A sample sealing and transfer device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a sample sealing and transfer device, which includes a housing. A window is provided on the housing. A lifting mechanism is arranged inside the housing. A sample support platform is connected to the moving end of the lifting mechanism. A sample accommodation groove is formed in the sample support platform. The sample support platform is lifted or lowered at the window by the drive of the lifting mechanism. A switchable hatch is also provided at the window, and a linkage is formed between the hatch and the lifting mechanism through a linkage component. When the hatch at the window is opened, under the linkage action of the linkage component, the lifting mechanism can automatically drive the sample support platform to rise from the window. When the hatch is closed, under the linkage action of the linkage component, the lifting mechanism can automatically drive the sample support platform to descend into the housing and push the sample support platform against the inner side of the hatch, so as to seal the sample accommodation groove. The sample sealing and transfer device of the present invention can realize sample preparation in an environmental sample preparation chamber while maintaining the environmental atmosphere and safely transfer the sample to be observed under a scanning electron microscope.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of sample transfer devices, and particularly to a sample sealing transfer device. Background Art

[0002] A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a microscopic morphology observation method between a transmission electron microscope and an optical microscope. It can directly use the material properties of the sample surface material for microscopic imaging and observe the fine structures of various uneven surfaces of the specimens. Generally, the sample is first prepared in an environmental sample preparation chamber, and then the prepared sample is transferred to the scanning electron microscope for observation. However, the sample transfer devices in the prior arts such as Chinese documents CN108821273A or CN113884698A cannot be well compatible and applicable to transfer the sample from the environmental sample preparation chamber to under the scanning electron microscope for microscopic observation while maintaining the environmental atmosphere. If manual transfer of the sample is used, it is easy to cause the sample to be contaminated by water, oxygen, processing liquid, etc. or the sample to be mechanically damaged due to careless transfer. As a result, there are many interference factors when performing micro-area analysis of the microscopic morphology, tissue structure, and composition of the sample under the scanning electron microscope, resulting in a series of problems such as inaccurate analysis results and it is difficult to meet the requirements of research work. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Aiming at the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a sample sealing transfer device. Through this sample sealing transfer device, it is possible to prepare the sample in the environmental sample preparation chamber and maintain the environmental atmosphere while safely transferring the sample to under the scanning electron microscope for observation.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention is realized through the following technical solutions:

[0005] A sample sealing transfer device includes a housing. A window is provided on the housing. A lifting mechanism is arranged inside the housing. A sample tray is connected to the moving end of the lifting mechanism. A sample accommodation groove is formed in the sample tray. The sample tray is driven by the lifting mechanism to rise or fall at the window. A closable hatch is also provided at the window. And a linkage is formed between the hatch and the lifting mechanism through a linkage component, so that when the hatch at the window is opened, under the linkage action of the linkage component, the lifting mechanism can automatically drive the sample tray to rise from the window. When the hatch is closed, under the linkage action of the linkage component, the lifting mechanism can automatically drive the sample tray to descend into the housing and push the sample tray against the inner side of the hatch, so as to seal the sample accommodation groove of the sample tray through the hatch.

[0006] Further, a sealing structure for improving the sealing performance of the cooperation between the hatch and the sample tray is provided on the inner side of the hatch or the sample tray.

[0007] Further, a sealing ring is provided at the upper end surface of the sample stage.

[0008] Further, the hatch door is configured to be automatically and / or manually controlled to open and close.

[0009] Further, a driving motor for controlling the automatic opening and closing of the hatch door is provided inside the housing. The driving motor is mechanically connected to the hatch door through a transmission structure formed by the meshing of a gear and a rack, and a push-pull handle for manually controlling the opening and closing of the hatch door is also connected to the hatch door.

[0010] Further, an electrical connector for wiring is provided on the housing.

[0011] Further, the linkage assembly includes a driving member and a guiding portion. The driving member is connected to the hatch door and moves synchronously and translationally with the opening and closing movement of the hatch door. The guiding portion is connected to the lifting mechanism and is correspondingly arranged with the driving member. One end of the driving member corresponding to the guiding portion forms a driving end. The driving end has a flat bottom surface and a first wedge surface and a second wedge surface respectively formed on both sides of the flat bottom surface. When the hatch door in the open state is closed and drives the driving member to translate, the lifting height of the lifting mechanism can be controlled through the abutting cooperation between the first wedge surface and the guiding portion, and the sample stage can be driven to gradually descend from the window to the inside of the housing. When the flat bottom surface of the driving end moving synchronously with the hatch door abuts and cooperates with the guiding portion, the lifting height of the lifting mechanism remains unchanged. When the second wedge surface of the driving end moving synchronously with the hatch door abuts and cooperates with the guiding portion, the lifting height of the lifting mechanism can be controlled and the sample stage can be driven to gradually rise until the top of the sample stage is tightly abutted and cooperated with the inner side of the hatch door when the hatch door is closed through the lifting mechanism.

