Patent Description:
One analysis method using an analysis column is chromatography. The analysis column (also simply referred to as "column") is obtained by filling a thin cylindrical container at a high pressure with a filler of particles that bind various functional groups to a base material such as silica gel or polymer gel.

The chromatography is a method of distributing various materials at a certain ratio due to a difference in affinity (interaction) between a stationary phase and a mobile phase that carries the materials through the stationary phase and separating the materials using a difference in ratio between the materials.

In high performance liquid chromatography, liquid is used as the mobile phase. In general, in order to obtain a result with a good peak shape by high performance liquid chromatography, it is necessary to control the temperature of the column to an optimum temperature. As the temperature of the mobile phase in the column increases, the viscosity of the mobile phase decreases such that the pressure decreases.

Therefore, diffusion of a sample in a pipe and the column is suppressed and the holding time is reduced such that a result with a good peak shape can be obtained. To that end, the column of the high performance liquid chromatography needs to be held in a column oven cavity to control the temperature of the column.

In a general temperature control method of the column, a heat source is provided on the outer side of a flow path pipe that delivers a mobile phase on a front stage of a column, and the temperature of the column is controlled by a pre-heating mechanism for controlling the temperature of the mobile phase and a mechanism for air-conditioning the inside of the column oven.

PTL <NUM> discloses a column module that houses a plurality of thermally conductive grooves and has a structure in which each of the grooves resides in a separate thermal zone to be thermally conditioned individually by one of the individually controlled thermoelectric chips and is adapted to hold one or more columns therein. In PTL <NUM>, when each of the grooves resides in a separate thermal zone to hold a plurality of columns, the temperatures of the plurality of columns are controlled by one thermoelectric chip.

PTL <NUM> discloses a column cartridge in which at least a first column and a second column are mounted on a housing and an external pipe can be connected to each of the columns. In addition, an identifiable barcode or an RFID TAG is mounted on each cartridge to provide a function capable of managing data such as the temperature in the cartridge, the liquid-delivery pressure, or the liquid-delivery flow rate. In PTL <NUM>, at least first and second columns are mounted on one cartridge. Therefore, the column cartridge is handled per at least two columns.

In <CIT> a passive column pre-heater for use in chromatographic systems is described. In <CIT> a separation column connection device, a connection method and an analysis system are described.

In the technique described in PTL <NUM>, in order to control the temperatures of the plurality of columns, the temperatures of a plurality of thermally conductive grooves are controlled by one thermoelectric chip in one thermal zone, and the temperatures of the plurality of columns are controlled by the mechanism for air-conditioning the inside of the column oven. The temperatures of the plurality of columns are controlled by air-conditioning from one thermoelectric chip. The temperatures of the plurality of columns are not uniform, and the temperature control may vary depending on the columns.

In the technique described in PTL <NUM>, in order to control the temperatures of a plurality of columns, the temperature in the column cartridge is controlled, the column cartridge having a structure where a plurality of columns are mounted on the housing and an external pipe can be connected to each of the columns. In this case, when one column in the cartridge deteriorates in performance or is clogged, it is necessary to exchange the cartridge in order to exchange the column, and a column that is still usable may be unnecessarily disposed. This unnecessity is against resource saving and cost reduction. In addition, an identifiable barcode or an RFID TAG is mounted for each cartridge. Therefore, the columns cannot be managed one by one.

An object of the present invention is to implement an analysis apparatus column oven equipped with a plurality of columns, which is capable of efficiently performing heat conduction on column basis, recognizing a column cartridge that holds a column, and being easily exchanged on column basis.

In order to achieve the objects, the invention is configured as follows.

An analysis apparatus column oven according to claim <NUM> is provided that includes an analysis column and a heat source that transfers heat to the analysis column, the analysis apparatus column oven including: a column cartridge having the analysis column; and a column change mechanism capable of attaching and removing the column cartridge, in which the heat source controls temperature of the analysis column of the column cartridge in a state where the column cartridge is attached to the column change mechanism.

