# US 10,307,782 B2 · Nozzle cleaning method and automated analyzer

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- Number: US 10,307,782 B2
- Document ID: US10307782B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/916,633
- Filed: 2014-07-24
- Published: 2016-07-07
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-12
- Assignees: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
- Applicants: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Takushi Miyakawa; Yukinori Sakashita; Yoshihiro Yamashita; Katsuhiro Kambara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307782B2

## CPC

- B05B 15/555: discharged by cleaning nozzles
- B05B 12/12: responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature {position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus (B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence)}
- B08B 9/023: Cleaning the external surfaces {(B08B9/021 takes precedence)}
- B08B 9/0323: {Arrangements specially designed for simultaneous and parallel cleaning of a plurality of conduits}
- G01N 35/1004: {Cleaning sample transfer devices}
- B05B 15/531: using backflow
- G01N 2035/0453: {Multiple carousels working in parallel}
- G01N 2035/1025: {Fluid level sensing}
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

The nozzle cleaning method includes the following steps: a first cleaning step in which a pre-pressurization liquid is discharged from a dispensing nozzle in a first cleaning position so as to clean the inside wall thereof and a first cleaning liquid is applied to the outside wall of the dispensing nozzle so as to clean said outside wall; a second cleaning step in which a second cleaning liquid is suctioned into the dispensing nozzle in a second cleaning position so as to clean the inside wall thereof; and a third cleaning step in which the second cleaning liquid is discharged from the dispensing nozzle in a third cleaning position so as to clean the inside wall thereof and a third cleaning liquid is applied to the outside wall of the dispensing nozzle so as to clean said outside wall.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A nozzle cleaning method consisting of:
a first cleaning step of cleaning an inner wall surface of a dispensing nozzle located at a first position in a cleaning tank by discharging a preloaded solution from the inside of the dispensing nozzle, and concurrently cleaning an outer wall surface of the dispensing nozzle located at the first position by discharging a cleaning solution from a pair of first discharge ports to the outer wall surface of the dispensing nozzle;
a second cleaning step of cleaning the inner wall surface of the dispensing nozzle located at a second position in the cleaning tank by aspirating the cleaning solution stored in a storage tank of the cleaning tank into the dispensing nozzle; and
a third cleaning step of cleaning the inner wall surface of the dispensing nozzle located at a third position in the cleaning tank by discharging the cleaning solution aspirated into the dispensing nozzle, and concurrently cleaning the outer wall surface of the dispensing nozzle located at the third position by discharging the cleaning solution from a pair of second discharge ports to the outer wall surface of the dispensing nozzle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The nozzle cleaning method according to claim 1,
wherein the dispensing nozzle includes a liquid level detector configured to detect the cleaning solution in at least one of the first to third cleaning steps, and
wherein when the cleaning solution is not detected in the at least one of the first to third cleaning steps, a notification is output.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The nozzle cleaning method according to claim 1,
wherein, in the second cleaning step, the dispensing nozzle is lowered into the cleaning solution, more deeply than a height for aspirating a predetermined amount of the cleaning solution, so as to clean the outer wall surface of the dispensing nozzle together when the cleaning solution is aspirated.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The nozzle cleaning method according to claim 1,
wherein the cleaning solution aspirated in the second cleaning step is held inside the dispensing nozzle during a set period of time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The nozzle cleaning method according to claim 1,
wherein the cleaning solution is repeatedly aspirated and discharged in the second cleaning step.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The nozzle cleaning method according to claim 1,
wherein the cleaning solution is discharged to the dispensing nozzle in multiple directions in the first and third cleaning steps.