[0012] Further, a limiting portion for limiting the maximum rising height of the lifting mechanism is provided at the end of the driving end.

[0013] Further, the lifting mechanism includes a base connected inside the housing and a lifting platform movably arranged in the base in a liftable manner. The sample stage is connected to the lifting platform through a connecting rod, and an elastic member is provided between the lifting platform and the housing. The elastic force of the elastic member causes the lifting platform to have a tendency to automatically push out the sample stage from the window through the connecting rod. The guiding portion is connected to the lifting platform and cooperates with the driving member to form a linkage assembly for linking the hatch door and the lifting mechanism.

[0014] Further, rollers are provided on the guiding portion.

[0015] The above technical solutions have the following advantages or beneficial effects:

[0016] In the sample sealing and transferring device of the present invention, since a lifting mechanism is provided inside the housing, and the sample platform is driven by the lifting mechanism to rise or fall at the window of the housing. At the same time, a hatch is provided at the window, and the hatch and the lifting mechanism are linked by a linkage component. Thus, when the hatch is opened in place, the lifting mechanism is linked by the linkage component to push the sample platform out from the window for easy observation and sample replacement operations. When the hatch is closed in place, the lifting mechanism is linked by the linkage component to lower the sample platform from the window into the housing, and the sample platform is also pushed towards the inner side of the hatch by the lifting mechanism, thereby using the hatch to close the sample accommodation groove of the sample platform, and then forming a sealed space inside to maintain the vacuum environment atmosphere in the environmental sample preparation chamber. In this way, when the sample is transferred from the environmental sample preparation chamber to the scanning electron microscope using this sample sealing and transferring device, the sample can always be kept in a vacuum state environment atmosphere, effectively avoiding the contamination of the sample by water, oxygen, processing liquid, etc. during the process of transferring the sample, and ensuring that the sample to be tested is not affected by external environmental factors and the accuracy of the test results is not affected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the sample sealing and transferring device of the embodiment of the present invention in the closed state of the hatch.

[0018] Figure 2 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the sample sealing and transferring device of the embodiment of the present invention in the open state of the hatch.

[0019] Figure 3 is a structural sectional view of the sample sealing and transferring device of the embodiment of the present invention in the closed state of the hatch.

[0020] Figure 4 is a structural sectional view of the sample sealing and transferring device of the embodiment of the present invention in the open state of the hatch.

[0021] Figure 5 is an exploded view of the internal structure of the sample sealing and transferring device of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the internal structure of the sample sealing and transferring device of the embodiment of the present invention from another angle.

[0023] Figure 7 is an exploded view of the internal structure of the sample sealing and transferring device of the embodiment of the present invention from another angle.

[0024] Reference Numeral Description:

[0025] 1. Housing, 2. Lifting mechanism, 3. Sample platform, 4. Hatch, 5. Linkage component, 6. Driving motor, 7. Push-pull handle, 8. Electrical connector, 11. Window, 21. Base, 22. Lifting table, 23. Elastic member, 31. Sample accommodation groove, 32. Sealing ring, 51. Driving member, 52. Guide portion, 511. Driving end, 512. Limiting portion, 521. Roller, 5111. Flat bottom surface, 5112. First wedge surface, 5113. Second wedge surface. Detailed implementation manner

[0026] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments.

