical portion 7b is covered by the cell 2, the first holder 21, and the second holder 22 (see FIG. 8 ). An inlet flow path 73 extending in the axial direction D3 is formed in the center of the cylindrical portion 7b. The inlet flow path 73 communicates with the inlet pipe 71 via a flow path (shown by a dashed line in FIG. 10 ) formed inside the rectangular portion 7a. The inlet flow path 73 has an inlet port 74 opening at the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion 7b. The inlet port 74 introduces the measurement fluid introduced from the inlet pipe 71 into the inlet flow path 73 into the cell 2.

[0049] The measurement fluid introduced into the cell 2 is discharged from an outlet 75. The outlet 75 is formed on the upper end surface of the reinforcing member 53. The outlet 75 is located above the optical paths of the inspection light L1 and the scattered light L2. This allows air that has accumulated in the upper part of the cell 2 to be discharged from the outlet 75, preventing air from being positioned in the optical paths of the inspection light L1 and the scattered light L2 and deteriorating the measurement accuracy.

[0050] The outlet 75 is located above the inlet 74. That is, the inlet 74 is located on one side (lower) of the inspection light L1 and the scattered light L2 in the axial direction D3, and the outlet 75 is located on the other side (upper) of the inspection light L1 and the scattered light L2 in the axial direction D3. This allows the measurement fluid introduced through the inlet 74 to continuously pass through the optical paths of the inspection light L1 and the scattered light L2 while being discharged from the outlet 75, thereby enabling continuous measurement of the measurement fluid contained in the cell 2. Note that both the inlet 74 and the outlet 75 may be located on one side or the other side of the inspection light L1 and the scattered light L2 in the axial direction D3.

[0051] The reinforcing member 53 and the wiper fixing portion 52 are provided with a discharge flow path 76 that communicates with the discharge port 75. The discharge flow path 76 communicates with the discharge pipe 72 via flow paths (shown by dashed lines in FIG. 10 ) formed inside the cylindrical portion 7 b and the rectangular portion 7 a.

[0052] The housing 8 covers the cell 2, the first holder 21, the second holder 22, and the base 7. It is preferable that at least the portion of the housing 8 that covers the outer periphery of the cell 2 is formed in black to absorb light. The housing 8 also supports the light source 3 and the detector 4 in predetermined positions.

[0053] As described above, the measurement system 101 according to this embodiment includes the measurement device 102 and the communication device 103 that can communicate with the measurement device 102 .

[0054] As in this embodiment, the measuring device 102 includes a measuring meter 104 and a main body 105 to which the measuring meter 104 is detachably attached.

[0055] As in this embodiment, the measuring instrument 1 comprises a cylindrical cell 2 that contains the measurement fluid, a light source 3 that is arranged outside the cell 2 and that irradiates the measurement fluid with inspection light L1, a detector 4 that is arranged outside the cell 2 and that detects scattered light L2 generated from the measurement fluid, a cleaning mechanism 5 that is arranged inside the cell 2 and that cleans the inner surface of the cell 2, and a drive mechanism 6 that rotates the cell 2 around the central axis CL.

[0056] With this configuration, the inner surface of the cell 2 is cleaned by rotating the cell 2 relative to the cleaning mechanism 5 fixed inside the cell 2, so that the light irradiated from the light source 3 is not blocked by the cleaning mechanism 5, allowing continuous measurement.

[0057] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the cleaning mechanism 5 is arranged outside the optical paths of the inspection light L1 and the scattered light L2.

[0058] With this configuration, the cleaning mechanism 5 does not interfere with the measurement.

[0059] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the cleaning mechanism 5 is arranged between the light source 3 and the scattered light detector 4 in the rotation direction RD of the cell 2.

[0060] With this configuration, the cleaning mechanism 5 does not interfere with the measurement.

[0061] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the detector 4 is a scattered light detector 4 that detects scattered light, and the cleaning mechanism 5 blocks stray light.

[0062] With this configuration, the cleaning mechanism 5 suppresses stray light from being received by the scattered light detector 4, thereby enabling more accurate measurements.

[0063] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the cleaning mechanism 5 is configured to include a wiper 51 that comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2 .

[0064] With this configuration, the wiper 51 can wipe and reliably clean the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2 .

[0065] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, it is preferable to have an inlet 74 for introducing the measurement fluid into the cell 2 and an outlet 75 for discharging the measurement fluid from the cell 2 .

[0066] With this configuration, the measurement fluid contained in the cell 2 can be measured continuously.