According to the present invention, it is possible to implement an analysis apparatus column oven equipped with a plurality of columns, which is capable of efficiently performing heat conduction on column basis, recognizing a column cartridge that holds a column, and being easily exchanged on column basis.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A main target of the embodiment of the present invention is high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), but the present invention is applicable to general analysis apparatuses. The present invention is also applicable to, for example, gas chromatography, ultra high performance liquid chromatography, or a clinical testing machine including HPLC/MS and a column separation unit.

A general HPLC includes a liquid delivery pump, an injector, an analysis column, a column oven that controls the temperature of the analysis column, and a pipe that connects the liquid delivery pump, the injector, and the analysis column to each other.

An overall configuration of the apparatus according to the present invention is a multi-HPLC apparatus in which a plurality of HPLC flow paths are coupled to one detector through a stream select valve that switches between the HPLC flow paths such that analyses of the HPLC streams can be performed. The HPLC flow paths have the same configuration and are arranged in parallel. By adjusting time of an analysis column equilibration step, an elution step, a washing step, and an injector washing step, the target component is introduced constantly from each of the HPLC streams to the detector such that there is no waiting time in the detector.

The present invention relates to a column oven that can hold a plurality of analysis columns.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail using <FIG>.

<FIG> is a structural explanatory diagram of a column oven (column temperature control unit) <NUM> according to the first embodiment. In <FIG>, the column temperature control unit <NUM> includes a heat block <NUM>, a column <NUM>, a column heat block <NUM>, a column cartridge <NUM>, a column change mechanism <NUM> (including a fixed portion 105A and a movable portion 105B), a column cartridge heat insulating member <NUM>, a heat source unit <NUM>, a temperature sensor <NUM>, a thermal protector <NUM>, a control unit <NUM>, a fan <NUM>, and a heat sink <NUM>. The column heat block <NUM> is arranged in an opening portion formed in the column cartridge <NUM> and is in contact with the heat block <NUM>. That is, the heat block <NUM> is in contact with the column <NUM> through the column heat block <NUM> that is arranged in the opening portion formed in the column cartridge <NUM>.

The heat block <NUM> includes a plurality of protrusion structures. In addition, as a material of the heat block <NUM>, aluminum is used in the first embodiment of the present invention. However, copper, iron, stainless steel, or titanium may be used. In addition, the heat block <NUM> may be integrally formed of the same material or may be obtained by connecting portions formed of different materials.

The column <NUM> is obtained by filling a thin cylindrical container at a high pressure with particles of a filler that binds various functional groups to a surface of a base material such as silica gel or polymer gel. The column is separated by being eluted at a specific holding time by adsorption and desorption due to an interaction between the functional group and a measurement target material. In the first embodiment, silica gel is used as the base material, and an ODS column (<NUM> ID × <NUM> L, particle diameter: <NUM>µL) having a reversed-phase chromatography mode is used as the functional group.

The separation mode of the column <NUM> may be another mode, for example, a normal-phase chromatography mode, an HILIC chromatography mode, an ion exchange chromatography mode, a gel permeation chromatography mode, an affinity chromatography mode, or an immunoaffinity chromatography mode. In addition, the embodiment is also applicable to a column for gas chromatography.

The column cartridge <NUM> is formed of a PPEX resin, has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a length of <NUM>, a width of <NUM>, a height of <NUM>, and includes the column heat block <NUM> and the column <NUM>. As the column <NUM> according to the first embodiment, a column having a size of <NUM> ID × <NUM> L is used. By changing the internal shape of the column cartridge <NUM>, columns having an inner diameter of <NUM> to <NUM> ID and a length of <NUM> to <NUM> L can be housed.

As the column heat block <NUM>, blocks having the same shape can be used.

The column cartridge <NUM> has a notch structure (opening portion) where a recess structure is provided in at least a portion, and is structured to be capable of coming into contact with the protrusion structure of the heat block <NUM>. As a result, the temperature of the column <NUM> is controlled by the column <NUM> coming into contact with the column heat block <NUM>. The heat block <NUM> may come into direct contact with the column <NUM>. In this case, it is desirable that the contact portion of the protrusion structure of the heat block <NUM> is a curved structure such that the contact area with the cylindrical column <NUM> increases.

