Loop Injection Mechanism Automates Flow Path Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional loop injection mechanisms are confusing for inexperienced users, leading to erroneous or inappropriate settings, which can result in carryover phenomena and adverse effects on detection results due to improper switching of flow paths during cleaning and analysis states.
Innovation Solution
A loop injection mechanism equipped with a sample loop, mobile phase supply unit, flow path switching unit, command execution processing unit, selection acceptance processing unit, and command setting processing unit, allowing for automatic setting of control commands for switching between analysis and cleaning states, including optional automatic timing settings for start and end times to ensure proper cleaning and analysis processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a user manually sets control commands by arbitrarily selecting and combining multiple commands, then the system provides flexibility in control, but the setting becomes confusing for inexperienced users leading to erroneous or inappropriate settings
Solution Approach 1:
The control command setting unit automatically generates appropriate control commands based on the cleaning execution command, eliminating the need for users to manually select and combine multiple commands. The system serves itself by autonomously determining the sequence and parameters of control commands for flow path switching, thereby resolving the contradiction between flexibility and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures multiple control commands as a packaged sequence that is automatically executed when a cleaning command is issued. This preliminary preparation of control command sequences allows the system to provide flexible control when needed while presenting a simple interface to users, as they only need to issue a single cleaning command rather than manually configuring multiple individual commands.
2Reliability
If the flow path is switched to the cleaning state to remove sample from the sample loop, then carryover is prevented, but improper switching timing can adversely affect the detection result in the detector
Solution Approach 1:
The control command setting unit uses feedback from the cleaning execution command and system state to automatically determine the appropriate timing for switching flow paths. By monitoring when cleaning is executed and calculating the necessary timing based on flow rates and loop volumes, the system ensures that the cleaning state is entered at the optimal moment to prevent carryover while ensuring the sample has fully eluted from the column before cleaning begins, thus maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculation and preparation of control command sequences that incorporate appropriate waiting periods and timing adjustments. Before executing the cleaning operation, the system pre-determines the exact timing for flow path switching based on the injected sample amount and flow rate, ensuring that the sample has completely passed through the detector before the cleaning solvent is introduced, thereby preventing both carryover and detection interference.
Data Source
AI summary
A flow path switching unit switches a flow path to an introduction state for introducing a sample in a sample loop, an analysis state for flowing a mobile phase into a column via the sample loop, or a cleaning state for introducing a cleaning solution into a sample loop. A command execution processing unit executes a plurality of preset control commands. A selection acceptance processing unit accepts a selection as to whether or not to switch the flow path from the analysis state to the cleaning state. In the case in which the selection of switching the flow path from the analysis state to the cleaning state is accepted by the selection acceptance processing unit, the command setting processing unit automatically includes the first switching command for switching the flow path from the analysis state to the cleaning state and the second switching command for returning the flow path from the cleaning state to the analysis state in a plurality of control commands.