A high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in the laboratory

Abstract

This invention provides a high-throughput liquid workstation for automated cluster synthesis and mass spectrometry sampling in a laboratory. It includes an XYZ three-axis motion mechanism, a rotating disk for holding sample vials, a liquid addition mechanism for adding liquid to the sample vials on the rotating disk, a capping mechanism, a magnetic stirrer, a dilution and injection mechanism, and a working platform. The capping mechanism includes a cap holder, a parallel gripper, and a rotating gripper. The parallel gripper holds the sample vials; the cap holder stores the caps; the rotating gripper is slidably connected to the Z-axis guide rail of the XYZ three-axis motion mechanism, and can move along the X and Y axes or relative to the Z-axis guide rail under the drive of the XYZ three-axis motion mechanism. The rotating gripper can hold, rotate, and move caps or sample vials. These components work together to automate the entire sampling, dilution, injection, and cleaning process, reducing experimental errors caused by manual operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of liquid workstation technology, specifically relating to a high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and mass spectrometry automated sample introduction laboratory. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of science and technology, in the field of cluster synthesis experiments, for purposes such as sampling and proportioning, it is often necessary to extract a quantitative amount of liquid from a reagent and then add and mix multiple reagents. If liquid transfer is performed manually, operator error frequently affects the reliability of sample preparation, and the workload is also excessive. Therefore, liquid handling workstations are typically used for reagent or other liquid transfer. However, liquid workstations, using single-tube multiple aspiration, are prone to cross-contamination, affecting the accuracy of subsequent experiments. Furthermore, liquid aspiration and proportioning are complex and inconvenient. Adding liquid to different sample vials at different locations during transfer is also difficult. Moreover, to meet the temperature and mixing conditions required for cluster synthesis and to prevent volatilization, the reaction vessel needs to be sealed, heated, and stirred.

[0003] Furthermore, in characterizing clusters after synthesis, the process typically requires cultivating single crystals. This process is time-consuming and tedious, and there is a problem where clusters may have formed in solution but fail to crystallize into corresponding single crystals. Therefore, there is a need to find more effective and rapid characterization methods to verify experimental results. Mass spectrometry, with its precise mass measurement and compositional analysis capabilities, as well as its ability to capture intermediates during cluster formation and reaction, provides crucial information for understanding cluster stability and reaction mechanisms. Currently, mass spectrometry analysis usually involves manual sampling, dilution, injection, and washing. This often results in operator errors that severely affect the reliability of sample analysis results, and also presents problems such as high workload and cumbersome operation. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome the above-mentioned defects and provide a high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and mass spectrometry automated sample introduction laboratory.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0006] A high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in a laboratory includes:

[0007] XYZ three-axis motion mechanism;

[0008] A rotating disk is used to hold sample vials. The rotating disk has a drive wheel frame inside, which enables it to rotate around the axis.

[0009] The liquid addition mechanism is used to add the liquid required for the reaction into the sample vial on the rotating disk;

[0010] The bottle cap mechanism includes a cap holder, a parallel gripper, and a rotating gripper; the parallel gripper is used to hold sample bottles; the cap holder is used to store bottle caps; the rotating gripper is slidably connected to the Z-axis guide rail of the XYZ three-axis motion mechanism, and the rotating gripper can move along the X and Y axes or relative to the Z-axis guide rail under the drive of the XYZ three-axis motion mechanism; the rotating gripper can hold, rotate, and move bottle caps or sample bottles.

[0011] A magnetic stirrer heater is used to hold sample vials and stir and heat the liquid inside the vials to achieve cluster synthesis reactions;

[0012] The dilution injection mechanism is used to dilute the liquid after the cluster synthesis reaction and automatically inject it into the mass spectrometer;

[0013] The work platform, XYZ three-axis motion mechanism, rotating disk, bottle cap holder, parallel gripper and magnetic stirring heater are set on the work platform.