The column cartridge <NUM> and the column heat block <NUM> are separated from each other by the heat insulating member <NUM> formed of an EPT sealer in the first embodiment. The heat insulating member <NUM> may be glass wool or nylon.

The temperature control of the column <NUM> will be described. A heater (not shown (driven at <NUM> W and DC 24V on column basis)) as the heat source unit <NUM> and a thermistor (not shown) as the temperature sensor <NUM> are connected to the heat block <NUM> through the control unit <NUM>. By controlling the temperature of the heat block <NUM> from <NUM> to <NUM> by feedback control using a PID control method, the temperature of the column <NUM> is controlled from <NUM> to <NUM> through the heat block <NUM> and the column heat block <NUM>.

In the first embodiment, the heater is used as the heat source unit <NUM>. However, a Peltier element may be used. In the first embodiment, the PID method is used as the feedback control. However, ON/OFF control or PI control may be used. In the first embodiment, the thermistor is used as the temperature sensor <NUM>. However, a thermocouple or a platinum side thermal resistor may be used. Likewise, in the first embodiment, in a connection portion of the temperature sensor <NUM>, the temperature of the heat block <NUM> is measured for feedback. However, the temperature of any one of the heat block <NUM>, the column heat block <NUM>, and the column <NUM> may be measured.

In this case, when a plurality of columns <NUM> are mounted on a plurality of column ovens <NUM>, the temperature of any one of the protrusion portion of the heat block <NUM>, the column heat block <NUM>, and the column <NUM> is measured for feedback. Therefore, the control unit <NUM> is complicated. The temperature accuracy of the temperature of the column <NUM> can be controlled within ± <NUM>. The thermal protector <NUM> is connected to the heat source unit <NUM>, and when the temperature of the column <NUM> reaches <NUM> as a set temperature, the heater is turned off such that the temperature control is stopped.

When the column <NUM> is cooled, the fan <NUM> having a size of <NUM> × <NUM> and a thickness of <NUM> that is connected to the control unit <NUM> is turned on such that the heat block <NUM> starts to be cooled. In order to increase the cooling efficiency, the heat block <NUM> may include the heat sink <NUM> formed of aluminum or copper.

The column cartridge <NUM> is separated from the column heat block <NUM> by the heat insulating member <NUM>. Therefore, even when the temperature of the column heat block <NUM> reaches <NUM>, the surface temperature of the cartridge <NUM> does not reach <NUM>.

As described above, the column change mechanism <NUM> shown on the left side of <FIG> is the movable portion 105B and is movable in the left-right direction in <FIG>. The column cartridge <NUM> can be fixed between the fixed portion 105A and the movable portion 105B of the column change mechanism <NUM> on the left and right sides. When the column cartridge <NUM> fixed to the column change mechanism <NUM> is released from the column change mechanism <NUM>, the movable portion 105B on the left side moves in the left direction of <FIG> such that fixing by the column change mechanism <NUM> is released. As a result, the column cartridge <NUM> can be easily released from the column change mechanism <NUM>, and the column cartridge <NUM> can be easily attached to and detached from the column change mechanism <NUM>. When the column cartridge <NUM> is attached to the column change mechanism <NUM>, heat is transferred from the heat block <NUM> to the column <NUM> directly or through the column heat block <NUM> such that the temperature of the column <NUM> can be controlled.

Next, the column change mechanism <NUM> will be described using <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> and <FIG> are explanatory diagrams of the column change mechanism <NUM>. In <FIG>, the column change mechanism <NUM> includes a ferrule <NUM>, a movable ferrule connector <NUM>, a pipe <NUM>, a fastener pull <NUM>, a fastener fitting <NUM>, a column cartridge presser <NUM>, a slide guide <NUM>, a RFID reader <NUM>, a fixed wall <NUM>, a column changer heat insulating member <NUM>, a fixed bottom plate <NUM>, a receiver <NUM>, and a fixed fitting <NUM>. The pipe <NUM> is supported by the movable connector ferrule <NUM>.

