Automatic cover opening and closing device for EP pipe

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of laboratory automation equipment, and discloses an EP tube automatic cover opening and closing device which comprises a shell. A through groove is formed in at least one side wall of the shell; the pipe frame carrier is arranged on the outer side of the shell and corresponds to the through groove in position; the pipe frame carrier is provided with a pipe groove used for containing an EP pipe. The transmission structure is arranged in the shell; and the opening and closing cover pressing plate is connected with the transmission structure, the transmission structure drives the opening and closing cover pressing plate to swing relative to the connecting position, external force is applied to a cover body of the EP pipe placed in the pipe groove of the pipe frame carrier in the swinging process, and cover opening or closing operation is achieved. The two actions of cover pressing and cover lifting can be completed only through positive and negative rotation of the motor, and cover opening and closing are integrated.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application belongs to the technical field of laboratory automation equipment, and particularly relates to an EP tube automatic cover opening and closing device. BACKGROUND

[0002] In biological and chemical laboratories, microcentrifuge tubes (EP tubes) are commonly used sample containers. With the improvement of experimental automation, automatic workstations need to frequently open and close the covers of EP tubes. Existing tools generally have single functions, such as the tool for conveniently opening the cover of an EP tube disclosed in CN212503908U, wherein two gears mesh with two pressure rods, the gears are driven to rotate by the movement of the pressure rods, the L-shaped cover opening piece is driven to open the cover, and the pressure rod with a rhombus cooperates with the gear, which is prone to jamming during the transmission of motion, and the transmission process is not smooth, and the tool does not have a cover closing function.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a device that integrates cover opening and closing functions to further improve the overall automation operation. SUMMARY

[0004] The purpose of the present application is to provide an EP tube automatic cover opening and closing device that integrates cover opening and closing functions, improves the automation of EP tube operation, and solves the problem of only having a cover opening function.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the present application provides an EP tube automatic cover opening and closing device, which comprises, a housing, at least one side wall of which is formed with a through slot; a tube rack carrier arranged outside the housing and corresponding to the position of the through slot, the tube rack carrier having a tube slot for placing an EP tube; a transmission structure arranged inside the housing; a cover opening and closing pressure plate connected with the transmission structure, the transmission structure driving the cover opening and closing pressure plate to swing relative to the connection, and applying an external force to the cover of the EP tube placed in the tube slot of the tube rack carrier during the swinging process to realize cover opening or closing operation.

[0006] According to the present application, further, the transmission structure comprises a motor arranged in the housing and a synchronous pulley connected therewith, the synchronous pulley being installed on the inner side wall of the housing; a rotating shaft is installed on the synchronous pulley, and the other end of the rotating shaft is connected with the housing; and the cover opening and closing pressure plate is installed on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft.

[0007] According to the present application, further, the cover opening and closing pressure plate has a cover closing end and a cover opening end, which are respectively located on the two sides of the radial direction of the rotating shaft, and the transmission structure drives the cover closing end or the cover opening end of the cover opening and closing pressure plate to press down and extend to the outside of the through slot to apply a force to the cover of the EP tube.

[0008] According to the application, further comprising a closing cover sensor arranged at the end of the closing cover stroke for detecting the position of the closing cover pressing plate and controlling the motor to stop.

[0009] According to the application, further comprising an opening cover sensor arranged at the end of the opening cover stroke for detecting the position of the opening cover pressing plate and controlling the motor to stop.

[0010] According to the application, further comprising an opening cover sensor arranged at the end of the opening cover stroke for detecting the position of the opening cover pressing plate and controlling the motor to stop.

[0011] According to the application, further comprising an opening cover sensor arranged at the end of the opening cover stroke for detecting the position of the opening cover pressing plate and controlling the motor to stop.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the application has the following beneficial effects: The application drives the synchronous pulley and the rotating shaft by the motor, drives the opening and closing cover pressing plate to swing and exerts force on the cover of the EP tube by the lever principle, and only needs the forward and reverse rotation of the motor to complete the two actions of closing and opening the cover, has compact structure, stable transmission, and accurate positioning by the sensor, ensures the consistency and safety of the opening and closing cover actions, and realizes the integration of opening and closing the cover. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Fig. 1 Fig. 1 is a structural schematic view of the EP tube automatic opening and closing cover device of the application; Fig. 2 Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the EP tube opening cover state of the application; Fig. 3 Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the EP tube closing cover state of the application.

[0014] In the figure, 1 is an EP tube, 2 is a tube rack carrier, 3 is a closing cover sensor, 4 is an opening and closing cover pressing plate, 41 is a closing cover end, 42 is an opening cover end, 5 is a synchronous pulley, 6 is a rotating shaft, 7 is a motor, 8 is an opening cover sensor, 9 is a shell, and 91 is a through groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] In order to make the application more obvious and easy to understand, the preferred embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] As Figs. 1 to 3As shown, the embodiment of the present application provides an automatic EP tube cover opening and closing device, which comprises a shell 9, the outer side of the shell 9 is provided with a tube rack carrier 2, which has a plurality of tube slots for placing EP tubes 1; the inside of the shell 9 is provided with a transmission structure, the transmission structure is connected with a cover opening and closing pressing plate 4 having an operating end, the cover opening and closing pressing plate 4 has a cover pressing end 41 and a cover opening end 42, the transmission structure drives the cover opening and closing pressing plate 4 to swing up and down; correspondingly, the surface of the shell 9 close to the tube rack carrier 2 is provided with a plurality of through grooves 91 corresponding to the number of the tube slots, the cover pressing end 41 or the cover opening end 42 of the cover opening and closing pressing plate 4 extends out of the through groove 91 along with the swinging, and contacts the cover body of the EP tube 1, and gradually closes or opens the cover body of the EP tube 1 along with the swinging track. It is known from the prior art that the cover body is opened by pressing the connection between the tube body and the cover body of the EP tube 1 downward.

