Sorting mechanism applied to sealed seed source

Abstract

The invention provides a sorting mechanism applied to a sealed seed source, and relates to the technical field of seed source sorting, the sorting mechanism comprises a shielding box body and a control system, the shielding box body is internally provided with a material injection execution module; the container processing module comprises a container bearing assembly, a plurality of independently-isolated container stations are arranged in the circumferential direction of the container bearing assembly, a set of elastic clamps are correspondingly arranged in each container station, and a collecting container is fixed to each set of elastic clamps in a releasable mode; the container supply assembly is used for automatically supplying empty collection containers to empty container stations; the cap screwing assembly comprises a bottle cap conveying guide rail and a cap screwing driving mechanism which is vertically arranged; and the finished product discharging unit is linked with the cap screwing assembly. By integrating the cap screwing assembly, the finished product discharging unit and the container supplying assembly, continuous operation without human intervention in the whole process of subpackaging, cap screwing, bottle arranging and bottle supplementing is achieved, and the risk of radiation exposure caused by opening of a bottle opening in the bottle taking, cap screwing and bottle supplementing processes is thoroughly eliminated.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application relates to the technical field of seed source sorting, and in particular to a sorting mechanism applied to sealed seed sources. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the field of nuclear medicine, accurate sorting of sealed seed sources (such as iodine [125I] sealed seed sources) is a core link to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of radiotherapy. With the increasing requirements of clinical application for the diversity of seed source specifications and sorting efficiency, the technical iteration of automatic sorting equipment has become the focus of the industry. In the prior art, a sealed seed source activity automatic sorting device is disclosed in Chinese patent CN109201508B. The device realizes the automatic sorting of seed source activity through the structural design of a vibrating disc feeding, an ionization chamber detection and a hollow suction tube dispensing. The device adopts a hollow glass tube as a feeding channel, combines a feeding push rod and a feeding cylinder to realize the accurate supply of a single seed source, detects the activity through an ionization chamber, and finally dispenses the seed source into a preset container by using a hollow suction tube. This technical solution exhibits good automation capability in the single-specification seed source sorting scene.

[0003] However, the above-mentioned patent has the following inherent limitations in its technical architecture: the full bottles after dispensing need to be manually sealed by rotating the cap, the empty bottles need to be replaced, and the full bottles need to be recycled. Specifically, the collected bottles after dispensing need to be manually tightened by an operator, and new empty bottles need to be supplemented to continue the sorting process. This manual intervention mode limits the sorting efficiency to the speed of manual operation. Especially in the high-frequency sorting scene of multiple-specification seed sources, the frequent supplement of empty bottles and the processing of full bottles seriously restrict the production capacity of the equipment. In addition, although the collected bottles in the prior art are made of radiation isolation materials (such as lead glass or polyethylene composite shielding layer), the seed sources are still in a non-fully-closed state during the operation stage from the completion of dispensing to the sealing of the cap. At this time, the operator needs to directly touch the collected bottles for taking, placing, rotating the cap and other actions, which causes unnecessary radiation exposure to the operator. SUMMARY

[0004] The application provides a sorting mechanism applied to sealed seed sources, which comprises a shielding box body and a control system, and a plurality of independent isolated container stations are circumferentially arranged on the container processing module in the shielding box body. The injection execution module has an injection guide pipe for conveying seed sources and a light-electricity detection blocking mechanism. The container processing module comprises: The container processing module comprises: The container processing module comprises: A screw cap assembly comprises a bottle cap conveying rail and a vertically arranged screw cap driving mechanism, which is vertically movable and rotatable, and is used to press and screw the container cap to the bottle mouth of the collection container; A finished product discharging unit is linked with the screw cap assembly, and is used to move the sealed container out of the station; The control system is configured to: a) count the number of seeds based on the detection signal of the blocking mechanism; b) trigger the screw cap assembly to perform the screw cap operation when the number of seeds in the collection container reaches a set value; c) control the coordinated action of the finished product discharging unit and the container replenishing assembly to release the full bottle collection container and replenish the empty collection container.

[0005] Preferably, the injection execution module further comprises a vertically arranged electric rail, the injection conduit is installed on the matched slider of the electric rail, and the injection conduit vertically corresponds to the container station; The blocking mechanism comprises a retractable stopper arranged in the injection conduit, the retractable stopper is driven by a micro-cylinder installed on the slider, and is used to block the seeds until the injection conduit is inserted into the collection container; And a photoelectric sensor for detecting the seed drop is installed above the retractable stopper.

[0006] Preferably, the container carrying assembly comprises: A horizontally arranged circular base plate is driven to rotate by a driving motor; A coaxially fixed annular fence is formed with the container station through a radial partition plate between the circular base plate and the annular fence; Each container station is provided with a through hole at the bottom, which is used to cooperate with the finished product discharging unit to release the full bottle collection container.

[0007] Preferably, the collection container is a cylindrical bottle, and the diameter of the bottle mouth of the collection container is smaller than the diameter of the bottle body.

[0008] Preferably, the container replenishing assembly comprises a vertically installed container pipeline and a mounting box fixedly installed below the container pipeline, the collection containers are stacked in the container pipeline, the opening direction of the mounting box faces the container station on the opposite side of the injection execution module, a bottle pushing rod is slidably arranged in the mounting box, the movement of the bottle pushing rod is controlled by a driving cylinder installed at the end of the mounting box, the end of the bottle pushing rod is an arc-shaped notch, and a bearing plate is arranged below the arc-shaped notch, when the arc-shaped notch and the container pipeline are in position coincidence, the collection container in the container pipeline falls onto the bearing plate.

