Inoculation machine

Abstract

This invention provides an inoculation machine for automating the inoculation of multiple bags with caps. The inoculation machine includes a machine base, and mounted on the machine base are a bag conveying mechanism, a bag positioning mechanism, a bag opening positioning mechanism, an inoculation mechanism, and a cap removal mechanism. The inoculation mechanism further includes a culture storage mechanism, a culture transfer mechanism, and a culture pressing mechanism. The culture transfer mechanism is located between the culture storage mechanism and the bags, utilizing a reciprocating storage component and a feeding component to transport the culture. In conjunction with the linear reciprocating motion of the pressing shaft of the culture pressing mechanism, the culture is pressed from the feeding component into the culture medium in the bags. This invention overcomes the time-consuming drawbacks of previous technologies using a spiral implantation method, effectively improving the automation level and production efficiency of the inoculation operation.

Description

Inoculation machine Technical Field

[0001] This work relates to inoculation machinery or equipment for microbial strains, particularly an inoculation machine. Prior Technology

[0002] The known inoculation machine is described in Chinese Patent No. 103155798. This machine uses the impact force of a cylinder to transport solid inoculum from the inoculum chamber to a steel pipe. After the machine moves downward, the steel pipe punctures the inoculum bag. Under digital control, the cylinder is activated to eject the inoculum into the culture medium in the inoculum bag. This inoculation method cannot evenly implant the inoculum into the culture medium, resulting in unstable cultivation results; this drawback is particularly obvious at high production volumes. Furthermore, the inoculum has poor adaptability, leading to a low degree of automation in production.

[0003] To overcome the shortcomings of the aforementioned inoculation methods, such as uneven inoculation into the culture medium leading to unstable culture results, and poor adaptability of the strains resulting in low automation, Chinese Patent No. 119214038 discloses an inoculation machine that utilizes a rotating feed section to puncture the culture bag, allowing solid inoculum to be evenly implanted into the culture medium along the spiral direction of the rotating feed spring. However, the spiral implantation of solid inoculum is time-consuming and requires improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a new inoculation machine, the main purpose of which is to reduce the rotational transmission time by adopting a linear motion mechanical structure, overcome the time-consuming drawbacks of previous technologies that used spiral implantation of solid inoculum, and relatively improve the degree of automation.

[0005] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the inoculation machine of this invention includes: a machine base, a bag conveying mechanism for conveying bags, a bag positioning mechanism for positioning the bags, a bag opening positioning mechanism for positioning the bag opening, a cap removal mechanism for removing the cap, and an inoculation mechanism for introducing solid inoculum into the bags. The bag conveying mechanism, bag positioning mechanism, bag opening positioning mechanism, cap removal mechanism, and inoculation mechanism are all mounted on the machine base. The inoculation mechanism includes: an inoculum storage mechanism, an inoculum transfer mechanism, and an inoculum pressing mechanism. The inoculum transfer mechanism is located between the inoculum pressing mechanism and the bags, and the inoculum pressing mechanism presses the inoculum from the inoculum transfer mechanism into the bags. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0006] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of the first embodiment of the inoculation machine of this invention. Figure 2 is a three-dimensional view of the internal structure of the inoculation machine. Figure 3 shows the assembly configuration of the inoculation mechanism and the strain transfer mechanism. Figure 4 shows the assembly configuration of the feeding assembly and the cap removal mechanism. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the material storage assembly. Figure 6 shows the assembly configuration of the storage component and the feeding component. Figure 7 shows the assembly configuration of the feeding assembly, bag opening positioning mechanism, and cap removal mechanism. Figure 8 shows the assembly configuration of the feeding component and the inoculum pressing mechanism. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the microbial inoculation mechanism. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the bag opening positioning mechanism. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the microbial culture storage mechanism. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the bag positioning mechanism. Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of a pallet containing material bags. Figure 14 is a structural diagram of the inoculum pressing mechanism in the second embodiment of the inoculation machine. Figure 15 is an enlarged view of circle A in Figure 14. Figure 16 is a configuration diagram of the feeding assembly and bag opening positioning mechanism in the second embodiment. Figure 17 is an enlarged view of circle B in Figure 16. Figure 18 is a three-dimensional view of a single feed plate and a feed component. Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of the microbial culture storage mechanism in the second embodiment. Figure 20 is an enlarged view of circle C in Figure 19. Implementation

[0007] In Figure 1, the present invention is a preferred embodiment of an inoculation machine 110, which performs an automated inoculation operation of solid microorganisms on a material bag 10.