[0017] Specifically, the transmission structure comprises a motor 7 arranged in the shell 9, the transmission shaft of the motor 7 is connected with a synchronous belt pulley 5, the synchronous belt pulley 5 is installed on the inner side wall of the shell 9, and the position is close to the through groove 91; the synchronous belt pulley 5 is coaxially installed with a rotating shaft 6, the other end of the rotating shaft 6 is connected with the shell 9; the cover opening and closing pressing plate 4 is installed on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 6, and the cover pressing end 41 and the cover opening end 42 are respectively located on the two sides in the radial direction of the rotating shaft 6. The motor 7 is started to drive the synchronous belt pulley 5 to rotate, and at the same time, the rotating shaft 6 rotates to drive the cover opening and closing pressing plate 4 to swing forward or reverse along with the rotation of the rotating shaft 6, so that the cover closing or opening operation is realized.

[0018] In order to improve the automatic operation of the cover opening and closing, a cover closing sensor 3 and a cover opening sensor 8 are installed in the shell 9, wherein the cover closing sensor 3 is arranged at the end of the cover closing action stroke, which is used for detecting the position of the cover opening and closing pressing plate 4 and controlling the motor 7 to stop; the cover opening sensor 8 is arranged at the end of the cover opening action stroke, which is used for detecting the position of the cover opening and closing pressing plate 4 and controlling the motor 7 to stop. The cover closing sensor 3 and the cover opening sensor 8 can be photoelectric sensors or Hall sensors.

[0019] Further, the cover pressing end 41 of the cover opening and closing pressing plate is a pointed end, when the cover opening and closing pressing plate 4 is in a horizontal state, the extension length of the cover pressing end 41 out of the through groove 91 covers the cover body, so that it can fully contact the cover body, and the cover pressing efficiency is improved; the cover opening end 42 of the cover opening and closing pressing plate is a square, which improves the contact surface with the hinge joint of the cover body and the tube body, and when the cover opening and closing pressing plate 4 is in a horizontal state, it only contacts the hinge joint of the cover body and the tube body, avoiding that the cover pressing area is too large to extend to the cover body and affect the cover opening efficiency.

[0020] The working principle of the present application is that, When the EP tube 1 is placed in the tube groove of the tube rack carrier 2 with the opening facing upwards and the cover close to the through groove 91, the motor 7 rotates forward, and the belt drives the synchronous pulley 5 to rotate clockwise. The synchronous pulley 5 drives the rotating shaft 6 to rotate clockwise. The rotating shaft 6 drives the pressure end 41 of the switch cover plate 4 to tilt downwards, extending out of the through groove 91. As it tilts downwards, it pushes the cover of the EP tube 1 to close towards the opening, thus achieving the closing action. The motor 7 reverses to reset. After the closing sensor 3 senses it, the motor 7 stops rotating.

[0021] When the cover needs to be opened, the motor 7 reverses, the belt drives the synchronous pulley 5 to rotate counterclockwise, the synchronous pulley 5 drives the rotating shaft 6 to rotate, and the rotating shaft 6 drives the opening end 42 of the cover pressure plate 4 to rotate upward. After rotating above the cover, the motor 7 rotates clockwise, pressing down on the connection between the cover and the tube, realizing the opening action. It continues to rotate clockwise, and after the cover sensor 8 senses it, the motor 7 stops rotating. During the upward rotation of the opening end 42, in order to avoid interference with the EP tube 1, the EP tube 1 moves slightly away from the housing 9. The moving distance is controlled so that there is a gap with the housing 9, but it does not exceed the reach range of the opening end 42.

[0022] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any form or substance. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and additions without departing from the present invention, and these improvements and additions should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, alterations, and equivalent changes made by those skilled in the art based on the above-disclosed technical content without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention are equivalent embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, any modifications, alterations, and evolutions made to the above embodiments based on the essential technology of the present invention still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic EP tube cover opening and closing device, characterized in that, include, The housing; at least one side wall of the housing has a through groove formed; The pipe rack carrier is located on the outside of the housing and corresponds to the through slot position; the pipe rack carrier has a pipe slot for placing EP pipes; The transmission structure is located inside the housing; The switch cover pressure plate is connected to the transmission structure. The transmission structure drives the switch cover pressure plate to swing relative to the connection point. During the swing, an external force is applied to the cover of the EP pipe placed in the pipe groove of the pipe rack carrier to realize the opening or closing operation of the cover.

2. The automatic EP tube cover opening and closing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission structure includes a motor installed inside the housing and a synchronous pulley connected thereto. The synchronous pulley is installed on the inner side wall of the housing. A rotating shaft is installed on the synchronous pulley, and the other end of the rotating shaft is connected to the housing. A switch cover pressure plate is installed on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft.

3. The automatic EP tube cover opening and closing device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The switch cover pressure plate has a pressure end and an opening end, which are located on both sides of the rotating shaft in the radial direction. The transmission structure drives the pressure end or the opening end of the switch cover pressure plate to press down, extending to the outside of the through groove, and applying force to the cover of the EP tube.

4. The automatic EP tube cover opening and closing device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a cover-closing sensor, which is located at the end of the cover-closing action to detect the position of the cover pressure plate and control the motor to stop.

5. The automatic EP tube cover opening and closing device as described in any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, It also includes a cover opening sensor, which is set at the end of the cover opening action to detect the position of the cover pressure plate and control the motor to stop.

6. The automatic EP tube cover opening and closing device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The timing pulley and the rotating shaft are coaxially arranged.

7. The automatic EP tube cover opening and closing device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The synchronous pulley is located near the through slot.

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