High-throughput Automatic Loading Cassette

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of automatic microscope loading, and in particular to a high-throughput automatic loading box, comprising a lower plate and two side plates, two horizontal micro-guide rails are arranged on the opposite surfaces of the two side plates, a horizontal slider connecting block sliding along the horizontal micro-guide rail is installed on the horizontal micro-guide rail, a vertical micro-guide rail is installed on the two horizontal slider connecting blocks on each side plate, a vertical slider connecting block sliding along the vertical micro-guide rail is installed on the vertical micro-guide rail, and a check card foldable upward is arranged on the vertical slider connecting block, and the check card is used to lift the slide box on the tray upward. The present invention drives the check device to the card slot of each single-row slide box layer through a motor, sends it to a fixed scanning position for the automatic robot to take and place the slides, and then sends the scanned slide box to the completed storage area for stacking and storage. It can achieve 70 slides per time, and realize long-term unattended full-automatic scanning.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of automatic slide loading for microscopes, and particularly to a high-throughput automatic slide loading cassette. Background Art

[0002] With the development of medical technology, pathology has become increasingly prominent. In pathology, microscopes are widely used, but most of the purchased microscopes are for ordinary observation. With the popularization of automation, the functions of motion control systems have become more and more prominent, and are widely used in various fields such as mechanical manufacturing, transportation, industrial production, and medical treatment. The automation of the microscope's stage and its overall automation reduce the time-consuming manual slide reading and achieve full-field automatic scanning. The number of slides loaded at one time by existing automatic slide loading devices is limited. For this reason, we propose a high-throughput automatic slide loading cassette. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Based on the technical problems existing in the background art, the present invention proposes a high-throughput automatic slide loading cassette, which has the characteristics of being able to load at least 70 slides at one time and achieving unattended full-automatic scanning for a long time, and solves the problem that the number of slides loaded at one time by existing automatic slide loading devices is limited.

[0004] The present invention provides the following technical solution: A high-throughput automatic slide loading cassette includes a lower plate and two side plates fixed on the lower plate. On the opposite surfaces of the two side plates, there are two horizontal micro rails, a total of four horizontal micro rails. On the horizontal micro rails, there are horizontal slider connectors sliding along the horizontal micro rails. On each of the two horizontal slider connectors on each side plate, there is a vertical micro rail, a total of two vertical micro rails. On the vertical micro rails, there is a vertical slider connector sliding along the vertical micro rail. On the vertical slider connector, there is a check card that can be folded upward, and the check card is used to lift the slide box on the tray upward.

[0005] On each side plate, there are synchronous wheels and a horizontal belt. The vertical micro rail is fixed to the horizontal belt through a belt fixing member. On each horizontal slider connector on each side plate, there are synchronous wheels and a vertical belt. The vertical slider connector is fixed to the vertical belt through a belt fixing member.

[0006] There are also two stepper motors. One translation stepper motor is arranged on the side plate and drives the synchronous wheels and the horizontal belt on the two side plates to run simultaneously through a rotating shaft. The horizontal belt drives the vertical micro rail to move horizontally through a belt fixing member, thereby driving the check card and the slide box to move horizontally.

[0007] Another lifting stepping motor is arranged on the horizontal slider connecting block, and drives the synchronous pulleys on the two side plates and the vertical belt to run simultaneously through a rotating shaft. The vertical belt drives the vertical slider connecting block to move up and down through a belt fixing member, thereby driving the check card and the slide box to move up and down.

[0008] Preferably, a lifting photoelectric switch is arranged at the top of the vertical micro guide rail, and a lifting photoelectric blocking piece for blocking and triggering the lifting photoelectric switch is arranged on the vertical slider connecting block.

[0009] Preferably, a translation photoelectric switch is arranged at one end of the horizontal micro guide rail, and a translation photoelectric blocking piece for blocking and triggering the translation photoelectric switch is arranged on one side of the horizontal slider connecting block.

[0010] Preferably, a rear plate and a front fixing plate are installed on the side plate. A positioning pin mounting plate for connecting the lower plate is installed on the rear plate, and a plunger positioning plate for connecting the lower plate is installed on the front fixing plate. The positioning pin mounting plate and the plunger positioning plate are used for positioning the slide box.

[0011] Preferably, a horizontal chute is opened at the position of the side plate corresponding to the lifting stepping motor, and the lifting stepping motor can slide along the horizontal chute.

[0012] Preferably, the translation stepping motor is installed on the side plate through a coupling and a motor fixing plate, and the lifting stepping motor is fixed on the horizontal slider connecting block through the motor fixing plate.