[0014] In some possible implementations, the parallel gripper includes an electric gripper and an L-shaped support frame;

[0015] The L-shaped support frame has a transverse support plate and a longitudinal support plate connected at the ends. The side wall of the longitudinal support plate is provided with a longitudinal slide rail. The longitudinal support plate is slidably connected to the electric gripper through the longitudinal slide rail. The transverse support plate is connected to the electric gripper through an elastic element.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the liquid dispensing mechanism includes a dispensing head, at least two liquid storage bottles, at least two first hoses that are matched with the liquid storage bottles, and at least two first injection pumps;

[0017] The dispensing head has a fixing port for fixing the tubing, which is located above the rotating disk and corresponds to the position where the sample bottle is placed on the rotating disk; the storage bottle contains the liquid to be reacted; the first tubing is controlled to be connected to the first injection pump, the inlet end of the first tubing is located inside the storage bottle, and the outlet end of the first tubing is fixed to the fixing port;

[0018] The rotating mechanism rotates to position the sample vial below the fixed opening, and the first injection pump controls the first tubing to draw a set amount of liquid from the storage bottle into the sample vial.

[0019] In some possible implementations, the XYZ three-axis motion mechanism includes two parallel Y-axis guide rails, one X-axis guide rail, and two Z-axis guide rails;

[0020] The Y-axis guide rail is mounted on the working platform via a column, the two ends of the X-axis guide rail are slidably connected to the two Y-axis guide rails respectively, and the two Z-axis guide rails are slidably connected to the X-axis guide rail respectively.

[0021] In some possible implementations, the dilution injection mechanism includes a magnetic stirrer, a dilution bottle, a diluent reservoir, a waste container, a pipette, a second tubing, and a second injection pump;

[0022] The pipette is slidably connected to the Z-axis guide rail without the rotating gripper. The pipette can move along the X and Y axes or relative to the Z-axis guide rail under the drive of the XYZ three-axis motion mechanism. The magnetic stirrer is set on the working platform and a dilution bottle is placed on it. The dilution bottle and the waste liquid tank are placed below the working platform. The dilution bottle is connected to the diluent storage bottle, the waste liquid tank and the mass spectrometer injection port through a second hose. Each second hose is controlled and connected to an injection pump.

[0023] In some possible implementations, the sidewall of the column has a groove arranged along its length, and the liquid filling head engages with the groove.

[0024] In some possible implementations, the magnetic stirring heater includes a body and a metal plate disposed on the body, the upper surface of the metal plate being provided with a plurality of fixing grooves for placing sample bottles.

[0025] In some possible implementations, the capping mechanism may also include a sample bottle rack disposed on the work platform for storing sample bottles;

[0026] In some possible implementations, the dilution injection mechanism also includes a pipette tip holder mounted on the work platform for holding pipette tips.

[0027] In some possible implementations, the first hose is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube.

[0028] In some possible implementations, the second hose is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube.

[0029] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: it can realize the fully automated operation of sampling, dilution, injection and cleaning processes, and reduce experimental errors caused by manual operation. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry injection laboratory provided in Example 1;

[0031] Figure 2 Left view of a high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and mass spectrometry automated sample introduction laboratory provided in Example 1;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the parallel gripper structure in Example 1;

[0033] In the diagram: 1-Support frame; 11-Working platform; 2-XYZ three-axis motion mechanism; 21-Z guide rail; 22-Column; 3-Rotating disk; 31-First turntable; 311-Opening; 32-Second turntable; 4-Sample bottle; 51-Reservoir bottle; 52-Dispensing head; 521-Fixing port; 53-First injection pump; 54-First tubing; 61-Sample bottle rack; 62-Bottle cap rack; 621-Protrusion; 63-Parallel gripper; 631 - Electric gripper; 632- Lateral support plate; 633- Spring; 634- Longitudinal support plate; 635- Longitudinal slide rail; 64- Rotary gripper; 7- Bottle cap; 8- Magnetic stirrer; 81- Metal plate; 82- Fixing groove; 91- Magnetic stirrer; 92- Diluent bottle; 93- Diluent storage bottle; 94- Second injection pump; 95- Waste liquid container; 96- Pipette; 97- Pipette tip holder; 98- Second tubing; 10- Mass spectrometer injection port. Detailed Implementation

[0034] The technical solution of this utility model will be further explained and described below through specific embodiments.

[0035] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present utility model and should not be considered as excluding other embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0036] Unless otherwise expressly defined, in the claims, description and accompanying drawings of this utility model, the use of directional terms such as "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear" to indicate orientation or positional relationship is based on the orientation and positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the specific protection scope of this utility model.

[0037] The XYZ three-axis motion mechanism used in this application is an existing structure. For example, each XYZ guide rail is driven by a drive wheel frame and slidably connected to other guide rails by a slider. Those skilled in the art can know the specific structure of these structures based on the prior art, so they will not be described in detail.

