A sample transfer device

Abstract

The application discloses a sample transfer device, which comprises a transfer cavity, a transfer rod, a first sealing valve and a second sealing valve; the first sealing valve is arranged at one end of the transfer cavity, the other end of the transfer cavity is used for fixed communication with a first cavity, the second sealing valve is arranged on a second cavity, the first sealing valve is detachably connected with the second sealing valve, the transfer rod is arranged in the first cavity, the front end of the transfer rod can carry a sample, and the sample is sequentially arranged in the first cavity, the transfer cavity, the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve, and then is arranged in the second cavity. The sample transfer device has the advantages of simple structure, easy operation, high transfer efficiency and the like, is suitable for a scene of frequent sample transfer, and can effectively reduce the risk of air exposure of the sample in the transfer process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of sealed transport technology, and specifically relates to a sample transfer device. Background Technology

[0002] When air-sensitive samples are prepared and then subjected to characterization analysis, the samples need to be transferred from the preparation equipment to the characterization equipment. Since it is required that the samples not come into contact with air, to avoid damage to the samples by gaseous components such as oxygen in the air, which could affect the conclusions of the test analysis, the entire transfer process needs to be carried out in an inert gas environment or a vacuum environment. For example, if the sample preparation is completed in a glove box in a nitrogen environment and the sample observation and analysis is completed in the vacuum chamber of an electron microscope, the sample needs to be transferred from the glove box to the vacuum chamber of the electron microscope.

[0003] Currently, the transport of air-sensitive samples mainly utilizes a transport box method. Specifically, sample preparation is completed inside a glove box, then the sample is placed in an airtight transport box, which is then sealed. The transport box is then placed inside the electron microscope's vacuum chamber using standard procedures. After the vacuum chamber is closed, nitrogen gas is introduced, and finally, the transport box is opened via electronic or mechanical control, thus transferring the sample between the glove box and the electron microscope's vacuum chamber. However, the transport box method suffers from operational complexity and low transport efficiency, making it unsuitable for scenarios requiring frequent sample transfers. Furthermore, it carries the risk of air exposure during sample transport. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention discloses a sample transfer device to overcome or at least partially solve these problems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] This invention provides a sample transfer device, including a transfer chamber, a transfer rod, a first sealing valve, and a second sealing valve;

[0007] The first sealing valve is disposed at one end of the transfer chamber, and the other end of the transfer chamber is used to be fixedly connected to the first cavity. The second sealing valve is disposed on the second cavity. The first sealing valve and the second sealing valve are detachably connected. The transfer rod is disposed in the first cavity. The front end of the transfer rod can carry the sample and pass through the transfer chamber, the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve in sequence from the first cavity into the second cavity.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes a support rail, on which a support frame is fixed, the support frame being used to support the transfer rod, so that the transfer rod can move horizontally.

[0009] Furthermore, the support rail is provided with a plurality of positioning holes along its length, and the support frame is provided with strip-shaped holes that cooperate with the positioning holes.

[0010] Furthermore, the upper end of the support frame has a concave arc-shaped surface, which is used to support the transfer rod.

[0011] Furthermore, the end of the support frame is provided with a fixing hole, and both ends of the support frame are respectively fixed to the inner sidewall of the first cavity through the fixing hole.

[0012] Furthermore, a sample holder is provided at the front end of the transfer rod, and the sample holder is used to support the sample;

[0013] The first sealing valve and the second sealing valve are connected by a quick-connect flange.

[0014] Furthermore, the front end of the transfer rod has an air outlet, the rear end of the transfer rod has an air inlet, and the air outlet and the air inlet are connected by a connecting channel.

[0015] Furthermore, the transfer chamber is equipped with a pressure detection unit, which is used to detect the pressure inside the transfer chamber.

[0016] Furthermore, it also includes a control unit;

[0017] The control unit is electrically connected to the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve respectively, and is able to control the state of the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve.

[0018] Furthermore, it also includes a display unit;

[0019] The display unit is used to display the status of the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve.