[0013] Preferably, a rocker pin is arranged inside the synchronous pulley, and bearings are arranged between the synchronous pulley and the side plate and the horizontal slider connecting block respectively.

[0014] Preferably, several layers of slide boxes are stacked on the tray, and several slides can be stored in each slide box.

[0015] Preferably, the lifting photoelectric switch is fixed on the vertical micro guide rail through a photoelectric mounting seat, and the translation photoelectric switch is fixed on the horizontal micro guide rail through a photoelectric mounting seat.

[0016] Preferably, a belt fixing member fitting is arranged on the belt fixing member, and the belt fixing member fitting adopts a serrated protrusion for increasing the friction between the belt fixing member and the belt.

[0017] The present invention provides a high-throughput automatic slide cassette, which customizes a single-row slide cassette that can store 10 slides, stacks 7 layers, and then places it on a customized tray, places the tray in a fixed area of the automatic slide cassette, and drives the non-return device to the card slot of each layer of the single-row slide cassette by a motor, and sends it to a fixed scanning position for the automatic robot to take and place the slides, and then sends the scanned slide cassette to the completed storage area for stacking and storage. It can achieve 70 slides per load, and realize long-term unattended full-automatic scanning. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of one of the side panels of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of another side panel of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 A front view of the present invention equipped with a slide box;

[0022] Figure 5 It is a top view of the rotating slide box of the present invention.

[0023] In the figure: 1. lower plate; 2. side plate; 3. horizontal micro guide rail; 4. horizontal slider connecting block; 5. vertical micro guide rail; 6. vertical slider connecting block; 7. non-return card; 8. tray; 9. slide box; 10. synchronous wheel; 11. horizontal belt; 12. belt fixing piece; 13. vertical belt; 14. translation stepper motor; 15. lifting stepper motor; 16. rotating shaft; 17. lifting photoelectric switch; 18. lifting photoelectric baffle; 19. translation photoelectric switch; 20. translation photoelectric baffle; 21. rear plate; 22. front fixing plate; 23. positioning pin mounting plate; 24. plunger positioning plate; 25. horizontal slide groove; 26. motor fixing plate; 27. rocker pin; 28. bearing; 29. photoelectric mounting seat; 30. belt fixing piece accessories. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] like Figure 1As shown in the figure, the present invention provides a technical solution: a high-throughput automatic wafer loading cassette, which includes a lower plate 1 and two side plates 2 fixed on the lower plate 1. On the opposite surfaces of the two side plates 2, there are two horizontal micro rails 3, a total of four horizontal micro rails 3. On the horizontal micro rails 3, there are horizontal slider connecting blocks 4 that slide along the horizontal micro rails 3. On the two horizontal slider connecting blocks 4 on each side plate 2, there is a vertical micro rail 5, a total of two vertical micro rails 5. On the vertical micro rails 5, there is a vertical slider connecting block 6 that slides along the vertical micro rail 5. On the vertical slider connecting block 6, there is a check card 7 that can be folded upward. The check card 7 is used to lift the slide box 9 on the tray 8 upward;

[0026] On each side plate 2, there are synchronous wheels 10 and a horizontal belt 11. The vertical micro rail 5 is fixed to the horizontal belt 11 through a belt fixing member 12. On the horizontal slider connecting block 4 on each side plate 2, there are synchronous wheels 10 and a vertical belt 13. The vertical slider connecting block 6 is fixed to the vertical belt 13 through a belt fixing member 12;

[0027] There are also two stepper motors. One of them, the translation stepper motor 14, is arranged on the side plate 2 and drives the synchronous wheels 10 and the horizontal belt 11 on the two side plates 2 to run simultaneously through a rotating shaft 16. The horizontal belt 11 drives the vertical micro rail 5 to move horizontally through a belt fixing member 12, thereby driving the check card 7 and the slide box 9 to move horizontally. The translation stepper motor 14 is installed on the side plate 2 through a coupling and a motor fixing plate 26.

[0028] The other lifting stepper motor 15 is arranged on the horizontal slider connecting block 4 and drives the synchronous wheels 10 and the vertical belt 13 of the horizontal slider connecting blocks 4 on the two side plates 2 to run simultaneously through a rotating shaft 16. The vertical belt 13 drives the vertical slider connecting block 6 to move up and down through a belt fixing member 12, thereby driving the check card 7 and the slide box 9 to move up and down. The lifting stepper motor 15 is fixed on the horizontal slider connecting block 4 through a motor fixing plate 26. In terms of the transmission method, a belt transmission method is selected, which saves space and can be applied to the E6E7 full-automatic DNA scanning and analysis system equipment.