In addition, the fixed bottom plate <NUM> supports the ferrule <NUM>, the movable ferrule connector <NUM>, the pipe <NUM>, the fastener pull <NUM>, the fastener fitting <NUM>, the column cartridge presser <NUM>, the slide guide <NUM>, the RFID reader <NUM>, the fixed wall <NUM>, the column changer heat insulating member <NUM>, the receiver <NUM>, and the fixed fitting <NUM>.

A sample or the like is delivered from the pipe <NUM> to the column <NUM> through the column change mechanism <NUM>. In addition, the sample or the like is delivered from the column <NUM> to the pipe <NUM> of the column change mechanism <NUM>.

The temperature of the heat block <NUM> is controlled to the set temperature, a plurality of column cartridges <NUM> can be provided in the heat block <NUM>, and the heat block <NUM> comes into contact with the column heat block <NUM> in the column cartridge <NUM> such that the temperature in the column cartridge <NUM> is controlled. For example, a case where five column cartridges <NUM> are provided in the heat block <NUM> will be described using <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the heat block <NUM> includes a base plate <NUM> and an aluminum block <NUM>. The materials of the base plate <NUM> and the aluminum block <NUM> are aluminum, the size of the base plate <NUM> is <NUM> × <NUM> × <NUM>, the size of aluminum block <NUM> is <NUM> × <NUM> × <NUM>, and the aluminum blocks <NUM> are regularly disposed on the base plate <NUM> at pitch intervals of <NUM>. During the temperature control, the aluminum block <NUM> comes into contact with the column heat block <NUM>, the column heat block <NUM> comes into contact with the column <NUM>. A sheet heater <NUM> is formed in a sheet shape where a plurality of column cartridges <NUM> can be disposed.

Therefore, heat is transferred to a plurality of columns <NUM> from the heat block <NUM> heated by the sheet heater <NUM> (corresponding to the heat source <NUM>) as a heat source such that the temperature control can be performed. In the first embodiment, the sheet heater <NUM> is used. Of course, however, a rubber heater, a ceramic heater, or a cartridge heater may be used. In addition, the aluminum block <NUM> may be copper or iron. Although not shown in the drawing, a pre-heating type where the temperature of the pipe <NUM> connected to the column <NUM> is controlled by the heat source may be used in combination. In this case, immediately before being connected to the column <NUM>, the temperature of the pipe <NUM> is controlled to be the same as the temperature of the column by the heat source such as the sheet heater, and an HPLC solution that is delivered to the pipe is delivered to the column <NUM>. As a result, a difference in temperature between the HPLC solution delivered to the column <NUM> and the column <NUM> is reduced, and the reproducibility of column separation is improved.

The column cartridge <NUM> will be described using <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. <FIG> is a top schematic perspective view of the column cartridge <NUM>, <FIG> is a lower schematic perspective view of the column cartridge <NUM>, and <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view of the column cartridge <NUM>.

In <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the column cartridge <NUM> includes a column cartridge upper portion <NUM>, a column cartridge lower portion <NUM>, the column <NUM>, the column cartridge heat insulating member <NUM> that thermally insulates the column, the column heat block <NUM>, and a screw <NUM>.

The column cartridge upper portion <NUM> that is formed of a PEEK resin and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a length of <NUM>, a width of <NUM>, a height of <NUM> and the column cartridge lower portion <NUM> that is formed of a PEEK resin and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a length of <NUM>, a width of <NUM>, a height of <NUM> are formed of PEEK from the viewpoint of suppressing an increase in the surface temperature of the column <NUM> in consideration of the safety of a user such as burn during column exchange. The column cartridge upper portion <NUM> and the column cartridge lower portion <NUM> are fixed through the screw <NUM> such that the column <NUM> is vertically interposed therebetween.