[0027] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

[0028] Please refer to the attached Figure 1 to the attached Figure 7, an embodiment of the present invention provides a sample sealing and transfer device, which includes a housing 1. A window 11 is opened on the housing 1. A lifting mechanism 2 is arranged inside the housing 1. A sample tray 3 is connected to the moving end of the lifting mechanism 2. A sample accommodating groove 31 is formed in the sample tray 3. The sample tray 3 is driven by the lifting mechanism 2 to rise or fall at the window 11. A switchable hatch 4 is also arranged at the window 11. And a linkage assembly 5 is formed between the hatch 4 and the lifting mechanism 2 for linkage, so that when the hatch 4 at the window 11 is opened, under the linkage action of the linkage assembly 5, the lifting mechanism 2 can automatically drive the sample tray 3 to rise from the window 11. When the hatch 4 is closed, under the linkage action of the linkage assembly 5, the lifting mechanism 2 can automatically drive the sample tray 3 to descend into the housing 1 and push the sample tray 3 against the inner side of the hatch 4, so as to seal the sample accommodating groove 31 of the sample tray 3 through the hatch 4. It can be understood that in this embodiment, since a lifting mechanism 2 is arranged inside the housing 1, and the sample tray 3 is driven by the lifting mechanism 2 to rise or fall at the window 11 of the housing 1. At the same time, a hatch 4 is also arranged at the window 11, and a linkage is realized between the hatch 4 and the lifting mechanism 2 by the linkage assembly 5. Thus, when the hatch 4 is opened in place, the lifting mechanism 2 is driven by the linkage assembly 5 to push the sample tray 3 out from the window 11 for easy observation and sample replacement operations. When the hatch 4 is closed in place, the lifting mechanism 2 is driven by the linkage assembly 5 to lower the sample tray 3 from the window 11 into the housing 1, and the lifting mechanism 2 also pushes the sample tray 3 against the inner side of the hatch 4, thereby using the hatch 4 to seal the sample accommodating groove 31 of the sample tray 3, and then forming a sealed space inside it, so as to maintain the vacuum environment atmosphere in the environmental sample preparation chamber. In this way, when transferring the sample from the environmental sample preparation chamber to the scanning electron microscope using this sample sealing and transfer device, the sample can always be kept in a vacuum state environment atmosphere, effectively avoiding the sample being easily contaminated by water, oxygen, processing liquid, etc. during the process of transferring the sample, ensuring that the sample to be tested is not affected by external environmental factors and affecting the accuracy of the detection results. And by configuring the hatch 4 to be linked with the lifting mechanism 2, when the hatch 4 is opened, the sample tray 3 automatically rises from the window 11 of the housing 1, making the sample as a whole higher than the horizontal plane of the housing 1 for easy observation and sample replacement. When the hatch 4 is closed, the sample tray 3 drives the sample to descend into the housing 1, and the hatch is used to seal the sample accommodating groove 31 of the sample tray 3, which not only forms a sealed vacuum transfer environment, but also can hide the sample in the housing 1 to avoid being scratched by foreign objects from the outside.

[0029] Please refer to the attached Figure 3 to the attached Figure 5, in a preferred embodiment, a sealing structure for improving the mating and sealing performance between the hatch 4 and the sample stage 3 is provided on the inner side of the hatch 4 or on the sample stage 3. In this embodiment, preferably, a sealing ring 32 is provided at the upper end surface of the sample stage 3. However, those skilled in the art should understand that in other embodiments, a sealing structure such as a gasket can also be provided on the inner side of the hatch 4, and the sample stage 3 can be pushed against the inner side of the hatch provided with the sealing structure such as a gasket by the lifting mechanism 2, and the sample accommodating groove 31 can also be well sealed, not limited to the specific implementation disclosed in this embodiment.

[0030] Please refer to the attached Figure 1 to the attached Figure 4 , in a preferred embodiment, the hatch 4 is configured to be automatically and / or manually controlled to open and close. In this embodiment, preferably, a driving motor 6 for controlling the automatic opening and closing of the hatch is provided in the housing 1. The driving motor 6 is mechanically connected to the hatch 4 through a transmission structure formed by the meshing of a gear and a rack, and a push-pull handle 7 for manually controlling the opening and closing of the hatch 4 is also connected to the hatch 4. However, those skilled in the art should understand that in other embodiments, the hatch 4 can also be driven by other conventional driving structures to achieve automatic opening and closing, not limited to the driving motor disclosed in this embodiment, as long as it can automatically drive the hatch 4 to open or close at the window 11. In addition, since in this embodiment, on the basis that the hatch 4 can be automatically opened and closed, a push-pull handle 7 for manually controlling the opening and closing of the hatch 4 is also provided on the hatch 4, in some special scenarios (such as inconvenient power supply), the push-pull handle 7 can be used to manually open and close the hatch 4. In addition, in this embodiment, two microswitches respectively corresponding to the opening and closing positions of the hatch 4 are also provided in the housing 1, and two trigger protrusions respectively corresponding to the two microswitches are provided on the inner side of the hatch 4, so that when the hatch 4 moves to the opening position or the closing position, the driving motor 6 can be automatically powered off by using the microswitches.