[0029] As Figure 2 and 3 shown, at the top of the vertical micro rail 5, there is a lifting photoelectric switch 17. On the vertical slider connecting block 6, there is a lifting photoelectric baffle 18 used to block and trigger the lifting photoelectric switch 17.

[0030] At one end of the horizontal micro rail 3, there is a translation photoelectric switch 19. On one side of the horizontal slider connecting block 4, there is a translation photoelectric baffle 20 used to block and trigger the translation photoelectric switch 19. Both the lifting photoelectric switch 17 and the translation photoelectric switch 19 use Omron sx138.

[0031] A rear plate 21 and a front fixing plate 22 are installed on the side plate 2. A positioning pin mounting plate 23 for connecting the lower plate 1 is installed on the rear plate 21, and a plunger positioning plate 24 for connecting the lower plate 1 is installed on the front fixing plate 22. The positioning pin mounting plate 23 and the plunger positioning plate 24 are used for positioning the slide box 9. The positioning pin mounting plate 23, the plunger positioning plate 24 and the slide box positioning block. A positioning pin is installed at the positioning pin mounting plate 23 of the high-throughput upper cassette, so that the slide box 9 can be installed at a fixed position after the tray is pushed in; the plunger positioning plates 24 on both inner sides are used for installing the plunger spring, ensuring that the tray 8 of the slide box 9 can stay at a fixed position after being pushed in, and ensuring that the check component can stably and accurately pick up the single-row slide box.

[0032] The slide box positioning block is installed in the middle inside the outer shell sheet metal, at the variable-line flange bent inward. The slide box positioning block is chamfered to ensure that there is a certain error tolerance during the falling process of the single-row slide box, and it can fall to the fixed position even with a certain error, ensuring the accuracy of the slide picking position.

[0033] A horizontal chute 25 is provided on the side plate 2 at the position corresponding to the lifting stepping motor 15, and the lifting stepping motor 15 can slide along the horizontal chute 25.

[0034] A rocker arm pin 27 is arranged inside the synchronous pulley 10, and bearings 28 are arranged between the synchronous pulley 10 and the side plate 2 and the horizontal slider connecting block 4. By arranging the bearings 28, the synchronous pulley 10 rotates relative to the side plate 2 and the horizontal slider connecting block 4.

[0035] The lifting photoelectric switch 17 is fixed on the vertical micro guide rail 5 through the photoelectric mounting seat 29, and the translation photoelectric switch 19 is fixed on the horizontal micro guide rail 3 through the photoelectric mounting seat 29. The controllable range of the two-axis movement is mainly to determine the origin of the motor operation, and to drive and control the movement range of the motor according to the step length of the lead screw motor and the driver signal; the starting point of the lifting stepping motor 15 is determined by the lifting photoelectric switch 17, and the starting point of the translation stepping motor 14 is determined by the translation shareholder energy supply point switch.

[0036] A belt fixing part fitting 30 is arranged on the belt fixing part 12, and the belt fixing part 12 fitting adopts serrated protrusions for increasing the friction between the belt fixing part 12 and the belt.

[0037] Such as Figure 4 and 5As shown in the figure, there are several layers of slide boxes 9 stacked on the tray 8, and each slide box 9 can store a number of slides. A single-row slide box customized to store 10 slides is stacked in 7 layers and then placed on the customized tray 8. The tray 8 is placed in the fixed area of the automatic slide loading box. The motor drives the check valve device to the card slot of each single-row slide box layer and sends it to the fixed scanning position for the automatic robot to pick up and place slides. Then, a tray of scanned slide boxes 9 is sent to the completed storage area for stacking and storage.

[0038] In the prior art, the used slide box 9 is double-row single-layer and can hold 24 slides. The scanning time for each slide is about 3 minutes, and it takes 72 minutes to complete the full tray scan. To start the scan, it is necessary to set the positions for removing slides at the four corners of the double-row slide box, and it is also necessary to manually focus on the first slide and confirm the start of the scan.

[0039] In the present invention, a detachable high-throughput slide box is used. For customers who do not want to replace the original double-row single-layer slide box frequently and in large quantities, this technology can just meet their needs. This technology uses a single-row slide storage method. The single-row slide box can store 10 slides, and the slide box 9 can be stacked up to 7 layers, with a total of 70 slides that can be scanned. The total scanning time is 210 minutes. This technology uses a positioning method that can replace the next batch without repositioning and calibration after the full tray scan is completed. It can meet the needs of more types of customers according to the needs of different customers.