[0008] As shown in Figures 7 and 13, the substrate bag 10 has a main body 11 for filling with a culture medium suitable for inoculating fungal strains (e.g., shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms). The substrate bag 10 also has a cover 12, which is detachably fitted with a ring cover 13 to seal the opening 15 of the main body 11, achieving a sealing effect for the substrate bag 10.

[0009] To achieve automated production, multiple bags 10 are placed in an array on a tray 14, which helps the inoculation machine 110 to accurately inoculate solid cultures. The array arrangement can be 3×4, yielding twelve bags 10; or 3×3, yielding nine bags 10; or 4×4, yielding a total of sixteen bags 10.

[0010] Returning to Figure 1, in this embodiment, the inoculation machine 110 is equipped with a bag conveying mechanism 200, a bag positioning mechanism 300 (see Figure 12), a bag opening positioning mechanism 400 (see Figure 10), a cap removal mechanism 500 (see Figure 4), and an inoculation mechanism 660 on a machine base 100 to automate the inoculation of the aforementioned bag 10 with cap 12.

[0011] As shown in Figures 2 and 7, the bag conveying mechanism 200 is a roller conveyor belt. The length of the roller conveyor belt can be extended as needed, or it can be connected to other mechanical transmission mechanisms to convey the pallet 14 towards the machine platform 100.

[0012] As can be easily understood from Figures 2 and 12, the bag positioning mechanism 300 includes: multiple positioning components 330, each positioning component 330 having a positioning plate 320, the outer side of which is connected to a positioning cylinder 310, and the inner surface of the positioning plate 320 forming multiple recesses 340 for clamping the bag 10. These positioning cylinders 310 are arranged in pairs opposite to each other on the machine base 100, so that each positioning plate 320 forms a working area. In this working area, two positioning plates 320 are parallel to the left and right sides of the bag conveying mechanism 200, respectively, and each positioning plate 320 has three recesses 340. The remaining positioning plates 320 are parallel to the front and rear ends of the bag conveying mechanism 200, and each positioning plate 320 has four recesses 340.

[0013] When the bag conveying mechanism 200 transports the pallet 14 to below the bag positioning mechanism 300, each bag 10 is facing the working area, waiting for each positioning plate 320 to move down and surround the outside of each bag 10.

[0014] As shown in Figures 2, 7, and 10, the bag opening positioning mechanism 400 includes: a clamping plate base 410, multiple clamping plates 420, multiple clamping cylinders 430, and multiple clamping plate cylinders 440. The clamping plate base 410 is movably connected to the machine base 100 and has twelve holes 411 arranged in the same array as the bag body 11. The clamping plate cylinders 440 are located on the machine base 100 and are connected to the clamping plate base 410, enabling the clamping plate base 410 to move up and down to the working area. In this embodiment, three sets of clamping plates 420 are provided, with two clamping plates 420 in each set forming four clamping openings 421, for a total of twelve clamping openings 421. The clamping cylinder 430 is disposed on the clamping plate seat 410 and is connected to the clamping plate 420. The clamping cylinder 430 drives the clamping plate 420 to reciprocate between a clamping bag opening position and a releasing bag opening position.

[0015] The term "clamping bag opening position" as used here generally refers to the position where the clamping cylinder 430 drives the single clamping plates 420 to move towards each other, reducing the diameter of the clamping opening 421 to be smaller than the diameter of the hole 411.