[0009] Preferably, the elastic clamp includes a fixed clamping rod and two movable clamping rods. The fixed clamping rod is located on the side of the container station away from the bottle pusher rod. The movable clamping rod includes a mounting frame. One end of the mounting frame is rotatably disposed between the circular base plate and the annular surrounding plate, and the other end is fixedly mounted with a clamping rod column. A spring is provided between the mounting frame and the radial partition plate to make the two movable clamping rods tend to move closer to each other.

[0010] Preferably, a limiting groove is provided on the annular enclosure, and a limiting rod is installed on the movable support rod. The limiting groove and the limiting rod have the same movement path, and the limiting rod extends into the limiting groove to limit the rotation range of the movable support rod.

[0011] Preferably, the bottle cap conveying guide rail is a hollow guide rail with a rectangular cross-section, and the container caps are placed one by one inside the bottle cap conveying guide rail; The bottle cap conveying guide rail is installed vertically, and its end is bent into a horizontal state and extends to the space between the capping drive mechanism and the container station. The top and bottom surfaces of the bottle cap conveying guide rail are provided with through openings, and the through openings on the bottom surface are hinged with baffles on both sides. A torsion spring is provided at the pivot of the baffle, so that the baffle is in a horizontal state under normal conditions.

[0012] Preferably, the capping drive mechanism includes a control cylinder, the telescopic end of which is rotatably connected to a capping head, and the telescopic end of the control cylinder integrates a servo motor for driving the capping head to rotate. The bottom of the capping head is provided with a cap groove adapted to the container cap, and the inner wall of the cap groove is provided with evenly distributed friction strips.

[0013] Preferably, the finished product discharge unit includes an inclined discharge pipe disposed below the container station, the input end of the discharge pipe corresponding to the capping head and the through hole, and a control cylinder two is installed below the discharge pipe, the telescopic end of the control cylinder two extending upward through the discharge pipe.

[0014] The present invention provides a sorting mechanism for sealed seed sources, which specifically includes the following beneficial effects: In existing technologies, after repackaging, full bottles require manual operation for capping, picking up and placing, and replenishing empty bottles, which interrupts the sorting process and limits efficiency due to the speed of manual operation. It may even require stopping the machine for assistance. This invention integrates a capping assembly, a finished product discharge unit, and a container replenishment assembly to achieve unmanned continuous operation of the entire process of "repackaging-capping-discharging-replenishing". The single-cycle sorting time of the equipment is shortened, and the sorting efficiency is improved by more than 40% compared with traditional manual operation. Especially in the scenario of switching between multiple seed sources, empty bottle replenishment and full bottle discharge are completed continuously, and the equipment capacity utilization rate is improved.

[0015] In traditional technology, the collected containers after dispensing need to be manually removed and capped. At this time, the bottle opening is open, and radioactive materials may leak, causing the operator's annual effective dose equivalent to exceed the safety limit. This invention, through the design of "automatic capping + sealing and discharge", ensures that the dispensed collected bottles are automatically capped and sealed, without any manual touch, and completely eliminates the risk of radiation exposure caused by the open bottle opening during bottle removal, capping and bottle replenishment. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the container carrying component structure in this invention; Figure 6 For this Figure 2 A magnified structural diagram of part A in the middle; Figure 7 For this Figure 5 A magnified structural diagram of part B in the middle section; Figure 8 For this Figure 3 A magnified structural diagram of section C; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the container supply component in this invention; Figure 10 for Figure 2 A magnified structural diagram of section D; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the screw cap assembly in this invention; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure at the end of the bottle cap conveying guide rail in this invention; Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the collection container in this invention.

[0018] Reference numerals: 1. Shielding enclosure; 2. Injection conduit; 3. Restriction mechanism; 31. Telescopic stop; 32. Miniature cylinder; 4. Container bearing assembly; 41. Container station; 42. Circular base plate; 43. Drive motor; 44. Annular surrounding plate; 441. Limiting groove; 45. Radial partition; 46. Through hole; 5. Elastic clamp; 51. Fixed support rod; 52. Movable support rod; 521. Mounting bracket; 522. Support rod column; 523. Limiting rod; 53. Spring; 6. Container supply assembly; 61. Container piping; 62. Mounting box; 63. Bottle pusher; 64. Drive cylinder; 65. Support plate; 7. Capping assembly; 71. Bottle cap conveying guide rail; 72. Capping drive mechanism; 721. Control cylinder one; 722. Capping head; 723. Servo motor; 724. Cap groove; 725. Friction strip; 73. Stop bar; 8. Finished product discharge unit; 81. Discharge pipe; 82. Control cylinder two; 100. Collection container; 110. Container lid. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0020] In existing technologies, sealed seed source sorting equipment generally suffers from low efficiency due to manual capping operations. After sorting, the collection container 100 requires manual tightening of the cap and replacement with an empty container. Existing sorting devices must interrupt the sorting process during full-bottle handling to allow for manual intervention, making equipment efficiency directly related to the speed of manual operation. In scenarios involving high-frequency sorting of multiple seed specifications, frequent manual intervention significantly reduces equipment capacity. Unsealed collection containers 100 remain exposed to the working environment after sorting, requiring operators to directly contact them for capping and handling, posing a risk of radiation exposure.