[0040] The above is only a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, according to the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, makes equivalent substitutions or changes, and should be covered by the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. High-throughput automatic loading cassette, comprising a lower plate (1) and two side plates (2) fixed on the lower plate (1), characterized in that: On the opposite faces of the two side plates (2), there are two horizontal micro-guides (3), a total of four horizontal micro-guides (3). A horizontal slider connecting block (4) that slides along the horizontal micro-guide (3) is installed on the horizontal micro-guide (3). On each of the two horizontal slider connecting blocks (4) on each side plate (2), a vertical micro-guide (5) is installed, a total of two vertical micro-guides (5). A vertical slider connecting block (6) that slides along the vertical micro-guide (5) is installed on the vertical micro-guide (5). A check card (7) that can be folded upward is provided on the vertical slider connecting block (6). The check card (7) is used to lift upward the slide box (9) on the tray (8). On each side plate (2), a synchronous pulley (10) and a horizontal belt (11) are provided. The vertical micro-guide (5) is fixed to the horizontal belt (11) through a belt fixing member (12). On each of the horizontal slider connecting blocks (4) on each side plate (2), a synchronous pulley (10) and a vertical belt (13) are provided. The vertical slider connecting block (6) is fixed to the vertical belt (13) through a belt fixing member (12). There are also two stepping motors. One translation stepping motor (14) is provided on the side plate (2) and drives the synchronous pulleys (10) and the horizontal belt (11) on the two side plates (2) to run simultaneously through a rotating shaft (16). The horizontal belt (11) drives the vertical micro-guide (5) to move horizontally through a belt fixing member (12), thereby driving the check card (7) and the slide box (9) to move horizontally. The other lifting stepping motor (15) is provided on the horizontal slider connecting block (4) and drives the synchronous pulleys (10) of the horizontal slider connecting blocks (4) on the two side plates (2) and the vertical belt (13) to run simultaneously through a rotating shaft (16). The vertical belt (13) drives the vertical slider connecting block (6) to move up and down through a belt fixing member (12), thereby driving the check card (7) and the slide box (9) to move up and down. An elevation photoelectric switch (17) is provided at the top of the vertical micro-guide (5). An elevation photoelectric blocking piece (18) for blocking and triggering the elevation photoelectric switch (17) is provided on the vertical slider connecting block (6). A translation photoelectric switch (19) is provided at one end of the horizontal micro-guide (3). A translation photoelectric blocking piece (20) for blocking and triggering the translation photoelectric switch (19) is provided on one side of the horizontal slider connecting block (4). A rear plate (21) and a front fixing plate (22) are installed on the side plate (2). A positioning pin mounting plate (23) for connecting to the lower plate (1) is installed on the rear plate (21). A plunger positioning plate (24) for connecting to the lower plate (1) is installed on the front fixing plate (22). The positioning pin mounting plate (23) and the plunger positioning plate (24) are used for the positioning of the slide box (9). A number of layers of slide boxes (9) are stacked on the tray (8). A number of slides can be stored in each slide box (9).

2. The large-throughput automatic wafer loading cassette according to claim 1, wherein: A horizontal sliding groove (25) is provided at a position corresponding to the lifting stepper motor (15) on the side plate (2), and the lifting stepper motor (15) can slide along the horizontal sliding groove (25).

3. The large-throughput automatic sheet loading cassette according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The translation stepper motor (14) is installed on the side plate (2) through a coupling and a motor fixing plate (26), and the lifting stepper motor (15) is fixed on the horizontal slider connecting block (4) through the motor fixing plate (26).

4. The large-throughput automatic wafer loading cassette according to claim 1, wherein: A rocker pin (27) is arranged inside the synchronous pulley (10), and bearings (28) are arranged between the synchronous pulley (10) and the side plate (2) and the horizontal slider connecting block (4).

5. The large-flux automatic wafer loading cassette according to claim 1, wherein: The lifting photoelectric switch (17) is fixed on the vertical micro guide rail (5) through a photoelectric mounting seat (29), and the translation photoelectric switch (19) is fixed on the horizontal micro guide rail (3) through the photoelectric mounting seat (29).

6. The large-throughput automatic sheet loading cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that: A belt fixing part fitting (30) is arranged on the belt fixing part (12), and the belt fixing part (12) fitting adopts a serrated protrusion for increasing the friction between the belt fixing part (12) and the belt.

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