[0016] In other words, the clamping cylinder 440 moves the clamping seat 410 down to the working area, so that the ring cover 13 enters the corresponding clamping port 421 through the hole 411 of the clamping seat 410, so that each set of clamping plates 420 surrounds the ring cover 13. The clamping cylinder 430 drives a single set of clamping plates 420 to clamp the outside of the ring cover 13, thereby positioning the bag opening 15 of the material bag 10.

[0017] The term "loosening bag opening position" as used here generally refers to the reverse movement of the single clamping plate 420 driven by the clamping cylinder 430, which expands the diameter of the clamping opening 421 to be greater than or equal to the diameter of the hole 411.

[0018] In other words, the clamping cylinder 430 drives the single clamping plate 420 to release the ring cover 13, thus releasing the positioning relationship of the bag opening 15. Then, the clamping plate cylinder 440 drives the clamping plate seat 410 to move upward and away from the working area, so that the ring cover 13 disengages from the clamping opening 421 and the hole 411.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1, 9, and 11, the inoculation mechanism 660 includes: a strain storage mechanism 600, a strain pressing mechanism 700, and a strain transfer mechanism 860 located between the strain pressing mechanism 700 and the material bag 10.

[0020] In this embodiment, the microbial culture storage mechanism 600 includes: a storage bin 610, a baffle 620, a baffle cylinder 630, a stirring shaft 640, and a stirring motor 650. The storage bin 610 has one or more discharge ports 612 on its bottom surface (see Figure 3). The baffle 620 is movably mounted on the bottom of the storage bin 610. The baffle cylinder 630 is driven by the baffle 620, causing it to reciprocate between a position facing the discharge port 612 of the storage bin 610 and a position facing the storage hole 811 of the storage plate 810. The stirring shaft 640 is rotatably mounted inside the storage bin 610 and is driven by the stirring motor 650.

[0021] In other embodiments, the storage bin 610 is secured by a plurality of fasteners 670. After the fasteners 670 are removed, the storage bin 610 can be removed for cleaning or maintenance (see Figures 19 and 20).

[0022] The term "facing the discharge port 612" as used here refers to the position where the baffle cylinder 630 pulls the baffle 620 relative to the storage hopper 610, causing the discharge port 612 to be in an open state, connecting the baffle 620 to the storage hopper 610. The stirring motor 650 drives the stirring shaft 640 to rotate, causing the inoculum in the storage hopper 610 to fill the volume inside the baffle 620 through the discharge port 612. At this moment, the baffle 620 closes the storage hole 811 of the storage plate 810.

[0023] The position facing the storage hole 811, as mentioned here, means that the baffle cylinder 630 pushes the baffle 620 to move relative to the storage plate 810, so that the storage bin 610, the discharge port 612, and the baffle 620 are in a closed state. The stirring motor 650 does not rotate, keeping the stirring shaft 640 stationary, achieving an energy-saving effect. At this moment, the baffle 620 is in an open state, communicating with the storage hole 811, allowing the inoculum to fall freely to the inoculum transfer mechanism 860.

[0024] In this embodiment, the inoculum pressing mechanism 700 includes: a pressing cylinder 710, a pressing plate 720, and multiple pressing shafts 730. The bottom surface of the pressing plate 720 is fixedly connected to the pressing shafts 730, and the pressing shafts 730 are arranged in an array on the bottom surface of the pressing plate 720. The pressing cylinder 710 is located at the top of the machine base 100 and is driven by the top surface of the pressing plate 720, driving each pressing shaft 730 to move up and down relative to the machine base 100. In some embodiments, both sides of the pressing plate 720 are respectively snap-fitted to the pressing cylinder 710 and each pressing shaft 730, making it detachable and facilitating the removal of the pressing plate 720 for cleaning.

[0025] In some embodiments, the pressure plate 720 is secured by other fasteners 740. After the fasteners 740 are removed, the pressure plate 720 can be removed for cleaning or maintenance (see Figures 14 and 15).

[0026] As shown in Figures 2-8, the strain transfer mechanism 860 includes: a transfer motor 800, a storage component 861 and a feeding component 862.