[0021] Please see Figure 1 - Figure 6This invention provides a technical solution: a sorting mechanism for sealed seed sources, including a shielded box 1 and a control system. The shielded box 1 is equipped with an injection execution module and a container processing module. The injection execution module has an injection conduit 2 and a blocking mechanism 3 with photoelectric detection. The container processing module includes a container carrying component 4 with multiple container stations 41 arranged circumferentially. Each container station 41 holds a collection container 100. The container replenishment component 6 can supply empty collection containers 100 to the side of the empty container station 41. The capping component 7 includes a cap conveying guide rail 71 and a vertically arranged capping drive mechanism 72. The cap conveying guide rail 71 is a channel for directional conveying of container caps 110. Specifically, it can be a metal guide rail with a rectangular cross section. The capping operation is performed by the vertically movable capping drive mechanism 72. The finished product discharge unit 8 moves out of the sealed collection container 100 in conjunction. The control system counts the number of seed sources based on the detection signal, triggers the capping operation, and controls the replacement of the collection container 100.

[0022] Among them, the injection conduit 2 refers to the tubular channel used for directional delivery of seed source, which can be made of stainless steel or polymer material. Its inner diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the seed source to ensure smooth delivery. The blocking mechanism 3 refers to the mechanical device for controlling the flow of seed source, which can be a miniature cylinder 32 driving the telescopic stop 31. When the photoelectric sensor detects that the seed source is in place, the stop is triggered to move. The container station 41 refers to the independent space used to fix the collection container 100. Each container station 41 is provided with a through hole 46 at the bottom for releasing the full bottle.

[0023] Specifically, during the process of the feeding conduit 2 transporting the seed source to the target collection container 100, the photoelectric sensor monitors the number of seed sources passing through in real time. When the preset value is reached, the control system starts the capping drive mechanism 72 to press down and rotate, tightening the container cap 110 provided by the cap conveying guide rail 71 onto the collection container 100. The sealed collection container 100 is discharged and collected through the finished product discharge unit 8. At the same time, the container replenishment component 6 pushes the new collection container 100 into the vacated container station 41.

[0024] Please see Figure 1 - Figure 6 This application further proposes that the injection execution module also includes a vertically arranged electric guide rail, the injection conduit 2 is installed on a slider that cooperates with the electric guide rail, and the injection conduit 2 is vertically corresponding to the container station 41; the blocking mechanism 3 includes a retractable block 31 disposed in the injection conduit 2, the retractable block 31 is driven by a miniature cylinder 32 installed on the slider, and is used to block the seed source until the injection conduit 2 is inserted into the collection container 100; and a photoelectric sensor for detecting the falling seed source is installed above the retractable block 31.

[0025] The slider is a moving component that works with the electric guide rail. It can be made of aluminum alloy and is used to fix the injection conduit 2 and transmit the driving force of the electric guide rail. The retractable stop 31 is a mechanical blocking component set in the inner cavity of the injection conduit 2. It can be a wedge structure made of stainless steel and is driven by a micro cylinder 32 to achieve lateral displacement. It is used to block the seed source channel when the injection conduit 2 is not inserted into the collection container 100. The photoelectric sensor is a detection device based on the principle of infrared light emission and reception. It can be a through-beam photoelectric switch and is installed above the retractable stop 31. It is used to detect the obstruction signal when the seed source passes through the injection conduit 2, thereby identifying the seed source placement and seed source counting.

[0026] Specifically, the electric guide rail drives the injection conduit 2 to move vertically above the target collection container 100. When the bottom end of the injection conduit 2 is inserted into the bottle mouth of the collection container 100, the micro cylinder 32 drives the retractable stop block 31 to retract laterally to remove the obstruction to the seed source. The photoelectric sensor monitors the seed source falling process in real time after the stop block is fully retracted. Each time an obstruction signal is detected, a count is triggered. When the injection conduit 2 has not reached the preset position, the retractable stop block 31 always remains extended, forming a physical barrier to prevent the seed source from falling accidentally. Through the vertical positioning of the electric guide rail and the timing control of the action of the retractable stop block 31, it is ensured that the seed source is only conveyed when the injection conduit 2 is inserted into the corresponding collection container 100.

[0027] This solution uses the active positioning of the electric guide rail and the coordinated action of the retractable stop 31 to forcibly constrain the coaxial alignment of the injection conduit 2 and the collection container 100 in the spatial dimension, and establishes a strict sequence of conduit positioning and seed release in the temporal dimension. This eliminates the risk of seed scattering caused by mechanical misalignment or asynchronous action, and avoids the problem of seed spillage caused by the displacement of the injection conduit 2 or premature release.

[0028] Please see Figure 1 - Figure 5 and Figure 7 - Figure 8 This application further proposes that the container carrying assembly 4 includes a horizontally arranged circular base plate 42, which is driven to rotate by a drive motor 43; a coaxially fixed annular surrounding plate 44, which forms a container station 41 with the circular base plate 42 through a radial partition plate 45; and a through hole 46 at the bottom of each container station 41 for cooperating with the finished product discharge unit 8 to release the full bottle collection container 100.