Of course, the material of the column cartridge <NUM> may be a thermally insulating PPS resin. The column cartridge upper portion <NUM> and the column cartridge lower portion <NUM> have a structure of vertically pressing the column <NUM> but may have a structure of laterally pressing the column <NUM>.

The column cartridge heat insulating member <NUM> is formed of an EPT sealer as a material and is disposed to cover the column that is not in contact with the column heat block <NUM> to prevent heat radiation. The material of the cartridge heat insulating member <NUM> may be glass wool or nylon. The column <NUM> interposed between the column cartridge upper portion <NUM> and the column cartridge lower portion <NUM> has a structure where both ends are positioned <NUM> or more inward from the connection portion of the column cartridge <NUM>, and has a structure where the user does not touch a tip of the column <NUM> that is likely to be a high-temperature portion in consideration of the safety of the user such as burn during column exchange.

As shown in <FIG>, the column heat block <NUM> has a structure in which the upper portion is recessed in a cylindrical shape to be capable of housing the cylindrical column <NUM> and the rectangular parallelepiped in the lower portion protrudes from the center portion of the bottom surface to come into contact with the heat block (aluminum block) <NUM>. Heating surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped and the heat block (aluminum block) <NUM> may be connected in a planar shape. However, in order to improve the heat conduction efficiency, a stepped level difference may be provided to increase the surface area of the heating surface. In addition, the structure of the heating surface does not need to be a rectangular parallelepiped and may be a cylindrical shape or a coil shape.

As shown in <FIG>, the bottom surface of the column cartridge lower portion <NUM> has an opening portion where the column heat block <NUM> is disposed, and is structured to surround the column heat block <NUM>, and the bottom surface (in <FIG>, the upper surface) of the column cartridge lower portion <NUM> is structured to be at least <NUM> longer than the bottom surface (in <FIG>, the upper surface) of the column heat block <NUM> in a direction of the bottom portion (in <FIG>, the upper portion). That is, the surface of the column heat block <NUM> opposite to the surface in contact with the column <NUM> is at least <NUM> smaller than the bottom surface of the column cartridge lower portion <NUM>. In other words, the bottom surface of the column cartridge lower portion <NUM> protrudes from the bottom surface of the column heat block <NUM> by at least <NUM>.

The bottom surface of the column cartridge lower portion <NUM> has a structure where the user does not touch the bottom surface of the column heat block <NUM> that is likely to be a high-temperature portion in consideration of the safety of the user such as burn during column exchange.

The bottom portion of the column cartridge lower portion <NUM> has a structure where one side has a notch and the other side does not have a notch, and is structured to be capable of being inserted only in one direction into the contactable heat block (aluminum base) <NUM> from an upper space of the fixed bottom plate <NUM> of the column change mechanism <NUM>. As a result, during column exchange, the installation direction of the column cartridge <NUM> is only one. Therefore, an entrance (IN) direction and an exit (OUT) direction of the column <NUM> can be provided at appropriate positions.

The fixed bottom plate <NUM> includes the slide guide <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) and can be slid when the column cartridge <NUM> is provided during exchange of the column <NUM>. In addition, by providing a structure of the bottom portion of the column cartridge lower portion <NUM> where the length relative to the width varies depending on the type of the column <NUM>, the column <NUM> can be appropriately provided.

Regarding a structure of a joined portion of the column cartridge lower portion <NUM> and the slide guide <NUM>, not only by adopting the structure where the length relative to the width has the specific value but also by providing a circular or elliptical structure depending on the type of the column <NUM>, the type of the column <NUM> can be identified by fitting.

The heat block (aluminum block) <NUM> is structured to be positioned at least <NUM> below (downward) the upper surface of the fixed bottom surface <NUM>. The heat block (aluminum block) <NUM> has a structure where the user does not touch the bottom surface of the column heat block <NUM> that is likely to be a high-temperature portion in consideration of the safety of the user such as burn during column exchange.