[0027] In this embodiment, the storage assembly 861 is driven by the transfer motor 800 and can reciprocate between the inoculum storage mechanism 600 and the inoculum pressing mechanism 700. Specifically, the storage assembly 861 includes: a storage plate 810, a pull plate 820, and multiple pull plate cylinders 830. The storage plate 810 has twelve storage holes 811 arranged in an array, and the storage holes 811 pass through the top and bottom surfaces of the storage plate 810. The pull plate 820 is movably mounted on the bottom surface of the storage plate 810, and the pull plate 820 has multiple through holes 821. When the pull plate 820 covers the storage hole 811 and is in a closed state, the through hole 821 and the storage hole 811 are misaligned, so the bottom end of the storage hole 811 is closed and can store the inoculum. When the through hole 821 faces the storage hole 811, the pull plate 820 is in an open state. Each of the pull plate cylinders 830 is installed on the bottom surface of the storage plate 810 and is connected to the pull plate 820 for driving the pull plate 820 to reciprocate relative to the storage plate 810.

[0028] In this embodiment, the single row of storage holes 811 faces the discharge port 612, and it is preferable that the storage bin 610 has four discharge ports 612.

[0029] In this embodiment, the feeding assembly 862 is located below the storage assembly 861 and includes: a feeding cylinder 840, a feeding plate 850, and a plurality of feeding components 853. The feeding plate 850 has twelve feeding ports 851 arranged in an array. The feeding cylinder 840 is drivenly connected to the feeding plate 850, causing it to reciprocate relative to the bag opening 15 of the material bag 10 between lifting the cover 12, covering it, and inserting the inoculum. In this embodiment, each feeding component 853 is locked to the bottom surface of the feeding plate 850. In some embodiments, each feeding component 853 and the bottom surface of the feeding plate 850 are designed with embedded grooves for easy removal, cleaning, and installation. Each feeding component 853 is configured as a conical structure, with the large-diameter end of the conical structure communicating with the feeding port 851, and its small-diameter end defining a discharge port 852.

[0030] In other embodiments, three feed plates 854 are respectively fitted into corresponding grooves or holes in the feed plate 850, and each feed plate 854 is fixed to the feed plate 850 by fitting. The feed plate 854 is provided with three feed ports 851, and each feed port 851 leads directly to the discharge port 852 of the feed component 853 mounted on the bottom surface of the feed plate 854. The feed plate 854 can be directly lifted upwards and removed from the feed plate 850 for cleaning or maintenance (see Figures 16-18).

[0031] As shown in Figures 4, 7, and 8, in this embodiment, the cap-removing mechanism 500 includes a plurality of cap-removing cylinders 510 and a plurality of cap-removing claws 520. Each cap-removing cylinder 510 is fixedly connected in an array to the bottom surface of the feed plate 850, and each cap-removing cylinder 510 is offset from the discharge port 852. The cap-removing claw 520 is connected to the corresponding cap-removing cylinder 510 and is located precisely next to the feed member 853; therefore, the cap-removing claw 520 is also offset from the discharge port 852.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1-13, in this embodiment, the inoculation machine 110 performs the inoculation process as described below:

[0033] First, the tray 14 containing the bags 10 is conveyed towards the machine 100 via the bag conveying mechanism 200. Once the tray 14 reaches below the working area, the bag positioning mechanism 300 moves around each bag 10, and each positioning plate 320 is driven by the positioning cylinder 310 to move towards each other, thereby clamping the exterior of each bag 10. The bag opening positioning mechanism 400 moves down to the working area, allowing the ring cover 13 to pass through the hole 411 of the clamping plate seat 410 and enter the clamping opening 421 of the set of clamping plates 420. The clamping cylinder 430 drives the single set of clamping plates 420 to move towards each other, thereby clamping the ring cover 13 and completing the positioning action of the cover 12.