[0038] Example 1

[0039] This invention provides a high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in a laboratory. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 1 and Figure 2 It includes:

[0040] The support frame 1 has a working platform 11 composed of several profiles arranged in parallel at its upper end, which is used for sample injection, sealing, reaction, and dilution, injection and cleaning processes for cluster synthesis and mass spectrometry detection.

[0041] The XYZ three-axis motion mechanism 2 includes two parallel Y-axis guide rails, one X-axis guide rail, and two Z-axis guide rails 21. The Y-axis guide rail is mounted on the work platform 11 via two profile columns 22. The side walls of the columns 22 have grooves (not shown in the figure) arranged along the length direction. The two ends of the X-axis guide rail are slidably connected to the two Y-axis guide rails respectively, and the two Z-axis guide rails 21 are slidably connected to the X-axis guide rail respectively.

[0042] A rotating disk 3 is mounted on a working platform 11. The rotating disk 3 includes a first turntable 31, a second turntable 32, and a drive wheel frame. The first turntable 31 has several openings 311 around its circumferential direction. The sample bottle 4 is engaged with the first turntable 31 through the openings 311. The second turntable 32 is located below the first turntable 31 to support the sample bottle 4. The drive wheel frame drives the first turntable 31 and the second turntable 32 to rotate coaxially, so that the sample bottle 4 rotates with the rotating disk 3.

[0043] The liquid dispensing mechanism includes four storage bottles 51, four first flexible tubes 54, four first injection pumps 53, and a dispensing head 52. The dispensing head 52 has a fixing port 521 for securing the flexible tubes, located above the rotating disk 3 and corresponding to the opening 311 of the rotating disk 3 where the sample vials 4 are placed. The first flexible tubes 54 are polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubes, with their inlet end located inside the storage bottle 51 and their outlet end fixed to the fixing port 521 of the dispensing head 52, directly facing the opening 311 of the rotating disk 3. The first injection pumps 53 are controlled and connected to the first flexible tubes 54, driving the first flexible tubes 54 to draw a predetermined amount of liquid from the storage bottle 51 into the sample vial 4, completing the sample injection for cluster synthesis. The storage bottles 51 are located below the working platform 11, and the dispensing heads 52 are engaged with recesses.

[0044] The bottle capping mechanism includes a sample bottle holder 61, a bottle cap holder 62, and a parallel gripper 63, all respectively mounted on the work platform 11, and a rotating gripper 64 slidably connected to a Z-axis guide rail 21. The sample bottle holder 61 stores sample bottles 4. The bottle cap holder 62 stores bottle caps 7; furthermore, the upper surface of the bottle cap holder 62 has several protrusions 621 that conform to the shape of the bottle caps 7, enabling positioning of the bottle caps 7. The rotating gripper 64 is slidably connected to a Z-axis guide rail 21 and controlled by a drive wheel frame. Under the control of the drive wheel frame, the rotating gripper 64 can slide relative to the Z-axis guide rail 21 and / or move along the X and Y axes under the drive of the XYZ three-axis motion mechanism 2, for clamping, moving, and rotating the sample bottles 4 and bottle caps 7. Figure 3As shown, the parallel gripper 63 includes an electric gripper 631 and an L-shaped support frame. The L-shaped support frame has a transverse support plate 632 and a longitudinal support plate 634 connected at its ends. The transverse support plate 632 and the longitudinal support plate 634 are respectively connected to the electric gripper 631. Specifically, the lower end of the electric gripper 631 is connected to the upper surface of the transverse support plate 632 via a spring 633. The side wall of the longitudinal support plate 634 is provided with a longitudinal slide rail 635, and the electric gripper 631 is slidably connected to the longitudinal support plate 634 via the longitudinal slide rail 635.

[0045] The magnetic stirrer heater 8 is used to magnetically stir and heat the sample bottle 4. The magnetic stirrer heater 8 includes a body and a metal plate 81 disposed above the body. The upper surface of the metal plate 81 is provided with a number of fixing grooves 82, and the sample bottle 4 is placed in the fixing grooves 82.