[0031] Please refer to the attached Figure 1 , the attached Figure 2 , in a preferred embodiment, an electrical connector 8 for wiring is provided on the housing 1, and the driving motor 6 inside the housing 1 can be conveniently wired through the electrical connector 8.

[0032] Please refer to the attached Figure 1 to the attached Figure 7, in a preferred embodiment, the linkage assembly 5 includes a driving member 51 and a guiding portion 52. The driving member 51 is connected to the hatch 4 and moves translationally synchronously with the opening and closing movement of the hatch 4. The guiding portion 52 is connected to the lifting mechanism 2 and is arranged corresponding to the driving member 51. One end of the driving member 51 corresponding to the guiding portion 52 forms a driving end 511. The driving end 511 has a flat bottom surface 5111 and a first wedge surface 5112 and a second wedge surface 5113 formed on both sides of the flat bottom surface 5111 respectively. When the hatch 4 in the open state is closed and drives the driving member 51 to move translationally, through the abutting cooperation between the first wedge surface 5112 and the guiding portion 52, the lifting height of the lifting mechanism 2 can be controlled and the sample carrier 3 can be driven to gradually descend from the window 11 into the housing 1. When the flat bottom surface 5111 of the driving end 511 moving translationally with the hatch 4 abuts and cooperates with the guiding portion 52, the lifting height of the lifting mechanism 2 remains unchanged. And when the second wedge surface 5113 of the driving end 511 moving translationally with the hatch 4 abuts and cooperates with the guiding portion 52, the lifting height of the lifting mechanism 2 can be controlled and the sample carrier 3 can be driven to gradually rise until when the hatch 4 is closed, the top of the sample carrier 3 is tightly abutted and cooperated with the inner side of the hatch 4 through the lifting mechanism 2. It can be understood that in this embodiment, the linkage assembly 5 includes the driving member 51 moving translationally synchronously with the hatch 4 and the guiding portion 52 moving up and down synchronously with the lifting mechanism 2. Through the abutting cooperation between the first wedge surface 5112, the flat bottom surface 5111 and the second wedge surface 5113 of the driving end 511 and the guiding portion 52 respectively, the translational movement of the hatch 4 can be cleverly linked with the lifting movement of the lifting mechanism 2. Furthermore, when the hatch is opened in place, the sample carrier 3 automatically rises from the window 11 for easy observation and sample replacement. When the hatch 4 is closed in place, the sample carrier 3 automatically descends into the housing 1, and the sample carrier 3 is also pushed against the inner side of the hatch 4 under the action of the lifting mechanism 2 to close the sample accommodating groove 31. Its linkage structure is simple and practical. And when the flat bottom surface 5111 abuts and cooperates with the guiding portion 52, the lifting height of the lifting mechanism 2 remains unchanged, and the top end surface of the sample carrier 3 is far away from the hatch 4. Therefore, the translation of the hatch 4 will not cause frictional interference with the sample carrier 3, which is beneficial to improving the smoothness of the opening and closing of the hatch 4.

[0033] Please refer to the attached Figure 3 , in a preferred embodiment, a limiting portion 512 for limiting the maximum rising height of the lifting mechanism 2 is provided at the end of the driving end 511. Through the limiting cooperation between the limiting portion 512 and the guiding portion 52, the maximum rising height of the sample carrier 3 at the window 11 can be limited.

[0034] Please refer to the attached Figure 3 to the attached Figure 5, in a preferred embodiment, the lifting mechanism 2 includes a base 21 connected inside the housing 1 and a lifting platform 22 movably arranged in the base 21 in a liftable manner. The sample support platform 3 is connected to the lifting platform 22 through a connecting rod, and an elastic member 23 is arranged between the lifting platform 22 and the housing 1. The elastic force of the elastic member 23 causes the lifting platform 22 to have a tendency to automatically push out the sample support platform 3 from the window 11 through the connecting rod. The guiding portion 52 is connected to the lifting platform 22 and cooperates with the driving member 51 to form a linkage assembly 5 of the linkage hatch 4 and the lifting mechanism 2.

[0035] Please refer to the attached Figure 5 , in a preferred embodiment, rollers 521 are arranged on the guiding portion 52. By arranging the rollers 521 on the guiding portion 52, it is beneficial to improve the smoothness of the moving contact cooperation between the driving end 51 and the guiding portion 52, and further improve the smoothness of the opening and closing of the hatch 4.