[0034] Secondly, the feed plate 850 of the strain transfer mechanism 860 descends, driven by the feed cylinder 840 to move horizontally, so that the cap-removing claws 520 of the cap-removing mechanism 500 are positioned around the corresponding cap 12. At this time, the clamping cylinder 430 drives the single set of clamping plates 420 to move in the opposite direction, thereby making room for cap removal. The cap-removing cylinder 510 drives the cap-removing claws 520 to clamp the cap 12, and as the feed plate 850 rises, the cap-removing claws 520 lift the cap 12. The feed plate 850 moves horizontally and then descends again, and the clamping cylinder 430 drives the single set of clamping plates 420 to move towards each other, clamping the ring cap 13 and positioning the bag opening 15 so that the outlets 852 of each feed component 853 face the corresponding bag opening 15.

[0035] Simultaneously, the transfer motor 800 moves the storage assembly 861 below the storage bin 610, and the baffle cylinder 630 moves the baffle 620 to open the discharge port 612 of the storage bin 610. After the stirring motor 650 starts, it drives the stirring shaft 640 to rotate, causing the inoculum to fall through the discharge port 612 into the single row of storage holes 811. When the first row of storage holes 811 is filled, the transfer motor 800 drives the storage plate 810 to shift relative to the storage bin 610 to fill the second row of storage holes 811, and even the third row of storage holes 811.

[0036] Furthermore, the storage assembly 861 moves above the feed plate 850, so that the storage hole 811 and the feed inlet 851 are opposite each other. After the pull plate cylinder 830 is activated, the pull plate 820 moves relative to the storage plate 810 and opens the storage hole 811. At this time, the inoculum falls through the storage hole 811 to the feed inlet 851 of the feed plate 850, and then falls through the large-diameter section of the feed component 853 to the discharge outlet 852.

[0037] To ensure that the inoculum enters the culture bag 10, the pressing cylinder 710 pushes the pressing plate 720 downward, causing each pressing shaft 730 to move in the same direction, thereby extending out of the discharge port 852 of the feed member 853. In this way, the inoculum passes through the bag opening 15 and enters the culture bag body 11, completing the step of the pressing shaft 730 pressing the inoculum into the culture medium.

[0038] Finally, the feed plate 850 moves upward, laterally, and then downward, with the cap-removing claw 520 covering the cap 12 onto the bag opening 15 to seal the material bag 10, completing a single inoculation operation. The clamping plate 420 releases the ring cap 13, allowing the bag opening positioning mechanism 400 to leave the working area. The positioning plate 320 releases the material bag 10, and the material bag positioning mechanism 300 leaves the working area, whereby the tray 14 is conveyed out of the machine 100 via the material bag conveying mechanism 200.

[0039] 10: Material bags 11: Bag body 12: Cover 13: Ring cover 14: Pallet 15: Bag opening 100: Machine 110: Inoculation machine 200: Bag Conveying Mechanism 300: Bag positioning mechanism 310: Positioning Cylinder 320: Positioning plate 330: Positioning component 340: concave part 400: Bag opening positioning mechanism 410: Clamping plate seat 411: Kong 420: Clamping plate 421: Clamping port 430: Clamping Cylinder 440: Clamping plate cylinder 500: Cap removal mechanism 510: Cap Removal Cylinder 520: Cap Pulling Claw 600: Microbial culture storage facility 610: Storage bin 612: Feed port 620: baffle 630: Baffle Cylinder 640: Stirring Shaft 650: Agitator motor 660: Inoculation facility 670, 740: Fasteners 700: Microbial inoculation mechanism 710: Material Pressing Cylinder 720: Pressure Plate 730: Pressure Shaft 800: Transfer Motor 810: Storage Plate 811: Material storage hole 820: Pull-out plate 821: Through hole 830: Plate-operated cylinder 840: Feed cylinder 850: Feed plate 851: Feed Inlet 852: Discharge port 853: Feeding parts 854: Feed sheet 860: Microbial strain transfer facility 861: Storage Components 862: Feeding assembly

