Method and apparatus for cleaning a liquid dispensing probe
First Claim
1. A method of cleaning a liquid sample probe using a wash body having an upper portion and lower portion with a bore closed at the lower portion, the wash body adapted to receive said sample probe thereby defining an annular gap between said bore and said sample probe, comprising the steps of:
- introducing said sample probe into said bore;
applying a wash liquid to the lower portion of said bore; and
,withdrawing said sample probe from said bore while subjecting the upper portion of said bore to a vacuum, thereby to create a flow of air only through the annular gap to clean only the exterior portion of the sample probe.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for cleaning a liquid sample probe in which the probe is positioned within a washing chamber inside a wash body and a purging liquid solution is pumped through the probe into the chamber. A cleaning liquid solution may also be pumped into the chamber around the probe. Either or both liquids are subsequently vacuumed from the chamber drawing air through an annular gap between the probe and the wash body thereby creating a cleaning air flow between the exterior probe surface and the wash body. The cleaning air flow removes all cleaning liquid solution and/or purging liquid solution as the probe is removed from the wash body.
63 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of cleaning a liquid sample probe using a wash body having an upper portion and lower portion with a bore closed at the lower portion, the wash body adapted to receive said sample probe thereby defining an annular gap between said bore and said sample probe, comprising the steps of:
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introducing said sample probe into said bore; applying a wash liquid to the lower portion of said bore; and
,withdrawing said sample probe from said bore while subjecting the upper portion of said bore to a vacuum, thereby to create a flow of air only through the annular gap to clean only the exterior portion of the sample probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for cleaning a liquid sample probe having an exterior surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a wash body having a central bore with a closed bottom, the bore sized to permit a flow of air through an annular gap defined between the sample probe and the bore, the sample probe being moveable into and out of said bore; means for introducing a cleaning liquid into a lower portion of said bore; a source of vacuum connected to an upper portion of said bore; and
,means to apply vacuum from the source of vacuum when removing the probe from the wash body so that the flow of air only through the annular gap is effective in removing cleaning liquid from only the exterior surface of the sample probe. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification