TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a liquid discharge device equipped with a stirring mechanism, an application device including the discharge device, and an application method using the application device.

BACKGROUND ART

Up to now, there has been known a liquid discharge device of plunger type discharging a liquid material from a discharge port by forward movement of a plunger sliding in close contact with an inner peripheral surface of a liquid chamber. In that type of liquid discharge device, the liquid material is discharged from a nozzle in an amount corresponding to a volume in the liquid chamber, the volume having been excluded by the movement of the plunger. The plunger-type discharge device is classified into two types, i.e., the type that the liquid material within the liquid chamber is used up, such as a syringe, and the type that the liquid material is supplied from the outside, such as a plunger pump.

The used-up type discharge device operates based on the discharge principle (see, e.g., FIGS. 3 and 4 in Patent Document 1) of pushing the liquid material out of the discharge port by moving the plunger disposed in a liquid-tight state toward the liquid material that is stored in the liquid chamber (metering chamber). After the plunger has been fully moved forward, an operation of filling the liquid material into the liquid chamber is needed.

On the other hand, in the plunger-pump type discharge device, the liquid material is stored in an external storage container, for example, and the liquid material is drawn by the plunger from the storage container. Then, the plunger is moved forward, thereby discharging the liquid material from the discharge port. That plunger-pump type discharge device includes a valve mechanism that is operated to cut off communication between the liquid chamber and the discharge port and to establish communication between the liquid chamber and the storage container when the liquid material is to be drawn into the liquid chamber from the storage container. When the liquid material is to be delivered from the liquid chamber to the discharge port, the valve mechanism is operated to cut off the communication between the liquid chamber and the storage container and to establish the communication between the liquid chamber and the discharge port (see, e.g., FIG. 1 in Patent Document 1).

Furthermore, when a liquid material containing particles, such as fillers, is to be discharged, a stirrer is disposed in the liquid chamber, and discharge work is performed in a state in which the fillers are dispersed in the liquid material. For example, Patent Document 1, in FIG. 4, proposes a device including a stirrer attached to a piston. However, the proposed device has the problem that, because a piston diameter increases, a liquid material L cannot be discharged in a small amount with high accuracy.

CITATION LIST

Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. S61-217739

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

The liquid discharge device (e.g., FIG. 1 in Patent Document 1) of the plunger pump type sucking and discharging the liquid material in the storage container, which is externally disposed and connected through a tube, has the following problem. Because the distance between a filling chamber and an extractor (nozzle) is long, the liquid material cannot be sufficiently stirred near the extractor, and the liquid material in a stirred state cannot be discharged from the nozzle.

In view of the above-described situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid discharge device capable of discharging a liquid material stirred near a metering chamber, an application device including the discharge device, and an application method using the application device.

Solution to Problem

To solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a liquid discharge device equipped with a stirring mechanism, the liquid discharge device comprising a storage unit including a storage container storing a liquid material, and a stirrer drive mechanism driving a stirrer disposed within the storage container; a discharge unit including a metering chamber to be filled with the liquid material, a plunger sliding in close contact with an inner peripheral surface of the metering chamber, a nozzle in communication with the metering chamber, and a switching valve switched between a first position at which the storage container and the metering chamber are communicated with each other, and a second position at which the metering chamber and the nozzle are communicated with each other; and a connection flow path through which the storage container and the metering chamber are communicated with each other, wherein the stirrer drive mechanism is separable from the storage unit.

The liquid discharge device may further comprise a discharge and storage block in which the connection flow path, the metering chamber, the switching valve, and a recessed portion constituting at least a bottom portion of the storage container are formed, and to which the nozzle is coupled.

The stirrer may be rotated by magnetic action, and the stirrer drive mechanism may include a magnetic body that is operated for rotation.

The connection flow path may have a communication port in communication with a lateral side of the recessed portion, and the magnetic body may be disposed under the recessed portion.

The stirrer drive mechanism may further comprise a stirrer drive device disposed adjacent to the storage container in a horizontal direction, and a transmission mechanism transmitting motive power of the stirrer drive device and operating the magnetic body for rotation.

The liquid discharge device may further comprise a bottom-raising member that is disposed at an inner bottom of the recessed portion to change a height of a bottom surface of the recessed portion.

The discharge and storage block may comprise a storage block including the recessed portion, and a discharge block including the metering chamber and the switching valve, the nozzle being coupled to the discharge block, and the storage block and the discharge block may be detachably coupled to each other.

The recessed portion may be disposed near a coupling portion coupling the discharge block and the storage block.

The connection flow path may be formed to pass through the coupling portion coupling the discharge block and the storage block.

The discharge and storage block may include a fitting portion, the storage unit may include a tubular member detachably fitted to the fitting portion, and the recessed portion and the tubular member may constitute the storage container.

A distance between the metering chamber and the recessed portion in the horizontal direction may be 10 cm or less.

A length of the connection flow path may be 10 cm or less.

The liquid discharge device may further comprise a discharge device drive unit including a plunger drive device that drives the plunger, wherein the discharge unit and the discharge device drive unit may be detachably coupled to each other.

The discharge unit in a state integral with the storage unit, which is in a state including the stirrer drive mechanism, may be detachably coupled to the discharge device drive unit, and the liquid material in the storage container can be stirred by operating the stirrer drive mechanism in a state in which the discharge unit is separated from the discharge device drive unit.

The discharge device drive unit may comprise a plunger holder coupled to the plunger, a plunger drive mechanism moving the plunger holder up and down, a slider supporting the plunger holder to be slidable in a vertical direction, and a switching valve drive device driving the switching valve, wherein the plunger holder, the plunger drive mechanism, and the slider may be arranged along one linear line extending in the vertical direction when viewed from the storage unit side.

The discharge device drive unit, the discharge unit, and the storage unit are arranged along one linear line extending in the horizontal direction.

An application device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises the above-described liquid discharge device, a worktable on which a workpiece is placed, a drive device moving the liquid discharge device and the worktable relative to each other, and an operation control device controlling the drive device.

An application device according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of the above-described liquid discharge devices, a worktable on which a workpiece is placed, a drive device moving the plurality of the liquid discharge devices and the worktable relative to each other, and an operation control device controlling the drive device.

The present invention further provides an application method of applying a liquid material by using the application device according to the first or second aspect.

In the application method, the liquid material may be a reagent or a biological sample.

Advantageous Effect of Invention

The present invention can provide the liquid discharge device capable of discharging the liquid material stirred near the metering chamber, the application device including the discharge device, and the application method using the application device.