An RFID tag <NUM> is provided on a side surface of the column cartridge <NUM> such that a status such as the type or manufacturing number of the column <NUM> can be checked by being read with the RFID reader <NUM> during column exchange. By counting the number of use using the control unit (control PC) <NUM>, the column exchange period can be notified to a display unit or the like of the control unit <NUM>. During the exchange of the column <NUM>, the record "used" is written into the column <NUM> to be exchanged to prevent reuse.

Next, the movable ferrule connector <NUM> will be described using <FIG> is a diagram showing a state where the movable ferrule connector <NUM> is pressed most against the column cartridge <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the movable ferrule connector <NUM> includes the ferrule <NUM>, a movable connector housing <NUM>, a pipe presser <NUM>, an inner member <NUM>, an outer member <NUM>, a stop wheel <NUM>, a plate spring <NUM>, a spring washer <NUM>, a stopper <NUM>, and the pipe <NUM>. The movable ferrule connector housing <NUM> has a cylindrical shape, in which cylindrical spaces having different four-stage inner diameters are provided from the central axis. In the cylindrical space having the smallest inner diameter on the inside of the movable ferrule connector housing <NUM>, the pipe <NUM> is disposed and is pressed with the pipe presser <NUM>.

In the cylindrical space having the second smallest inner diameter on the inside of the movable ferrule connector housing <NUM>, the plate spring <NUM> is disposed and is compressed to generate a pressing force during the fixing of the column <NUM>. In the cylindrical space having the third smallest inner diameter on the inside of the movable ferrule connector housing <NUM>, the spring washer <NUM> is disposed, and the inner member <NUM> is disposed in contact with the spring washer <NUM> to press the pipe presser <NUM>. The outer member <NUM> is disposed to press the inner member <NUM>. In the cylindrical space having the largest inner diameter on the inside of the movable ferrule connector housing <NUM>, the stopper <NUM> is disposed such that the outer member <NUM> comes into contact with the stopper <NUM> to stop the movement of the outer member <NUM> in a state where it is pressed most during the fixing of the column <NUM>. As a result, the outer member <NUM> is pressed from a predetermined position, and damages to the respective members are prevented.

On the column <NUM> side in the cylindrical space having the largest inner diameter on the inside of the movable ferrule connector housing <NUM>, the stop wheel <NUM> is disposed such that the outer member <NUM> comes into contact with the stop wheel <NUM> to stop the movement of the outer member <NUM> in a state where it is not pressed during the exchange of the column <NUM>. As a result, the outer member <NUM> is prevented from flying out from the movable ferrule connector housing <NUM>.

The ferrule <NUM> is disposed at a tip of the outer member <NUM>. The spaces are provided such that the center portions of the pipe presser <NUM>, the inner member <NUM>, and the outer member <NUM> pass through the pipe <NUM>, and the pipe <NUM> is fixed by being fastened by the pipe presser <NUM>. In addition, the ferrule <NUM> is fixed to the pipe <NUM> by being fastened, and the amount of the pipe <NUM> protruding from the ferrule <NUM> is also determined.

A connection portion of the column <NUM> has a tapered structure and can be sealed by adhesion between the tip of the pipe <NUM> and the tip of the tapered structure and adhesion between the ferrule <NUM> and the tapered structure during the fixing of the column <NUM>. The movable ferrule connector <NUM> on the exit (OUT) side of the column <NUM> is provided to be bilaterally symmetrical, and the movable connector housing <NUM> on this side is fixed to the fixed wall <NUM> using the fixed fitting <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). The fixed wall <NUM> is connected to the fixed bottom plate <NUM>, the column changer heat insulating member <NUM> is disposed below the fixed bottom plate <NUM> to separate the heat block <NUM> and the fixed bottom plate <NUM> from each other, and heat conduction from the heat block <NUM> to the fixed bottom plate <NUM>, the fixed wall <NUM>, and the movable ferrule connector <NUM> is suppressed.

The column exchange operation procedure in the column change mechanism <NUM> will be described using <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>.