[0046] The dilution injection mechanism includes a magnetic stirrer 91, a dilution bottle 92, a diluent reservoir 93, a waste liquid container 95, a pipette 96, a pipette tip holder 97, three second injection pumps 94, and three second tubing tubes 98. The magnetic stirrer 91 and pipette tip holder 97 are mounted on a working platform 11. The dilution bottle 92 and waste liquid container 95 are placed below the working platform 11. The pipette 96 is slidably connected to a Z-axis guide rail 21, and the dilution bottle 92 is positioned above the magnetic stirrer 91. Several pipette tips (not shown in the figure) are placed on the pipette tip holder 97. The pipette 96 is controlled by a drive wheel frame, allowing it to move under the control of the drive wheel frame. Specifically, pipette 96 first moves to pipette tip holder 97 and presses down, so that a pipette tip is installed on pipette 96. Then pipette 96 moves to sample vial 4 to draw the set amount of reaction solution. Finally, pipette 96 moves to dilution bottle 92 and injects the reaction solution into dilution bottle 92.

[0047] A diluent reservoir 93 contains diluent and is connected to a dilution bottle 92 via a second hose 98. A second syringe pump 94 is controlled to draw a predetermined amount of diluent from the reservoir 93 into the dilution bottle 92, obtaining the liquid to be tested. The dilution bottle 92 is connected to a mass spectrometer inlet 10 via a second hose 98. A precision syringe pump 94 is controlled to draw the liquid to be tested from the dilution bottle 92 into the mass spectrometer inlet 10, with the remainder being waste liquid. Furthermore, the second syringe pump 94 is a precision syringe pump. A waste liquid container 95 is connected to the dilution bottle 92 via a second hose 98. A peristaltic pump 98 is controlled to draw waste liquid from the dilution bottle 92 into the waste liquid container 95. Furthermore, the second syringe pump 94 is a peristaltic pump.

[0048] The following describes the workflow of a high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in a laboratory:

[0049] Sample vials 4 are stored on sample vial rack 61. When a cluster synthesis reaction is required, rotating jaws 64 place sample vials 4 onto rotating disk 3. Rotating disk 3 rotates sample vials 4 to a position below dispensing head 52. Four storage bottles 51, under the control of the first injection pump 53, pump a predetermined amount of liquid into sample vials 4. Then, rotating jaws 64 clamp and move sample vials 4 onto parallel jaws 63, which hold sample vials 4 in place. The rotating jaw 64 moves above the cap holder 62 and grasps a cap 7. The cap 7 is then moved onto the sample vial 4 held by the parallel jaw 63. The rotating jaw 64 moves downward and rotates the cap 7, bringing it into full contact with the sample vial 4 and gradually tightening it. During this process, the sample vial 4 and the spring 633 are subjected to downward (Z-axis) pressure from the rotating jaw 64 and the cap 7. The spring 633 supporting the parallel jaw 63 rebounds, counteracting the Z-axis displacement caused by the contact between the sample vial 4 and the cap 7, thus completing the tightening operation. Conversely, the cap 7 can be opened. After the cap 7 is tightened, the sample vial 4 is transferred by the rotating jaw 64 to the fixing groove 82 of the magnetic stir heater 8 to complete the closed stirring and heating requirements for the cluster synthesis reaction.

[0050] Diluent reservoir 93 pumps diluent into dilution flask 92 to dilute the test solution to the set concentration. Then, magnetic stirrer 91 stirs the liquid in dilution flask 92. After stirring, the diluted test solution enters the mass spectrometer through mass spectrometer inlet 10 for detection, achieving automatic dilution and injection. Diluent reservoir 93 pumps diluent into dilution flask 92 multiple times, while the liquid in dilution flask 92 is continuously pumped into waste liquid tank 95. Repeating this operation multiple times completes the automatic cleaning of diluent reservoir 93. The second flexible tube 98 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0051] Furthermore, the first turntable 31 of the rotating disk 3 has 24 openings 311, which can hold 24 sample bottles 4; the sample bottle rack 61 can hold 24 sample bottles 4; the bottle cap rack 62 has 24 protrusions 621, which can hold 24 bottle caps 7; the magnetic stirring heater 8 has 35 fixing grooves 82, which are used to fix the sample bottles 4; and the pipette tip rack 97 can hold 62 pipette tips.