[0029] The horizontally arranged circular base plate 42 refers to the rotating platform that supports the collection container 100. It can be made of aluminum alloy or engineering plastic. The container station 41 is switched by the drive motor 43. Its rotational movement allows multiple container stations 41 to cyclically receive the filling operation. The radial partition 45 refers to the partition structure that extends along the radius of the circular base plate 42. It can be connected to the base plate and the surrounding plate by welding or bolting to divide multiple evenly distributed container stations 41. The through hole 46 refers to the through hole 46 opened at the bottom of the container station 41. It can be a circular hole with a diameter slightly larger than the bottom of the collection container 100. It is used to cooperate with the finished product discharge unit 8 to push the full bottle collection container 100 to achieve vertical drop discharge.

[0030] Specifically, when the drive motor 43 drives the circular substrate 42 to rotate, each container station 41 can move to the bottom of the injection conduit 2 to receive and dispense the seed source. After the seed source has been tested, its test value is graded and then dispensed. In this embodiment, the grading is set starting from an activity value of 400 microcubic years, with a grading range of 50 microcubic years and a maximum value of 1400 microcubic years, forming multiple grading zones such as 400-450 microcubic years, 451-500 microcubic years, 501-550 microcubic years...1351-1400 microcubic years.

[0031] The number of collection containers 100 corresponds to the number of graded zones. After the seed source is tested upstream, the drive motor 43 drives the circular substrate 42 to rotate according to the test reading, so that the collection container 100 of the corresponding graded zone moves to the bottom of the injection conduit 2 to prepare for receiving the material. For example, if the activity is detected to be 820 Bq, then the collection container 100 corresponding to 801-850 Bq is 801-850 Bq.

[0032] Please see Figure 1 - Figure 4 and Figure 9 This application further proposes a container supply assembly 6 including a vertically installed container pipe 61 and a mounting box 62 fixedly installed below the container pipe 61. The collection containers 100 are stacked inside the container pipe 61. The opening of the mounting box 62 faces the container station 41 on the opposite side of the filling execution module. A bottle pusher 63 is slidably arranged inside the mounting box 62. The bottle pusher 63 is controlled to move by a drive cylinder 64 installed at the end of the mounting box 62. The end of the bottle pusher 63 is an arc notch, and a support plate 65 is provided below the arc notch. When the arc notch coincides with the position of the container pipe 61, the collection containers 100 in the container pipe 61 fall onto the support plate 65.

[0033] The container pipe 61 refers to the channel structure for vertically storing the collection container 100. Specifically, it can be a hollow tube made of metal or polymer material, with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the collection container 100. The collection container 100 is oriented by gravity. This structure optimizes storage space through vertical stacking and ensures that the collection container 100 falls automatically in a preset order. The mounting box 62 refers to the guide device fixed below the container pipe 61. Specifically, it can be a box structure with a side opening, the opening direction of which corresponds to the position of the container station 41. It is used to guide the bottle pusher 63 to accurately push the collection container 100 to the target station. Specifically, the pusher rod 63 can be made of stainless steel, with its end arc notch matching the bottom contour of the collection container 100. Under the action of the drive cylinder 64, it reciprocates. The arc notch design can form a covering contact with the collection container 100, preventing the container from tilting or shifting during the pushing process. The support plate 65 refers to the support platform set below the pusher rod 63. When the pusher rod 63 moves to directly below the container pipe 61, the arc notch coincides with the axis of the container pipe 61, so that the collection container 100 can be released from the container pipe 61 and land stably on the support plate 65.

[0034] Specifically, the collection containers 100 are stacked vertically along the container pipe 61 under gravity. When the container station 41 needs to be replenished with empty bottles, the drive cylinder 64 pushes the bottle pusher 63 to move in the opposite direction to the opening of the mounting box 62. During the movement, the arc-shaped notch at the end of the bottle pusher 63 gradually aligns with the axis of the container pipe 61. When the two are completely aligned, the collection container 100 at the bottom of the container pipe 61 is released from the restriction of the container pipe 61 and falls onto the surface of the support plate 65. The bottle pusher 63 moves forward to push the collection container 100 to the target station. During this process, the arc-shaped notch forms a covering clamp on the bottom of the collection container 100, ensuring the straightness and stability of the pushing trajectory. After the pushing is completed, the drive cylinder 64 drives the bottle pusher 63 to reset, and the next collection container 100 in the container pipe 61 automatically falls to the replenishment position, forming a continuous automated replenishment cycle.

[0035] Compared to existing technologies, current sorting equipment relies on manual replenishment of empty bottles. Operators frequently come into contact with unsealed containers, posing a risk of radiation exposure and limiting efficiency. This solution, through the combination of a vertical stacking structure and a mechanical pushing mechanism, achieves automatic positioning and precise delivery of empty bottles, completing the container replenishment operation without manual intervention.

[0036] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves fully automated replenishment of the collection container 100, eliminating manual operation and preventing operators from directly contacting radioactive materials. The synergistic effect of the bottle pusher 63 and the support plate 65 ensures the stability of container transportation, and the vertical pipeline structure ensures that empty bottles are supplied in sequence, meeting the continuous operation requirements in high-frequency sorting scenarios.

[0037] Please see Figure 1 - Figure 5 and Figure 7-8 This application further proposes that the elastic clamp 5 includes a fixed clamping rod 51 and two movable clamping rods 52. The fixed clamping rod 51 is located on the side of the container station 41 away from the bottle pusher rod 63. The movable clamping rods 52 include a mounting frame 521. One end of the mounting frame 521 is rotatably disposed between the circular base plate 42 and the annular surrounding plate 44, and the other end is fixedly mounted with a clamping rod column 522. A spring 53 is disposed between the mounting frame 521 and the radial partition plate 45 to make the two movable clamping rods 52 tend to move closer to each other.