A method of providing the column cartridge <NUM> includes <NUM>) an initial state (<FIG>), <NUM>) a step of providing the column cartridge <NUM> (<FIG>), <NUM>) a step of pressing the column cartridge <NUM> (<FIG>), <NUM>) a fastener hooking step (<FIG>), and <FIG>) a fixing step (<FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, in <NUM>) the initial state, the column cartridge <NUM> is not provided in the column change mechanism <NUM>. In <NUM>) the step of providing the column cartridge <NUM>, the column cartridge <NUM> is inserted in one direction into the contactable heat block <NUM> from the upper space of the fixed bottom plate <NUM>.

Next, in <NUM>) the step of pressing the column cartridge <NUM>, while a fixed lever <NUM> of the fastener pull <NUM> of the movable portion 105B is rotated by a worker to release the fixing of the fastener pull <NUM>, the movable portion 105B is moved from the left direction to the right direction in <FIG> along the slide guide <NUM> where the movable ferrule connector <NUM> is provided in the fixed bottom plate <NUM>, and the column cartridge <NUM> moves in the right direction to be pressed against the fixed portion 105A on the right side. By converting the rotational movement of the fixed lever <NUM> of the fastener pull <NUM> into an equilibrium movement, the movable ferrule connector <NUM> and the column cartridge <NUM> are pressed against the fixed portion 105A on the right side.

In <NUM>) the fastener hooking step, the fastener pull <NUM> of the movable portion 105B on the right side is rotated to and hooked with the fastener fitting <NUM> of the fixed portion 105A on the left side. <NUM>) The step of pressing the column cartridge <NUM> and <NUM>) the fastener hooking step can be performed as a series of operations.

Next, by pressing the fixed lever <NUM> to fix the fastener pull <NUM> in <NUM>) the fixing step, the column <NUM> is fixed to the column change mechanism <NUM>. In the column change mechanism <NUM>, by using the sealing method by the structure of the movable ferrule connector <NUM>, the pressure resistance can be maintained even when the mobile phase is delivered to the pipe <NUM> at a high flow rate.

The column <NUM> can be detached by performing <NUM>) the initial state, <NUM>) the step of providing the column cartridge <NUM>, <NUM>) the step of pressing the column cartridge <NUM>, <NUM>) the fastener hooking step, and <NUM>) the fixing step in the reverse order.

That is, the fixed lever <NUM> is rotated in the right direction in <FIG> to release the fixing of the fastener pull <NUM>, and the fastener pull <NUM> is released from the fastener fitting <NUM>, is rotated in the left direction in <FIG>, and returns to the movable portion 105B on the left side to enter the state in <FIG>. The movable portion 105B on the left side is slid (moved) in the left direction in <FIG> to move away from (direction away from) the column cartridge <NUM>, and the column cartridge <NUM> fixed to the fixed portion 105A and the movable portion 105B on the left and right sides is released. As a result, the released column cartridge <NUM> can be easily taken out.

In the first embodiment, when the mobile phase is delivered at <NUM>µL/min, a pressure of about <NUM> MPa is applied to the column <NUM>. In this case, the mobile phase does not leak from the connection portion between the movable ferrule connector <NUM> and the column <NUM>, and the pressure resistance is maintained.

A safety mechanism of the column oven <NUM> will be described using <FIG>.

In <FIG>, in a column oven housing <NUM>, the column change mechanism <NUM> is mounted, and a column oven cover <NUM> is provided in order to maintain the temperature control in the column oven cavity. In an outer wall of the column oven cover <NUM>, a handle <NUM> is provided, and the column oven cover <NUM> can be opened and closed in a direction from the front to the depth. In the column oven cavity, an interlock mechanism <NUM> equipped with a temperature sensor is provided, and when the temperature of the column is higher than or equal to <NUM> as a set temperature, the column oven cover <NUM> cannot be opened and closed. Whether or not the column oven cover <NUM> can be opened and closed can be checked by visual inspection through a LED <NUM> lighting provided in the outer wall of the column oven cover <NUM>.

With the column oven <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention, even when a plurality of columns <NUM> are mounted on the column oven <NUM>, efficient heat conduction can be implemented on column <NUM> basis, and the set temperature and time can be managed on column <NUM> basis by mounting the identifiable mechanism on column cartridge <NUM> basis.

That is, it is possible to implement an analysis apparatus column oven <NUM> equipped with a plurality of columns <NUM>, which is capable of efficiently performing heat conduction on column <NUM> basis, recognizing the column cartridge <NUM> that holds the column <NUM>, and being easily exchanged on column <NUM> basis.

In the second embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, a sheet heater <NUM> as a heat source is configured on column <NUM> basis. A difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is as follows. In the first embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the temperatures of a plurality of columns <NUM> can be collectively controlled by providing the sheet heater <NUM> as the heating portion in the base plate <NUM>. In the second embodiment, a plurality of sheet heaters <NUM> are provided in the respective columns <NUM>.

The other configurations are the same in the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, during the temperature control, the heat block <NUM> comes into contact with the column heat block <NUM>, the column heat block <NUM> comes into contact with the column <NUM>. Therefore, heat is transferred to the columns <NUM> from the heat block <NUM> heated by the sheet heater <NUM> as a heat source such that the temperature control can be performed.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the temperature control by heat conduction is performed instead of the temperature control by air-conditioning. Therefore, different temperatures can be set depending on the columns <NUM>.

In the second embodiment, the connection portion of the temperature sensor is the heat block <NUM>, and feedback control can be performed by measuring the temperature of the heat block <NUM>. However, the temperature sensor may be disposed to measure the temperature of any one of the heat block <NUM>, the column heat block <NUM>, and the column <NUM>. The temperature accuracy of the temperature of the column <NUM> can be controlled within ± <NUM>.

According to the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the optimum temperature can be set for each of the plurality of columns <NUM>.

In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG> showing a cross-section taken along line A-A' of <FIG>, the cylindrical column <NUM> comes into contact with the above-described curved surface of the column heat block <NUM> where the curved groove having substantially the same diameter as the column <NUM> is provided on the upper surface, and the column <NUM> is heated by heat conduction.

A contact surface between the column <NUM> and the column heat block <NUM> may have a shape other than the above-described shapes.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment is an example where the contact surface between the column <NUM> and the column heat block <NUM> has a shape different from those of the first embodiment and the second embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The other configurations of the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

<FIG> are diagrams showing a column <NUM> and a column heat block <NUM> according to the third embodiment. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a bottom portion 1001d of the column <NUM> is processed in a planar shape, and comes into flush contact with a connection portion 1002u of the column heat block <NUM> where the planar connection portion 1002u is provided on the upper surface.

Since a column bottom portion 1001d and the connection portion 1002u are planar, the processing accuracy can be improved, contact resistance of heat conduction can be further reduced, and the column <NUM> can be efficiently heated.

Claim 1:
An analysis apparatus column oven (<NUM>) that includes an analysis column (<NUM>) and a heat source that transfers heat to the analysis column (<NUM>), the analysis apparatus column oven (<NUM>) comprising:
a heat block (<NUM>) configured to transfer heat from the heat source to the analysis column (<NUM>);
characterized in that the analysis apparatus column oven (<NUM>) further comprises:
a column cartridge (<NUM>) including the analysis column (<NUM>) and a column heat block (<NUM>) that contacts the analysis column (<NUM>), wherein the column heat block (<NUM>) is arranged in an opening portion formed in the column cartridge (<NUM>) and wherein the column heat block (<NUM>) is configured to transfer heat from the heat block (<NUM>) to the analysis column (<NUM>) by thermally contacting the heat block (<NUM>); and
a column change mechanism (<NUM>) capable of attaching and removing the column cartridge (<NUM>), wherein
the heat source controls temperature of the analysis column (<NUM>) of the column cartridge (<NUM>) in a state where the column cartridge (<NUM>) is attached to the column change mechanism (<NUM>).