IP Library Patent Application 12558882
Patent Application
App. No. 12/558,882

CLEANING DEVICE AND AUTOMATIC ANALYZER

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/558,882
Abstract

A cleaning device includes: a supply nozzle that supplies cleaning liquid to inside of a vessel holding liquid for cleaning the inside of the vessel and is arranged to have a space between an outer wall surface of the supply nozzle and an entire inner wall surface of the vessel when the supply nozzle is inserted into the vessel; and a discharge nozzle that has an end positioned at an upper portion of the vessel and discharges the cleaning liquid supplied by the supply nozzle to outside of the vessel. The supply nozzle has an inner diameter area larger than an area of a section where the liquid is held on a cross section of the vessel including a part of the supply nozzle inserted into the vessel.

Claims (17)

1 . A cleaning device comprising:

a supply nozzle that supplies cleaning liquid to inside of a vessel holding liquid for cleaning the inside of the vessel and is arranged to have a space between an outer wall surface of the supply nozzle and an entire inner wall surface of the vessel when the supply nozzle is inserted into the vessel; and

a discharge nozzle that has an end positioned at an upper portion of the vessel and discharges the cleaning liquid supplied by the supply nozzle to outside of the vessel, wherein

the supply nozzle has an inner diameter area larger than an area of a section where the liquid is held on a cross section of the vessel including a part of the supply nozzle inserted into the vessel.

2 . The cleaning device according to claim 1 , further comprising a timing control unit that controls a start timing of a discharge operation performed by the discharge nozzle and a start timing of a supply operation performed by the supply nozzle whereby the discharge operation performed by the discharge nozzle is started earlier than the supply operation performed by the supply nozzle.

3 . The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein a flow speed at which the cleaning liquid flows through the space between the outer wall surface of the supply nozzle and the entire inner wall surface of the vessel is faster than a supply speed at which the cleaning liquid is supplied from the supply nozzle to the inside of the vessel.

4 . The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the supply nozzle is similar to a cross-sectional shape of the vessel.

5 . The cleaning device according to claim 1 , further comprising a suction nozzle that sucks the liquid held in the vessel before the supply nozzle supplies the cleaning liquid, wherein the suction nozzle is arranged inside the supply nozzle.

6 . An automatic analyzer comprising:

a cleaning device that comprises:

a supply nozzle that supplies cleaning liquid to inside of a vessel holding liquid for cleaning the inside of the vessel and is arranged to have a space between an outer wall surface of the supply nozzle and an entire inner wall surface of the vessel when the supply nozzle is inserted into the vessel; and

a discharge nozzle that has an end positioned at an upper portion of the vessel and discharges the cleaning liquid supplied by the supply nozzle to outside of the vessel, wherein

the supply nozzle has an inner diameter area larger than an area of a section where the liquid is held on a cross section of the vessel including a part of the supply nozzle inserted into the vessel.

7 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 6 , further comprising a timing control unit that controls a start timing of a discharge operation performed by the discharge nozzle and a start timing of a supply operation performed by the supply nozzle whereby the discharge operation performed by the discharge nozzle is started earlier than the supply operation performed by the supply nozzle.

8 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 6 , wherein a flow speed at which the cleaning liquid flows through the space between the outer wall surface of the supply nozzle and the entire inner wall surface of the vessel is faster than a supply speed at which the cleaning liquid is supplied from the supply nozzle to the inside of the vessel.

9 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 6 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the supply nozzle is similar to a cross-sectional shape of the vessel.

10 . The automatic analyzer according to claim 6 , further comprising a suction nozzle that sucks the liquid held in the vessel before the supply nozzle supplies the cleaning liquid, wherein the suction nozzle is arranged inside the supply nozzle.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2010
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: BECKMAN COULTER, INC.
Reel/Frame 023778/0141 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2009
From: TSURUTA, HIROSHI
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023226/0882 →