[0038] Among them, the fixed clamping rod 51 refers to the rigid support structure set on one side of the container station 41, which is used to form a clamping reference point. The movable clamping rod 52 refers to the clamping arm that can rotate around an axis, generating clamping force through rotation. The mounting frame 521 refers to the support component connecting the movable clamping rod 52 and the annular surrounding plate 44, which is used to transmit the force of the spring 53. The clamping rod column 522 refers to the contact component installed at the end of the movable clamping rod 52, which can be a cylinder with a rubber layer on its surface, used to directly contact the surface of the collection container 100. The spring 53 refers to the elastic element that provides pre-tightening force, which can be a helical compression spring 53, with its two ends fixed to the mounting frame 521 and the radial partition plate 45 respectively, so that the movable clamping rod 52 generates a centripetal clamping tendency.

[0039] Specifically, when the empty collection container 100 is pushed into the container station 41 by the bottle pusher 63, the outer wall of the container first contacts the holding rod column 522 of the two movable holding rods 52. During the advancement of the collection container 100, the movable holding rod 52 is squeezed outward by the collection container 100, and the spring 53 between the mounting frame 521 and the radial partition 45 is compressed. When the collection container 100 is fully in the station, the spring 53 releases the preload and drives the movable holding rod 52 to rotate in the direction of the collection container 100, so that the holding rod column 522 and the fixed holding rod 51 together form a three-point clamping structure. The fixed holding rod 51 serves as a static support point, and the two movable holding rods 52 dynamically adjust the clamping angle under the action of the spring 53 to ensure the reliable fixation of collection containers 100 of different sizes.

[0040] This application further proposes to open a limiting groove 441 on the annular enclosure 44 and install a limiting rod 523 on the movable retaining rod 52. The moving paths of the limiting groove 441 and the limiting rod 523 coincide, and the limiting rod 523 extends into the limiting groove 441 to limit the rotation range of the movable retaining rod 52.

[0041] The limiting groove 441 refers to the guide structure opened on the annular surrounding plate 44. Specifically, it can be realized by using an arc-shaped groove formed by machining. Its path is consistent with the movement trajectory direction of the upper limit rod 523 of the movable rod 52, and it is used to constrain the movement path of the limiting rod 523. The limiting rod 523 refers to the rigid protruding part installed on the top surface of the movable rod 52. Specifically, it can be realized by using a cylindrical pin. Its diameter forms a clearance fit with the width of the limiting groove 441, and it slides along the limiting groove 441 when the movable rod 52 rotates.

[0042] Specifically, when the movable gripping rod 52 is extended by external force, the limiting rod 523 moves away from the fixed gripping rod 51 along the limiting groove 441 until the limiting rod 523 contacts the end of the limiting groove 441 to form a mechanical stop. At this time, the movable gripping rod 52 reaches its maximum extension angle, ensuring that the empty collection container 100 can smoothly enter the elastic clamp 5. When the external force is removed, the spring 53 drives the movable gripping rod 52 to reset, ensuring stable clamping of the collection container 100. When the elastic clamp 5 is idle, the limiting rod 523 slides back to the initial position along the limiting groove 441. At this time, the movable gripping rod 52 and the fixed gripping rod 51 form the minimum clamping distance, and there is space between the two gripping rod columns 522 for the collection container 100 to push inward. The cooperation between the limiting groove 441 and the limiting rod 523 precisely limits the rotation angle range of the movable gripping rod 52, which not only prevents insufficient clamping force due to over-extension, but also avoids overshooting of the movable gripping rod 52 during the reset process.

[0043] Please see Figure 1 - Figure 4 and Figure 10-12 This application further proposes that the bottle cap conveying guide 71 is a hollow guide with a rectangular cross section, and the container caps 110 are placed one by one inside the bottle cap conveying guide 71. The bottle cap conveying guide 71 is installed vertically, and its end is bent into a horizontal state and extends to the space between the capping drive mechanism 72 and the container station 41. The top and bottom surfaces of the end of the bottle cap conveying guide 71 are provided with through openings, and the through openings on the bottom surface are hinged with baffles 73 on both sides. A torsion spring is provided at the pivot of the baffles 73 so that the baffles 73 are in a horizontal state under normal conditions.

[0044] The rectangular cross-section hollow structure of the bottle cap conveying guide rail 71 guides the formation of a rectangular channel inside the guide rail that matches the shape of the container cap 110. This can be achieved using an aluminum alloy extrusion forming process. This structure can constrain the container cap 110 to maintain an upright posture during the conveying process. The horizontal bending at the end guides the end of the guide rail to form a horizontal extension section by bending. This can be processed using a CNC bending machine, allowing the container cap 110 to slide naturally to the operating area under the action of gravity, while keeping the opening end of the container cap 110 facing downwards. The stop bar 73, which is hinged to both sides of the opening on the bottom surface of the end, refers to a rotation limiting mechanism set at the edge of the opening. This can be achieved using a stainless steel sheet in conjunction with a micro hinge. The torsion spring keeps the stop bar 73 in a horizontal state when there is no external force, forming a temporary support for the container cap 110.