[0020] The advantages and beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0021] In the sample transfer device of the present invention, by setting a transfer rod and a transfer chamber, with the two ends of the transfer chamber respectively connected to a first sealing valve and a first cavity, and by setting a second sealing valve on the second cavity, and the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve being detachably connected, the first cavity can be connected to the second cavity sequentially through the transfer chamber, the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve. This allows the front end of the transfer rod to carry the sample between the first cavity and the second cavity, achieving efficient and frequent sample transfer between the first cavity and the second cavity. In addition, the detachable connection of the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve allows the first cavity and the second cavity to be connected and decoupled as needed, making it more convenient to use. This sample transfer device has the advantages of simple structure, easy operation and high transfer efficiency, and is suitable for scenarios with frequent sample transfer, effectively reducing the risk of sample exposure to air during transfer. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the sample transfer device along the axial direction of the transfer rod in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram showing the position of the transfer rod within the first cavity in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram showing the position of the support rail and the support frame in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the support rail in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a perspective structural diagram of the support frame in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the transfer rod in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] In the diagram: 1. Transfer chamber; 2. Transfer rod; 3. First sealing valve; 4. Second sealing valve; 5. Second chamber; 6. First chamber; 7. Fixing component; 8. Flange; 9. Support rail; 10. Support frame; 11. Fixing hole; 12. Positioning hole; 13. Strip hole; 14. Arc-shaped surface; 15. Sample holder; 16. Mounting hole; 17. Air outlet; 18. Air inlet; 19. Connecting channel; 20. Air pressure detection unit; 21. Handle. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with specific embodiments and corresponding drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0031] The technical solutions provided by the various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] One embodiment of the present invention discloses a sample transfer device, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the sample transfer device includes a transfer chamber 1, a transfer rod 2, a first sealing valve 3, and a second sealing valve 4. The transfer chamber is a hollow cavity structure, and the transfer rod is capable of carrying the sample.

[0033] Specifically, the first sealing valve 3 is located at one end of the transfer chamber 1 (i.e., Figure 1 At the right end of the transfer chamber, a second sealing valve 4 is installed on the side wall of the second chamber 5. The second sealing valve 4 can be sealed and fixed to the second chamber 5 through a flange and a fluororubber ring. The first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4 are detachably connected, that is, the transfer chamber 1 and the second chamber 5 are connected when the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4 are connected and both are open, and are separated when the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4 are both closed and disassembled. Furthermore, the other end of the transfer chamber 1 (i.e., Figure 1 The left end of the transfer cavity is used to be fixedly connected to the first cavity 6, so that the transfer cavity 1 becomes the sample transfer channel between the second cavity 5 and the first cavity 6. The other end of the transfer cavity 1 can be fixedly connected to the first cavity 6 through the fixing member 7 and the flange 8. The fixing member 7 is fixed to the inner side wall of the first cavity 6, and the flange 8 is fixed to the outer side wall of the first cavity 6. The other end of the transfer cavity 1 passes through the flange 8 and the fixing member 7 in sequence and is connected to the first cavity 6.

[0034] Furthermore, the transfer rod 2 is disposed within the first cavity 6. When the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4 are connected and open, the front end of the transfer rod 2 can carry the sample, passing through the first cavity 6 into the transfer chamber 1, and then sequentially passing through the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4 into the second cavity 5. This enables direct transfer of the sample between the second cavity 5 and the first cavity 6, allowing for frequent and multiple transfers, making the transfer operation simpler, more convenient, and more efficient. The first and second sealing valves can be manual valves, allowing for purely manual operation, resulting in a simpler structure and easier implementation.

[0035] Furthermore, the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4 are detachably connected via a quick-connect flange, facilitating operation. When it is necessary to transfer the sample between the first cavity 6 and the second cavity 5, the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4 are connected. After the sample transfer is completed, the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4 can be decoupled, allowing the first cavity 6 and the second cavity 5 to move independently, making it more convenient to use.

[0036] The working process of the sample transfer device in this embodiment is as follows:

[0037] Taking the first cavity as a glove box and the second cavity as an electron microscope vacuum chamber as an example; wherein, the second sealing valve is preferably a vacuum valve.