Claims

1. An inoculation machine for automatically inoculating multiple bags (10) containing culture medium and equipped with caps (12) with solid microorganisms; The inoculation machine includes: a machine base (100); a bag conveying mechanism (200) disposed on the machine base (100) for conveying a tray (14) containing the bag (10); a bag positioning mechanism (300) disposed on the machine base (100) having multiple positioning components (330) for laterally clamping and fixing the bag (10) on the tray (14); a bag opening positioning mechanism (400) disposed on the machine base (100) and located above the bag positioning mechanism (300), having a vertically movable clamping seat (410) and multiple clamping plates (420) disposed on the clamping seat (410) for positioning the periphery of the bag opening (15) of the bag (10); and an inoculation mechanism (660) disposed on the machine base (100), the inoculation mechanism (660) further including: A microbial culture storage mechanism (600) has a storage bin (610) and at least one controlled-opening discharge port (612) for storing and discharging solid microbial cultures; a microbial culture transfer mechanism (860) is located between the microbial culture storage mechanism (600) and the material bag (10), and includes: a reciprocatingly movable storage component (861) and a feeding component (862), the storage component (861) having a plurality of storage holes (811) for receiving microbial cultures from the discharge port (612), and the feeding component (862) having a plurality of feeding elements (853) for guiding the microbial cultures to the bag opening (15) of the material bag (10). A microbial inoculation mechanism (700) has multiple pressing shafts (730) that can move up and down, each pressing shaft (730) corresponding to a feeding component (853) for pressing the microbial inoculation into the culture medium of the bag (10) by the feeding component (853); and a cap removal mechanism (500) disposed on the feeding assembly (862) for opening or closing the cap (12) of the bag (10).

2. The inoculation machine as described in claim 1, wherein, Each of the positioning components (330) of the bag positioning mechanism (300) includes: a positioning cylinder (310) and a positioning plate (320). The positioning plate (320) has a plurality of recesses (340) on its surface facing the bag (10). Driven by the positioning cylinder (310), each positioning plate (320) moves toward each other and clamps the bag (10).

3. The inoculation machine as described in claim 1, wherein, The clamping plate seat (410) of the bag mouth positioning mechanism (400) is provided with a plurality of holes (411) relative to each of the bags (10), and each clamping plate (420) is provided with at least one clamping opening (421), which can be driven by at least one clamping cylinder (430) and is used at the position of the hole (411) to clamp a ring cover (13) of the bag (10) located at the bag mouth (15).

4. The inoculation machine as described in claim 1, wherein, The storage bin (610) of the microbial storage device (600) is equipped with a stirring shaft (640) operated by a stirring motor (650), and a baffle (620) driven by a baffle cylinder (630) is provided at the discharge port (612) to control the volume of inoculated microbial culture and the discharge of microbial culture.

5. The inoculation machine as described in claim 1, wherein, The storage assembly (861) includes a storage plate (810) and a pull plate (820) mounted on the bottom surface of the storage plate (810). The pull plate (820) is driven by a pull plate cylinder (830) to move relative to the storage plate (810), thereby opening or closing the bottom end of the storage hole (811).

6. The inoculation machine as described in claim 1, wherein, The feeding component (853) of the feeding assembly (862) is a conical structure. The large diameter end of the conical structure is connected to a feeding port (851) to receive the inoculum, and the small diameter end is defined as a discharge port (852) to be aligned with the bag opening (15) of the material bag (10); wherein.

7. The inoculation machine as described in claim 6, wherein, The feeding assembly (862) further includes a feed plate (850) that is detachable from each of the feed elements (853).

8. The inoculation machine as described in claim 1, wherein, The cap removal mechanism (500) includes: a plurality of cap removal cylinders (510) and cap removal claws (520) disposed on the bottom surface of the feeding assembly (862), the cap removal claws (520) and the feeding component (853) being horizontally offset from each other.

9. The inoculation machine as described in claim 1, wherein, The microbial inoculation mechanism (700) includes a pressing cylinder (710) and a pressing plate (720). The pressing plate (720) is detachably connected to the pressing cylinder (710) and each pressing shaft (730) on both sides, so that the pressing cylinder (710) drives the pressing shaft (730) to pass through the feed member (853).

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