[0045] Specifically, the container cap 110 slides downward along the vertically installed guide rail under the action of gravity. After entering the horizontal section at the end, it is kept stationary by the horizontal support of the stop bar 73. When the capping drive mechanism 72 presses down, the cap groove 724 contacts the top of the container cap 110 and applies pressure. The stop bar 73 rotates around the hinge under the action of the downward pressure, causing the container cap 110 to disengage from the support of the stop bar 73 and be clamped by the capping head 722 until it contacts the bottle mouth of the collection container 100 below. The through opening provides vertical operating space for the capping drive mechanism 72, ensuring that the cap groove 724 and the container cap 110 are precisely aligned. After the capping head 722 rises, the stop bar 73 is reset to the horizontal state by the torsion spring, ready to receive the next container cap 110.

[0046] Compared with existing technologies, which rely on manual placement and capping of the container cap 110, this solution achieves automatic positioning of the container cap 110 through guide rail conveying and stop bar 73 limiting mechanism. The capping drive mechanism 72 can directly grab the container cap 110 at the end of the guide rail without manual intervention. In existing technologies, the container cap 110 needs to be manually placed above the bottle mouth, while this solution achieves precise spatial matching by automatically reaching the container cap 110 directly above the capping station through the horizontal extension design of the guide rail end.

[0047] Through the above technical solution, this application realizes fully automatic conveying and positioning of container lid 110. The capping drive mechanism 72 can directly grab the container lid 110 accurately positioned at the end of the guide rail, eliminating the manual capping operation. The stop bar 73 mechanism automatically avoids during the capping operation, ensuring that the container lid 110 is reliably clamped, while preventing the container lid 110 from accidentally falling off when not in operation.

[0048] This application further proposes a capping drive mechanism 72 including a control cylinder 721, the telescopic end of the control cylinder 721 is rotatably connected to a capping head 722, and the telescopic end of the control cylinder 721 integrates a servo motor 723 for driving the capping head 722 to rotate. The bottom of the capping head 722 is provided with a cap groove 724 adapted to the container cap 110, and the inner wall of the cap groove 724 is provided with evenly distributed friction strips 725.

[0049] Among them, the control cylinder 721 refers to the pneumatic actuator that provides vertical movement power, which can be implemented by a double-acting single-piston rod cylinder. It drives the lifting and lowering movement of the capping head 722 through air pressure. The capping head 722 refers to the end effector that performs the capping operation. It can be made of aluminum alloy. The cap groove 724 at its bottom is geometrically matched with the shape of the container cap 110. The servo motor 723 refers to the drive device that controls the rotational movement. It can be implemented by a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a built-in encoder. It achieves precise adjustment of the rotation angle through closed-loop control. The friction strip 725 refers to the structure that increases the friction coefficient of the contact surface. It can be a rubber strip or a polyurethane strip that is fixed to the inner wall of the cap groove 724 by adhesive.

[0050] Specifically, when the seed source in the collection container 100 reaches the set quantity, the circular base plate 42 is driven to rotate by the drive motor 43, so that the full collection container 100 is moved below the capping head 722. The control cylinder 721 drives the capping head 722 to move vertically downward to the container cap 110 position. After the cap groove 724 forms a geometric fit with the container cap 110, it carries the container cap 110 to fit with the bottle mouth of the collection container 100. The servo motor 723 drives the capping head 722 to rotate. During this process, the friction strip 725 generates contact friction with the outer wall of the container cap 110 to ensure that the tightening torque is effectively transmitted to the container cap 110, thus completing the capping operation.

[0051] Compared with existing technologies, which rely on manual operation to complete the capping and sealing, the existing technologies have the disadvantages of low operation efficiency and personnel needing to be in close contact with radioactive containers. This solution integrates vertical pressing and rotary drive into a single execution unit through mechatronics design, which not only realizes fully automatic capping operation, but also completely eliminates the risk of personnel radiation exposure by replacing manual operation with mechanical structure.

[0052] This application further proposes that the finished product discharge unit 8 includes an inclined discharge pipe 81 disposed below the container station 41. The input end of the discharge pipe 81 corresponds to the capping head 722 and the through hole 46. A control cylinder 82 is installed below the discharge pipe 81. The telescopic end of the control cylinder 82 extends upward and penetrates the discharge pipe 81.

[0053] The inclined discharge pipe 81 is a guide pipe with a downward inclination angle, which can be made of stainless steel. Its input end is aligned with the through hole 46 at the bottom of the container station 41 to receive the collection container 100 after the cap is screwed on. The inclination angle is set so that the collection container 100 slides out naturally under the action of gravity. The extension end of the control cylinder 2 82 passes through the bottom of the discharge pipe 81 and prevents the collection container 100 from sliding down by lifting it upward. It works with the control cylinder 1 721 to position the collection container 100 up and down during the capping operation. After the capping is completed, the control cylinder 1 721 and the control cylinder 2 82 synchronously drive the collection container 100 to move downward and release the collection container 100 into the discharge process.

[0054] Specifically, after the capping drive mechanism 72 seals the collection container 100, the collection container 100 falls into the inclined discharge pipe 81 through the through hole 46 at the bottom of the container station 41. The extension end of the control cylinder 82 is initially in the lifting state. When the finished product discharge unit 8 receives the release command from the control system, the control cylinder 721 and the control cylinder 82 drive the collection container 100 to move downwards until the extension end of the control cylinder 82 retracts to the outside of the discharge pipe 81, so that the collection container 100 slides along the inclined discharge pipe 81 to the collection area. During this process, the inclination angle of the discharge pipe 81 ensures that the container is transported by gravity without external force. The extension end of the control cylinder 82 and the capping process form a mechanical linkage to realize the immediate discharge of the sealed container.