[0067] In addition, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the outlet 75 be positioned above the inlet 74 .

[0068] With this configuration, air accumulated in the upper part of the cell 2 can be discharged from the discharge port 75 .

[0069] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, it is preferable to have a configuration in which cylindrical first holder 21 and second holder 22 are connected to both sides of the axial direction D3 of the cell 2, and the cell 2 rotates integrally with the first holder 21 and second holder 22.

[0070] According to this configuration, the cell 2 can be rotated by rotating the first holder 21 using the drive mechanism 6.

[0071] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the first holder 21 and the second holder 22 each have two O-ring grooves 211, 212, 221, and 222 formed on their inner surfaces at a distance from each other in the axial direction D3, and that the first holder 21 and the second holder 22 are attached to the outer surface of the cell 2 via O-rings 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d arranged in the O-ring grooves 211, 212, 221, and 222.

[0072] With this configuration, sealing is ensured between the cell 2 and the first holder 21 or the second holder 22, preventing the measured fluid from leaking outside the cell 2, while increasing the frictional force between the cell 2 and the first holder 21 or the second holder 22, making it possible to rotate the cell 2 and the second holder 22 by rotating the first holder 21.

[0073] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the drive mechanism 6 is arranged outside the cell 2 and at a position spaced apart from the cell 2 in the axial direction D3 of the cell 2.

[0074] With this configuration, the drive mechanism 6 can rotate the cell 2 without interfering with the measurement.

[0075] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, the drive mechanism 6 preferably comprises a motor 61, a drive gear 62 that is driven to rotate by the motor 61, and a driven gear 63 that rotates in mesh with the drive gear 62, and the driven gear 63 is fixed to the first holder 21 and rotates the first holder 21 around the central axis CL of the cell 2.

[0076] With this configuration, the drive mechanism 6 can rotate the cell 2 .

[0077] The measurement system 101, the measurement device 102, and the measurement meter 1 are not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and are not limited to the above-described effects. Furthermore, the measurement system 101, the measurement device 102, and the measurement meter 1 can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, it is possible to arbitrarily select one or more of the configurations, methods, etc. of the various modified examples described below and adopt them in the configurations, methods, etc. of the above-described embodiments.

[0078] (1) In the measuring instrument 1 according to the above embodiment, the detector 4 is a scattered light detector that detects scattered light L2, and the cleaning mechanism 5 is arranged between the light source 3 and the scattered light detector 4 in the rotation direction RD of the cell 2. However, the measuring instrument 1 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the detector 4 may be a transmitted light detector that detects transmitted light, and the cleaning mechanism 5 may be arranged between the light source 3 and the transmitted light detector in the rotation direction RD of the cell 2. In this case, the transmitted light detector is arranged to face the light source 3 across the central axis CL of the cell 2.

[0079] (2) In the measuring meter 1 according to the above embodiment, the cleaning mechanism 5 is configured to include a wiper 51 that contacts the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2. However, the measuring meter 1 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the cleaning mechanism 5 may be configured to include a brush that contacts the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2. Furthermore, the cleaning mechanism 5 is not limited to a configuration in which the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2 is wiped with a wiper, brush, or the like, but may be configured to clean the inner circumferential surface of the cell 2 with air or liquid. In this case, a separate structure is required to prevent the air or liquid used for cleaning from leaking from the cleaning mechanism 5 into the cell 2.

[0080] (3) The measuring meter 1 according to the above embodiment is configured to include an inlet 74 for introducing a measurement fluid into the cell 2 and an outlet 75 for discharging the measurement fluid from the cell 2. However, the measuring meter 1 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the measuring meter 1 may be configured not to include the inlet 74 and the outlet 75, but to measure the fluid filled in the cell 2 by immersing the cell 2 in the fluid.

[0081] (4) In the measuring instrument 1 according to the above embodiment, the direction in which the inlet pipe 71 and the outlet pipe 72 are arranged side by side is defined as the second horizontal direction D2, and the direction perpendicular to the second horizontal direction D2 and the up-down direction D3 is defined as the first horizontal direction D1. However, this is not limiting. For example, the direction in which the inlet pipe 71 and the outlet pipe 72 are arranged side by side may also be defined as the first horizontal direction D1. Furthermore, the first horizontal direction D1 or the second horizontal direction D2 does not need to be parallel to the direction in which the inlet pipe 71 and the outlet pipe 72 are arranged side by side.

[0082] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...measuring instrument, 1a...measuring unit, 1b...case, 1c...cover, 2...cell, 2r...radius of inner surface of cell, 3...light source, 4...detector (scattered light detector), 5...cleaning mechanism, 6...driving mechanism, 7...base, 7a...rectangular portion, 7b...cylindrical portion, 8...casing, 21...first holder, 21a...first connecting portion, 21b...blocking portion, 22...second holder, 22a...second connecting portion, 22b...extension portion, 23a...O-ring, 23b...O-ring, 23c...O-ring, 23d...O-ring, 24...X-ring, 31...LED board, 32...reference light detecting unit , 41...photodiode substrate, 51...wiper, 51a...contact portion, 52...wiper fixing portion, 52r...radius of wiper fixing portion, 53...reinforcing member, 61...motor, 62...driving gear, 63...driven gear, 64...bearing, 65...gear base, 66...bearing, 71...inlet pipe, 72...exhaust pipe, 73...inlet flow path, 74...inlet port, 75...exhaust port, 76...exhaust flow path, 211...O-ring groove, 212...O-ring groove, 221...O-ring groove, 222...O-ring groove, CL...center axis, L1...inspection light, L2...scattered light, RD...cell circuit Rotation direction, 101... measurement system, 102... measurement device, 102a... inlet section, 102b... outlet section, 102c... flow path, 103... communication device, 103c... input section, 103d... output section, 103e... acquisition section, 103f... storage section, 103g... calculation section, 103h... control section, 103i... processor, 103j... memory, 103k... interface, 103m... program, 104... measurement meter, 104a... measurement flow path, 104b... measurement section, 104c... input section, 104d... output section, 104e... acquisition section, 104f... storage section, 1 04g...calculation unit, 104h...control unit, 104i...processor, 104j...memory, 104k...interface, 104m...program, 105...main body, 105a...main body flow path, 105c...input unit, 105d...output unit, 105e...acquisition unit, 105f...storage unit, 105g...calculation unit, 105h...control unit, 105i...processor, 105j...memory, 105k...interface, 105m...program, CL...central axis, D1...first horizontal direction, D2...second horizontal direction, D3...up-down direction (axial direction), X1...communication means

Claims

1. a cylindrical cell containing a measurement fluid; a light source disposed outside the cell and configured to irradiate the measurement fluid with inspection light; a detector disposed outside the cell and detecting transmitted light or scattered light generated from the measurement fluid; a cleaning mechanism disposed inside the cell and configured to clean an inner circumferential surface of the cell; a drive mechanism that rotates the cell around the central axis.

2. The measurement instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning mechanism is disposed outside of the optical paths of the inspection light, the transmitted light, and the scattered light.

3. The measurement instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cleaning mechanism is disposed between the light source and the detector in the rotation direction of the cell.

4. the detector is a scattered light detector that detects scattered light, The measurement meter of claim 3 , wherein the cleaning mechanism blocks stray light.

5. The measurement meter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cleaning mechanism includes a wiper or a brush that contacts the inner circumferential surface of the cell.

6. 3. The measurement meter according to claim 1, further comprising an inlet for introducing a measurement fluid into the cell, and an outlet for discharging the measurement fluid from the cell.

7. The measurement meter according to claim 6 , wherein the outlet is located above the inlet.

8. a cylindrical first holder and a cylindrical second holder connected to both sides of the cell in the axial direction; The measurement meter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cell rotates integrally with the first holder and the second holder.

9. the first holder and the second holder each include two O-ring grooves formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof and spaced apart in the axial direction; The measurement meter according to claim 8 , wherein the first holder and the second holder are attached to the outer circumferential surface of the cell via an O-ring disposed in the O-ring groove.

10. The measurement meter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive mechanism is disposed outside the cell and at a position spaced apart from the cell in the axial direction of the cell.

11. the drive mechanism includes a motor, a drive gear that is rotationally driven by the motor, and a driven gear that rotates while meshing with the drive gear; The measurement instrument of claim 8 , wherein the driven gear is fixed to the first holder and rotates the first holder about the central axis of the cell.

12. The measuring instrument according to claim 1 or 2; a main body to which the measuring meter is detachably attached.

13. The measuring device according to claim 12; a communication device capable of communicating with the measurement device;

14. a cylindrical cell containing a measurement fluid; a light source disposed outside the cell and configured to irradiate the measurement fluid with inspection light; a detector disposed outside the cell and detecting transmitted light or scattered light generated from the measurement fluid; a cleaning mechanism disposed inside the cell and configured to clean an inner circumferential surface of the cell; A measurement method using a measuring instrument equipped with a drive mechanism that rotates the cell around its central axis.