[0038] When a sample needs to be transferred from the glove box to the electron microscope vacuum chamber, first connect and open the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4 to connect the glove box and the electron microscope vacuum chamber through the transfer chamber 1. At this time, both the glove box and the electron microscope vacuum chamber are filled with nitrogen. Then, place the sample in the glove box at the front end of the transfer rod 2, operate the transfer rod 2 so that the front end of the transfer rod 2 carries the sample and enters the electron microscope vacuum chamber through the transfer chamber 1, the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4 in sequence, and places the sample in the electron microscope vacuum chamber. Then, move the transfer rod 2 back into the glove box, close and disassemble the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4, so that the glove box and the electron microscope vacuum chamber can move independently. In this way, the glove box and the electron microscope vacuum chamber are decoupled without damaging the environment of the glove box and the electron microscope vacuum chamber, making the operation simpler. Finally, evacuate the electron microscope vacuum chamber and observe the sample. When the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve are disassembled, blind plates can be installed at the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve respectively to protect the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve.

[0039] When a sample needs to be transferred from the electron microscope vacuum chamber to the glove box, nitrogen gas is first introduced into the electron microscope vacuum chamber, and the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4 are connected and opened to connect the glove box and the electron microscope vacuum chamber through the transfer chamber 1. Then, the front end of the transfer rod 2 enters the electron microscope vacuum chamber through the transfer chamber 1, the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4, and the sample in the electron microscope vacuum chamber is transferred back to the glove box through the transfer rod 2. Finally, the first sealing valve 3 and the second sealing valve 4 are closed and disassembled.

[0040] In this sample transfer device, a transfer rod and a transfer chamber are provided, with the two ends of the transfer chamber connected to a first sealing valve and a first cavity, respectively. A second sealing valve is provided on the second cavity, and the first and second sealing valves are detachably connected. This allows the first cavity to communicate with the second cavity sequentially through the transfer chamber, the first sealing valve, and the second sealing valve. Consequently, the front end of the transfer rod can carry the sample between the first and second cavities, achieving efficient and frequent sample transfer between them. Furthermore, the detachable connection of the first and second sealing valves allows the first and second cavities to be connected and decoupled as needed, making it more convenient to use. This sample transfer device has the advantages of simple structure, ease of operation, and high transfer efficiency. It is suitable for scenarios requiring frequent sample transfer and can effectively reduce the risk of sample exposure to air during transfer.

[0041] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the first cavity 6 is equipped with a support rail 9, on which a support frame 10 is fixed. The support frame 10 supports the transfer rod 2, ensuring that the transfer rod 2 moves horizontally. This not only prevents the sample from falling due to vibration during the movement of the transfer rod 2, ensuring the stability of the transfer rod 2 during movement, but also avoids the sample surface from contacting the inner wall of the transfer cavity 1. The length direction of the support frame is consistent with the axial movement direction of the transfer rod, and the number of support components can be set according to the length of the transfer rod.

[0042] In addition, such as Figure 4 As shown, the end of the support rail 9 is provided with a fixing hole 11, so that both ends of the support rail 9 can be fixed to the inner side wall of the first cavity 6 through the fixing hole 11 respectively. That is, both ends of the support rail 9 can be fixedly connected to two opposite side walls of the first cavity 6 respectively, so that the support rail 9 spans the entire first cavity 6, thereby facilitating the operation of the transfer rod 2; and the support rail 9 is provided with multiple positioning holes 12 along its length, such as Figure 5 As shown, the two legs at the lower end of the support frame 10 are respectively provided with strip holes 13 that mate with the positioning holes 12. The positioning holes 12 and strip holes 13 can be fixed together by screws or bolts. Through the cooperation of the positioning holes 12 and strip holes 13, not only can the specific position of the support frame 10 on the support rail 9 be adjusted, that is, the specific position along the length of the support rail 9, but also the height of the support frame 10 relative to the support rail 9 can be adjusted so that the supporting parts of each support frame 10 are at the same horizontal height as the transfer cavity 1, ensuring that the transfer rod 2 can move horizontally. The support rail 9 can be assembled from multiple structural sections, and adjacent sections of the support rail 9 can be fixedly connected through the positioning holes 12. In this way, the length of the support rail 9 can be adjusted by fixing it through the positioning holes 12 at different positions, so that it can be adapted to glove boxes of different sizes.

[0043] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, the upper end of the support frame 10 has a concave arc-shaped surface 14, which supports the transfer rod 2, allowing the transfer rod 2 to be stably supported on the support frame 10. Of course, the upper end of the support frame can also be V-shaped to facilitate stable support of the transfer rod.