[0055] Please see Figure 1 - Figure 13 This application further proposes that the collection container 100 is a cylindrical bottle, and the diameter of the bottle mouth of the collection container 100 is smaller than the diameter of the bottle body.

[0056] Among them, the cylindrical bottle refers to the bottle body having a cylindrical structure, which makes it easy for the elastic clamp 5 to apply force evenly to fix it. The bottle mouth diameter is smaller than the bottle body diameter, which means that the bottle mouth and the bottle body form a stepped sealing interface. Specifically, the narrowing structure can be achieved through mold design. This structure provides a clear alignment reference for the capping head 722 during the capping operation, while avoiding mechanical interference between the capping head 722 and the elastic clamp 5 during vertical movement.

[0057] Specifically, the cylindrical bottle body forms a uniform circumferential contact with the elastic clamp 5 within the container station 41. The structure where the bottle mouth diameter is smaller than the bottle body plays a role in the finished product discharge stage. After the capping head 722 completes the capping operation, it needs to press down on the collection container 100 to discharge it. The collection container 100 gradually separates from the elastic clamp 5. The fixing rod 51 and the rod post 522 of the elastic clamp 5 can transition from the bottle body position to the outer wall of the capping head 722, allowing the collection container 100 to... The container 100 successfully detaches from the elastic clamp 5. At the same time, the frictional resistance between the capping head 722 and the container cap 110 will prevent the collection container 100 from falling out. The outer diameter of the capping head 722 is designed to be smaller than the diameter of the bottle body. The gripping column 522 transitions to a reduced gripping range of the capping head 722. When the capping head 722 returns, the stepped diameter reduction structure is used to block the collection container 100 when the capping head 722 returns, pushing the collection container 100 away from the capping head 722, thus achieving separation and discharge.

[0058] Working principle: Empty collection containers 100 are vertically stacked into container pipe 61, and gravity causes the containers to automatically arrange themselves to the replenishment position.

[0059] Container caps 110 are inserted one by one into the bottle cap conveying guide rail 71. The horizontal section bent at the end of the guide rail and the stop bar 73 limit the movement, so that the end container cap 110 is temporarily stored with the opening facing downward.

[0060] After the seed source is detected upstream, the drive motor 43 drives the circular substrate 42 to rotate according to the detection reading, so that the corresponding graded collection container 100 moves to the bottom of the injection conduit 2 to prepare for receiving the material. After the electric guide rail drives the injection conduit 2 to move and insert into the bottle mouth of the collection container 100, the micro cylinder 32 drives the telescopic block 31 to retract laterally, releasing the obstruction to the seed source and realizing the collection of the seed source.

[0061] The photoelectric sensor monitors the seed source falling process in real time. Each time an obstruction signal is detected, a count is triggered until the preset packaging quantity is reached.

[0062] When the seed source in the collection container 100 reaches the set quantity, the drive motor 43 rotates the circular base plate 42, causing the full collection container 100 to move to below the capping head 722. The container cap 110 at the end of the cap conveying guide rail 71 slides naturally to the horizontal support position of the baffle 73 under the action of gravity, waiting for the capping operation.

[0063] The control cylinder 721 drives the capping head 722 to move vertically downward. The stop bar 73 rotates around the hinge under the downward pressure, causing the container cap 110 to disengage from the guide rail support. After the cap groove 724 forms a geometric fit with the container cap 110, it carries the container cap 110 to dock with the bottle mouth of the collection container 100. The servo motor 723 drives the capping head 722 to rotate. The friction strip 725 generates contact friction with the outer wall of the container cap 110, ensuring that the tightening torque is effectively transmitted and completing the sealing operation.

[0064] After the cap is screwed on, the collection container 100 falls into the inclined discharge pipe 81 through the through hole 46 at the bottom of the container station 41. The control cylinder 82 is initially in the lifting state to prevent the collection container 100 from sliding down. After the cap is screwed on, the control system synchronously drives the control cylinder 721 and the control cylinder 82 to move down, so that the telescopic end of the control cylinder 82 retracts to the outside of the discharge pipe 81. The collection container 100 slides along the inclined discharge pipe 81 to the collection area to achieve gravity conveying.

[0065] After the capping head 722 is reset, the drive cylinder 64 of the container replenishment component 6 pushes the bottle pusher 63 forward to push the empty collection container 100 to the vacated container station 41. The arc notch covers and clamps to ensure the stability of the pushing trajectory. After the pushing is completed, the bottle pusher 63 moves in the opposite direction to reset. When the arc notch coincides with the axis of the container pipe 61, the bottom empty collection container 100 falls into the support plate 65. The next collection container 100 in the container pipe 61 automatically falls to the replenishment position, forming a continuous cycle.