[0036] As described above, the embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements for some of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not cause the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sample sealing and transfer device, characterized in that: It includes a housing (1) with a window (11) formed thereon. An elevating mechanism (2) is arranged inside the housing (1). A sample carrier (3) is connected to the moving end of the elevating mechanism (2). A sample accommodating groove (31) is formed in the sample carrier (3). The sample carrier (3) is driven by the elevating mechanism (2) to rise or fall at the window (11). A closable hatch (4) is also arranged at the window (11). A linkage assembly (5) is formed between the hatch (4) and the elevating mechanism (2) to make the elevating mechanism (2) automatically drive the sample carrier (3) to rise from the window (11) under the linkage action of the linkage assembly (5) when the hatch (4) at the window (11) is opened. When the hatch (4) is closed, under the linkage action of the linkage assembly (5), the elevating mechanism (2) can automatically drive the sample carrier (3) to descend into the housing (1) and push the sample carrier (3) against the inner side of the hatch (4) to seal the sample accommodating groove (31) of the sample carrier (3) through the hatch (4). The linkage assembly (5) includes a driving member (51) and a guiding portion (52). The driving member (51) is connected to the hatch (4) and translates synchronously with the opening and closing movement of the hatch (4). The guiding portion (52) is connected to the elevating mechanism (2) and is arranged corresponding to the driving member (51). A driving end (511) is formed at the end of the driving member (51) corresponding to the guiding portion (52). The driving end (511) has a flat bottom surface (5111) and a first wedge surface (5112) and a second wedge surface (5113) respectively formed on both sides of the flat bottom surface (5111). When the hatch (4) in the open state is closed and drives the driving member (51) to translate, the lifting height of the elevating mechanism (2) can be controlled through the abutting fit between the first wedge surface (5112) and the guiding portion (52), and the sample carrier (3) can be driven to gradually descend from the window (11) into the housing (1). When the flat bottom surface (5111) of the driving end (511) that translates synchronously with the hatch (4) abuts and cooperates with the guiding portion (52), the lifting height of the elevating mechanism (2) remains unchanged. When the second wedge surface (5113) of the driving end (511) that translates synchronously with the hatch (4) abuts and cooperates with the guiding portion (52), the lifting height of the elevating mechanism (2) can be controlled and the sample carrier (3) can be driven to gradually rise until the top of the sample carrier (3) is closely abutted and cooperated with the inner side of the hatch (4) when the hatch (4) is closed through the elevating mechanism (2).

2. The sample sealing and transferring device according to claim 1, wherein: A sealing structure for improving the sealing performance of the cooperation between the hatch (4) and the sample carrier (3) is arranged on the inner side of the hatch (4) or the sample carrier (3).

3. The sample sealing and transferring device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A sealing ring (32) is arranged at the upper end surface of the sample carrier (3).

4. The sample sealing and transfer device according to claim 1, wherein: The hatch (4) is configured to be automatically and / or manually controlled for opening and closing actions.

5. The sample sealing and transfer device according to claim 4, characterized in that: A drive motor (6) for controlling the automatic opening and closing of the hatch door is arranged inside the housing (1). The drive motor (6) is mechanically connected to the hatch door (4) through a transmission structure formed by the meshing of a gear and a rack, and a push-pull handle (7) for manually controlling the opening and closing of the hatch door (4) is also connected to the hatch door (4).

6. The sample sealing and transfer device according to claim 4, characterized in that: An electrical connector (8) for wiring is arranged on the housing (1).

7. The sample sealing and transferring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A limiting portion (512) for limiting the maximum rising height of the lifting mechanism (2) is arranged at the end of the driving end (511).

8. The sample sealing and transfer device according to claim 1, wherein: The lifting mechanism (2) includes a base (21) connected inside the housing (1) and a lifting table (22) movably arranged in the base (21) in a liftable manner. The sample support table (3) is connected to the lifting table (22) through a connecting rod, and an elastic member (23) is arranged between the lifting table (22) and the housing (1). The elastic force of the elastic member (23) causes the lifting table (22) to have a tendency to automatically push out the sample support table (3) from the window (11) through the connecting rod. A guiding portion (52) is connected to the lifting table (22) and cooperates with the driving member (51) to form a linkage assembly (5) for linking the hatch door (4) and the lifting mechanism (2).

9. The sample sealing and transfer device according to claim 1, wherein: Rollers (521) are arranged on the guiding portion (52).

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