[0044] In addition, such as Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, a sample holder 15 is provided at the front end of the transfer rod 2, which is used to hold the sample. The sample holder 15 can be fixed to the front end of the transfer rod 2 through the mounting hole 16 at the front end of the transfer rod 2. A handle 21 is provided at the rear end of the transfer rod 2 for easy handling by the operator. Furthermore, an air outlet 17 is provided at the front end of the transfer rod 2, and an air inlet 18 is provided at the rear end. The air outlet 17 and the air inlet 18 are connected by a connecting channel 19. This allows nitrogen (or other inert gas) to be supplied to the front end of the transfer rod 2 through the air inlet 18, the connecting channel 19, and the air outlet 17, creating a positive pressure environment for the sample holder 15 and ensuring that the sample on the sample holder 15 does not come into contact with air. The air inlet can be connected to a nitrogen cylinder or a nitrogen bladder, and a valve can also be provided at the air inlet to control the supply of nitrogen.

[0045] In this embodiment, as Figure 1 As shown, the transfer chamber 1 is equipped with a pressure detection unit 20. The pressure detection unit 20 is used to detect the pressure inside the transfer chamber 1 to ensure that the transfer chamber 1 is under positive pressure and to prevent air from entering the transfer chamber 1 and damaging the sample. The pressure detection unit can be a pressure gauge.

[0046] Furthermore, the sample transfer device also includes a display unit, which can be an indicator light or a display screen.

[0047] The display unit is used to display the status of the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve, so that the operator can intuitively understand the status of the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve, and avoid the situation where the sample collidees with the sealing valve when the sealing valve is closed due to manual sample feeding.

[0048] In addition, the sample transfer device also includes a control unit.

[0049] The control unit is electrically connected to both the first and second sealing valves, and can control their states. The control unit can also communicate with the electron microscope control system, supporting automated processes such as automatic vacuuming of the electron microscope vacuum chamber after sample delivery.

[0050] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention. Under the teachings of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make other improvements or modifications based on the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art should understand that the above specific description is only to better explain the purpose of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A sample transfer device, characterized in that, Includes a transfer chamber, a transfer rod, a first sealing valve, and a second sealing valve; The first sealing valve is disposed at one end of the transfer chamber, and the other end of the transfer chamber is used to be fixedly connected to the first cavity. The second sealing valve is disposed on the second cavity. The first sealing valve and the second sealing valve are detachably connected. The transfer rod is disposed in the first cavity. The front end of the transfer rod can carry the sample and pass through the transfer chamber, the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve in sequence from the first cavity into the second cavity. The transfer chamber and the second chamber are connected when the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve are connected and both are open, and are separated when both the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve are closed and disassembled. The sample transfer device also includes a support rail, on which a support frame is fixed. The support frame is used to support the transfer rod, so that the transfer rod moves horizontally. The two ends of the support rail are respectively fixed to the two opposite inner walls of the first cavity through fixing holes, so that the support rail spans the entire first cavity; The support rail is provided with a plurality of positioning holes along its length, and the support frame is provided with strip-shaped holes that mate with the positioning holes; The positioning holes and the strip holes are used to adjust the specific position of the support frame on the support rail and to adjust the height of the support frame relative to the support rail, so that the support parts of each support frame are at the same horizontal height as the transfer cavity, and the transfer rod can move in the horizontal direction. The support rail is assembled from multiple structural sections, and adjacent support rail sections are fixedly connected through the positioning holes. The positioning holes at different positions are used to adjust the length of the support rail so that it can adapt to glove boxes of different sizes. The front end of the transfer rod is provided with a sample holder, which is used to hold the sample; The first sealing valve and the second sealing valve are connected by a quick-connect flange; The front end of the transfer rod has an air outlet, and the rear end of the transfer rod has an air inlet. The air outlet and the air inlet are connected by a connecting channel.

2. The sample transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper end of the support frame has a concave arc-shaped surface, which is used to support the transfer rod.

3. The sample transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support frame has a fixing hole at its end, and both ends of the support frame are fixed to the inner wall of the first cavity through the fixing hole.

4. The sample transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The transfer chamber is equipped with a pressure detection unit, which is used to detect the pressure inside the transfer chamber.

5. The sample transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, It also includes a control unit; The control unit is electrically connected to the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve respectively, and is able to control the state of the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve.

6. The sample transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, It also includes a display unit; The display unit is used to display the status of the first sealing valve and the second sealing valve.

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