[0066] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sorting mechanism for sealed seed sources, comprising a shielded housing (1) and a control system, characterized in that, The shielding enclosure (1) contains: The injection execution module has an injection conduit (2) for conveying seed source and a blocking mechanism (3) with photoelectric detection. The container processing module includes: The container carrying component (4) has multiple independently isolated container stations (41) in its circumference. Each container station (41) is provided with a set of elastic clamps (5), and each set of elastic clamps (5) can release and fix a collection container (100). Container replenishment assembly (6) for automatically supplying empty collection containers (100) to vacant container stations (41); The capping assembly (7) includes a cap conveying guide rail (71) and a vertically arranged capping drive mechanism (72), which can move and rotate vertically to press the container cap (110) onto the bottle mouth of the collection container (100) and tighten it. The finished product discharge unit (8) is linked with the capping assembly (7) to remove the sealed container from the work station; The control system is configured as follows: a) Count the number of seed sources based on the detection signal of the blocking mechanism (3); b) When the seed source in the collection container (100) reaches the set value, the capping assembly (7) is triggered to perform the capping operation; c) Control the coordinated operation of the finished product discharge unit (8) and the container replenishment assembly (6) to release the full bottle collection container (100) and replenish the empty collection container (100).

2. The sorting mechanism for sealed seed sources according to claim 1, characterized in that, The injection execution module also includes a vertically arranged electric guide rail, and the injection conduit (2) is installed on a slider that cooperates with the electric guide rail, and the injection conduit (2) is vertically corresponding to the container station (41). The blocking mechanism (3) includes a retractable stop (31) disposed in the injection conduit (2), the retractable stop (31) being driven by a micro cylinder (32) mounted on a slider, for blocking the seed source until the injection conduit (2) is inserted into the collection container (100). Furthermore, a photoelectric sensor for detecting the falling seed material is installed above the retractable stop (31).

3. The sorting mechanism for sealed seed sources according to claim 1, characterized in that, The container carrying component (4) includes: A horizontally positioned circular substrate (42) is driven to rotate by a drive motor (43); A coaxially fixed annular enclosure (44) and a circular substrate (42) are connected by a radial partition (45) to form the container station (41). Each of the container stations (41) has a through hole (46) at the bottom for use with the finished product discharge unit (8) to release the full bottle collection container (100).

4. A sorting mechanism for sealed seed sources according to claim 3, characterized in that, The collection container (100) is a cylindrical bottle, and the diameter of the bottle mouth of the collection container (100) is smaller than the diameter of the bottle body.

5. A sorting mechanism for sealed seed sources according to claim 4, characterized in that, The container supply assembly (6) includes a vertically installed container pipe (61) and a mounting box (62) fixedly installed below the container pipe (61). The collection container (100) is stacked inside the container pipe (61). The opening of the mounting box (62) faces the container station (41) on the opposite side of the injection execution module. A bottle pusher (63) is slidably arranged inside the mounting box (62). The bottle pusher (63) is controlled to move by a drive cylinder (64) installed at the end of the mounting box (62). The end of the bottle pusher (63) is an arc notch, and a support plate (65) is provided below the arc notch. When the arc notch coincides with the position of the container pipe (61), the collection container (100) inside the container pipe (61) falls onto the support plate (65).

6. A sorting mechanism for sealed seed sources according to claim 5, characterized in that, The elastic clamp (5) includes a fixed clamping rod (51) and two movable clamping rods (52). The fixed clamping rod (51) is located on the side of the container station (41) away from the bottle pusher (63). The movable clamping rod (52) includes a mounting frame (521). One end of the mounting frame (521) is rotatably disposed between the circular base plate (42) and the annular surrounding plate (44), and the other end is fixedly mounted with a clamping rod column (522). A spring (53) is provided between the mounting frame (521) and the radial partition (45) to make the two movable clamping rods (52) tend to move closer to each other.

7. A sorting mechanism for sealed seed sources according to claim 6, characterized in that, A limiting groove (441) is provided on the annular enclosure (44), and a limiting rod (523) is installed on the movable support rod (52). The movement paths of the limiting groove (441) and the limiting rod (523) coincide. The limiting rod (523) extends into the limiting groove (441) to limit the rotation range of the movable support rod (52).

8. A sorting mechanism for sealed seed sources according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottle cap conveying guide (71) is a hollow guide with a rectangular cross-section, and the container caps (110) are placed one by one inside the bottle cap conveying guide (71); The bottle cap conveying guide (71) is installed vertically, and its end is bent into a horizontal state and extends to the space between the capping drive mechanism (72) and the container station (41). The top and bottom surfaces of the bottle cap conveying guide (71) are provided with through openings, and baffles (73) are hinged on both sides of the through opening on the bottom surface. A torsion spring is provided at the pivot of the baffle (73) so that the baffle (73) is in a horizontal state under normal conditions.

9. A sorting mechanism for sealed seed sources according to claim 8, characterized in that, The capping drive mechanism (72) includes a control cylinder (721), the extension end of which is rotatably connected to a capping head (722), and the extension end of the control cylinder (721) is integrated with a servo motor (723) for driving the capping head (722) to rotate. The bottom of the capping head (722) is provided with a cap groove (724) that is adapted to the container cap (110), and the inner wall of the cap groove (724) is provided with evenly distributed friction strips (725).

10. A sorting mechanism for sealed seed sources according to claim 9, characterized in that, The finished product discharge unit (8) includes an inclined discharge pipe (81) located below the container station (41). The input end of the discharge pipe (81) corresponds to the capping head (722) and the through hole (46). A control cylinder (82) is installed below the discharge pipe (81). The telescopic end of the control cylinder (82) extends upward through the discharge pipe (81).

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