[0052] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model, and therefore cannot be used to limit the scope of the present utility model. All equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the present utility model patent and the contents of the specification should still fall within the scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A high-throughput liquid workstation for automated sample introduction in a laboratory for cluster synthesis and mass spectrometry, characterized in that, include: XYZ three-axis motion mechanism; A rotating disk is used to hold sample vials, and the rotating disk is equipped with a drive wheel frame that enables it to rotate along an axis; A liquid addition mechanism is used to add the liquid required for the reaction into the sample bottle on the rotating disk; The bottle cap mechanism includes a cap holder, a parallel gripper, and a rotating gripper; The parallel gripper is used to hold the sample bottle; the bottle cap holder is used to store the bottle cap; the rotating gripper is slidably connected to the Z-axis guide rail of the XYZ three-axis motion mechanism, and the rotating gripper can move along the X-axis and Y-axis or relative to the Z-axis guide rail under the drive of the XYZ three-axis motion mechanism; the rotating gripper can hold, rotate and move the bottle cap or the sample bottle; A magnetic stirrer heater is used to place sample vials and stir and heat the liquid inside the sample vials to achieve cluster synthesis reactions; The dilution injection mechanism is used to dilute the liquid after the cluster synthesis reaction and automatically inject it into the mass spectrometer; The XYZ three-axis motion mechanism, the rotating disk, the bottle cap holder, the parallel gripper, and the magnetic stirring heater are disposed on the working platform.

2. The high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in a laboratory as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The parallel gripper includes an electric gripper and an L-shaped support frame; The L-shaped support frame has a transverse support plate and a longitudinal support plate connected at the ends. The side wall of the longitudinal support plate is provided with a longitudinal slide rail. The longitudinal support plate is slidably connected to the electric gripper through the longitudinal slide rail. The transverse support plate is connected to the electric gripper through an elastic element.

3. The high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in a laboratory as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid dispensing mechanism includes a dispensing head, at least two liquid storage bottles, at least two first hoses and at least two first injection pumps that are matched with the liquid storage bottles; The liquid dispensing head has a fixing port for fixing a flexible tube, which is located above the rotating disk and corresponds to the position where the sample bottle is placed on the rotating disk; the storage bottle contains the liquid to be reacted; the first flexible tube is controlled to be connected to the first injection pump, the inlet end of the first flexible tube is located inside the storage bottle, and the outlet end of the first flexible tube is fixed to the fixing port; The rotating mechanism rotates to position the sample bottle below the fixed opening, and the first injection pump controls the first tubing to draw a set amount of liquid from the storage bottle into the sample bottle.

4. The high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in a laboratory as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The XYZ three-axis motion mechanism includes two parallel Y-axis guide rails, one X-axis guide rail, and two Z-axis guide rails; The Y-axis guide rail is mounted on the working platform via a column, the two ends of the X-axis guide rail are slidably connected to the two Y-axis guide rails respectively, and the two Z-axis guide rails are slidably connected to the X-axis guide rails respectively.

5. The high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in a laboratory as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The dilution injection mechanism includes a magnetic stirrer, a dilution bottle, a diluent storage bottle, a waste liquid tank, a pipette, a second tubing, and a second injection pump; The pipette is slidably connected to the Z-axis guide rail (which is not connected to the rotating gripper), and the pipette can move along the X and Y axes or relative to the Z-axis guide rail under the drive of the XYZ three-axis motion mechanism; the magnetic stirrer is disposed on the working platform and the dilution bottle is placed thereon; the dilution bottle and the waste liquid tank are placed below the working platform, and the dilution bottle is connected to the diluent storage bottle, the waste liquid tank and the mass spectrometer injection port respectively through the second hose, and each second hose is controlled and connected to one of the injection pumps.

6. The high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in a laboratory as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The side wall of the column has a groove arranged along its length, and the liquid filling head engages with the groove.

7. The high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in a laboratory as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The magnetic stirring heater includes a body and a metal plate disposed on the body. The upper surface of the metal plate is provided with a plurality of fixing grooves for placing the sample bottle.

8. The high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in a laboratory as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The capping mechanism also includes a sample bottle rack mounted on the work platform for storing sample bottles.

9. The high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in a laboratory as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The dilution injection mechanism also includes a pipette tip holder mounted on the working platform for holding pipette tips.

10. The high-throughput liquid workstation for cluster synthesis and automated mass spectrometry sample introduction in a laboratory as described in claim 3 or 5, characterized in that, The first hose is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube, and / or the second hose is a PTFE tube.

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