Method of cleaning nozzle and device for cleaning nozzle
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0881118
(2010-09-13)
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등록번호 |
US-8764912
(2014-07-01)
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우선권정보 |
JP-2008-068305 (2008-03-17) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
4 |
초록
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The present invention provides a nozzle cleaning method and a nozzle cleaning device which allow to surely perform cleaning of a dispensing nozzle and which allow reduction in cleaning time. For this purpose, a nozzle cleaning method for cleaning a dispensing nozzle (50) for suctioning and dischargi
The present invention provides a nozzle cleaning method and a nozzle cleaning device which allow to surely perform cleaning of a dispensing nozzle and which allow reduction in cleaning time. For this purpose, a nozzle cleaning method for cleaning a dispensing nozzle (50) for suctioning and discharging a liquid includes: a first cleaning step in which, after termination of dispensing, an inner wall surface of the dispensing nozzle (50) is cleaned in an upper portion of a storage tank (62) overflowed with a cleaning liquid (L2) by discharging a liquid for preload (L1); and a second cleaning step in which at least an outer wall surface is cleaned by lowering and immersing the dispensing nozzle (50) into the storage tank (62) overflowed with the cleaning liquid (L2).
대표청구항
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1. A nozzle cleaning device for cleaning a dispensing nozzle, comprising: a storage tank having an opening portion into which the dispensing nozzle is inserted;a discharge tube connected to a bottom portion of the storage tank;a first valve;a second valve;a cleaning liquid supply tank connected to t
1. A nozzle cleaning device for cleaning a dispensing nozzle, comprising: a storage tank having an opening portion into which the dispensing nozzle is inserted;a discharge tube connected to a bottom portion of the storage tank;a first valve;a second valve;a cleaning liquid supply tank connected to the storage tank through at least one nozzle section above the opening portion and at least one nozzle section below the opening portion, wherein the at least one nozzle section above the opening portion is connected to the cleaning liquid supply tank and the first valve and the at least one nozzle section below the opening portion is connected to the cleaning liquid supply tank and the second valve; andan overflow tank into which cleaning liquid overflows from the storage tank; anda controlling section configured to: open the first and second valves to supply a cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply tank to the storage tank through the at least one nozzle section above the opening portion and the at least one nozzle section below the opening portion, wherein the cleaning liquid overflows from the storage tank to the overflow tank;lower the dispensing nozzle into the storage tank through the opening portion to clean an outer wall surface of the dispensing nozzle;close the first and second valves to stop the supply of the cleaning liquid to the storage tank after the outer wall surface of the dispensing nozzle is clean; andraise the dispensing nozzle from the storage tank. 2. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein an opening portion of the overflow tank is formed to have a slope which inclines downwardly from the opening portion of the storage tank. 3. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the controlling section is further configured to close the first and second valves to stop the supply of the cleaning liquid from the storage tank to the overflow tank, after liquid for preload including a sample discharged from the dispensing nozzle reaches the storage tank. 4. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the controlling section is further configured to open the first and second valves to restart the flow of the cleaning liquid from the storage tank to the overflow tank, before a tip of the dispensing nozzle immerses into the storage tank. 5. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising: a waste tank connected to the discharge tube via a third valve; andwherein the controlling section is further configured to open the third valve to exhaust the cleaning liquid from the storage tank through the discharge tube connected to the bottom portion of the storage tank into the waste tank. 6. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising: a storing section that includes depth data and a sample type describing how the dispensing nozzle was used; andwherein the controlling section is further configured to determine a depth to lower the dispensing nozzle in the storage tank based on the depth data and the sample type. 7. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the depth to lower the dispensing nozzle in the storage tank is higher than nozzle section below the aperture. 8. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising: a syringe connected to the dispensing nozzle, wherein the syringe includes a plunger connected to a plunger driving section via a motor, wherein the plunger driving section is configured to move the motor forward to apply a suction pressure to the dispensing nozzle and backward to apply a discharging pressure to the dispensing nozzle. 9. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 8, further comprising: a second cleaning liquid supply tank connected to the dispensing nozzle via the syringe, wherein a pump supplies cleaning liquid to the syringe from the second cleaning liquid supply tank. 10. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 8, wherein the controlling section is further configured to: before raising the dispensing nozzle, instruct the plunger driving section to suction and discharge the cleaning liquid from the storage tank through the dispensing nozzle to clean interior walls of the dispensing nozzle. 11. A nozzle cleaning device, comprising: a storage tank including an aperture through which a dispensing nozzle is inserted;an overflow tank into which cleaning liquid overflows from the storage tank;a discharge tube connected to the storage tank;a first valve;a second valve;a third valve;a waste tank connected to the storage tank through the discharge tube and the third valve;a cleaning liquid supply tank connected to the storage tank through a nozzle section below the aperture and a nozzle section above the aperture, wherein the nozzle section below the aperture is connected to the cleaning liquid supply tank and the first valve and wherein the cleaning liquid supply tank is connected to the nozzle section above the aperture and the second valve; anda controlling section configured to: open the first and second valves to supply a cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply tank to the storage tank through the nozzle section below the aperture and the nozzle section above the aperture, wherein the cleaning liquid overflows from the storage tank to the overflow tank;lower the dispensing nozzle into the storage tank through the aperture to clean an outer wall surface of the dispensing nozzle;close the first and second valves to stop the supply of the cleaning liquid to the storage tank;raise the dispensing nozzle from the storage tank while overflow of the cleaning liquid is stopped; andopen the third valve to exhaust the cleaning liquid from the storage tank through the discharge tube connected to the bottom portion of the storage tank. 12. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the controlling section is further configured to: instruct the dispensing nozzle to discharge liquid for preload while the cleaning liquid overflows from the storage tank to the overflow tank; andclose the first and second valves to stop the supply of the cleaning liquid to the storage tank after the liquid for preload is dispensed from the dispensing probe. 13. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 11, further comprising: a storing section that includes depth data and a sample type describing how the dispensing nozzle was used; andwherein the controlling section is further configured to determine a depth to lower the dispensing nozzle in the storage tank based on the depth data and the same type. 14. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 13, wherein the depth to lower the dispensing nozzle in the storage tank is higher than nozzle section below the aperture. 15. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 11, wherein an opening portion of the overflow tank is formed to have a slope which inclines downwardly from the opening portion of the storage tank. 16. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 11, further comprising a syringe connected to the dispensing nozzle, wherein the syringe includes a plunger connected to a plunger driving section via a motor, wherein the plunger driving section is configured to move the motor forward to apply a suction pressure to the dispensing nozzle and backward to apply a discharging pressure to the dispensing nozzle. 17. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 16, further comprising: a second cleaning liquid supply tank connected to the dispensing nozzle via the syringe, wherein a pump supplies cleaning liquid to the syringe from the second cleaning liquid supply tank. 18. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 16, wherein the controlling section is further configured to: before raising the dispensing nozzle, instruct the plunger driving section to suction and discharge the cleaning liquid from the storage tank through the dispensing nozzle to clean interior walls of the dispensing nozzle.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (4)
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Hoffman Julie F. (Durham NC) Jones Lionel E. (Apex NC), Apparatus and method for cleaning reagent delivery probes.
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Otto Furst DE; Thomas Jack DE; Peter Weber DE; Paul Jansen DE, Device for cleaning pipette needles or stirrers.
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Schwartz Henry L. (Los Gatos CA), Probe wash station.
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Kitajima Masaichi (Tokyo JPX), Probe washing vessel.
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