A glass bead coating device

Abstract

This invention provides a glass bead coating device. The glass bead coating device includes a conveying assembly, a feeding device, a liquid adding device, and a bead adding device. The feeding device, liquid adding device, and bead adding device are arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the conveying assembly. The feeding device is used to store culture dishes and transport them to the conveying assembly. The conveying assembly is used to sequentially transport the culture dishes to the liquid adding device and the bead adding device. The liquid adding device is used to add bacterial solution to the culture dishes, and the bead adding device is used to place glass beads into the culture dishes. This achieves automated feeding, liquid adding, and bead adding operations, effectively improving the efficiency and effect of glass bead coating, and also avoiding direct contact between operators and culture dishes, effectively improving operator safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of microbial culture, and more specifically, to a glass bead coating device. Background Technology

[0002] When culturing microorganisms, it is necessary to first apply the diluted solution containing microorganisms to the culture medium in the petri dish, then add lysis buffer to the petri dish to release the contents of the microbial cells, and then add glass beads to the petri dish. The rolling of the glass beads in the petri dish will spread the microorganisms to all corners of the petri dish, so that the microorganisms can be cultured into colonies in the petri dish.

[0003] However, manually adding lysis buffer and glass beads to the petri dish is prone to contamination of the surface of the lysis buffer and glass beads, which can significantly impact the microbial culture effect, thus placing high demands on the operator. Furthermore, manual addition is inefficient and significantly affects the microbial incubation time. Additionally, during the microbial culture process, operators may come into direct contact with the microorganisms, posing a significant safety risk. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To at least partially address the problems existing in the prior art, according to one aspect of the present invention, a glass bead coating apparatus is provided. The glass bead coating apparatus includes a conveying assembly, a feeding device, a liquid adding device, and a bead adding device. The feeding device, liquid adding device, and bead adding device are arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the conveying assembly. The feeding device is used to store culture dishes and transport them to the conveying assembly. The conveying assembly is used to sequentially transport the culture dishes to the liquid adding device and the bead adding device. The liquid adding device is used to add bacterial solution to the culture dishes, and the bead adding device is used to place glass beads into the culture dishes. The feeding device includes a first conveyor, a dragging assembly, and a receiving assembly. The first conveyor is provided with a feeding position and a waiting position along its conveying direction. The dragging assembly and the receiving assembly are respectively located on the side of the waiting position. Multiple culture dishes are stacked at the feeding position to form a culture dish group. The first conveyor drives the culture dish group from the feeding position to the waiting position. The dragging assembly is used to drag the culture dish group on the waiting position to the receiving assembly. The receiving assembly is used to transfer each culture dish in the culture dish group dragged by the dragging assembly to the conveyor assembly.

[0005] The glass bead coating equipment of the present invention has a first conveying component that can transport a stack of culture dishes placed on it from the loading position to the waiting position. The dragging component can cooperate with the receiving component to disassemble the culture dish group into multiple culture dishes and transport them sequentially to the liquid adding device and the bead adding device, thereby completing the addition of bacterial solution and glass beads into the culture dishes. In this way, the loading, liquid adding and bead adding operations are automated, which not only effectively improves the efficiency and effect of glass bead coating, but also avoids direct contact between the operator and the culture dishes, effectively improving the safety of the operator.

[0006] For example, the dragging assembly includes a first dragging member and a second dragging member, which are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the culture dish group in the waiting position. The first dragging member and the second dragging member are capable of moving away from or towards the receiving component. The first dragging member and the second dragging member are used to cooperate to drive the culture dish group in the waiting position towards the receiving component, so as to drive the culture dish group from the waiting position to the receiving component.

[0007] For example, the receiving component includes a receiving member, which includes a plurality of receiving bodies that move in opposite directions. The plurality of receiving bodies have a first state of being close to each other and a second state of being far apart. In the first state, a first dragging member and a second dragging member cooperate to drag the culture dish group in the waiting position onto the receiving member. In the second state, the receiving member releases the receiving force on the culture dish group on the receiving member, so that the culture dish placed at the bottom of the culture dish group is transferred to the conveying component after being subjected to force.

[0008] For example, the receiving component further includes a limiting member located above the receiving component. The limiting member includes a plurality of opposing limiting bodies, which have a third state of being close to each other and a fourth state of being far apart. In the third state, the limiting member is used to limit the second culture dish from bottom to top in the culture dish group on the receiving component. In the fourth state, the limiting member removes the force exerted on the culture dish group on the receiving component. The limiting member is used at least to switch from the fourth state to the third state when the receiving component is in the second state.

[0009] For example, the conveying assembly includes a second conveyor, a third conveyor, and a fourth conveyor arranged sequentially along a first direction. In the first direction, the third conveyor and the second conveyor have an overlapping first transition section, and the fourth conveyor and the third conveyor have an overlapping second transition section. The length of the second transition section is greater than the length of the first transition section. Multiple culture dishes placed on the second conveyor are sequentially conveyed to the third conveyor through the first transition section, and at least some of the multiple culture dishes on the third conveyor are synchronously conveyed to the fourth conveyor through the second transition section.

[0010] For example, the bead-adding device includes a bead storage chamber for storing glass beads and a bead-adding assembly. The bead storage chamber has a discharge port, and the bead-adding assembly is rotatably disposed at the discharge port. The bead-adding assembly has a turntable with a groove open at one end. The groove is adapted to accommodate the glass beads, and a culture dish is disposed below the turntable. When the turntable rotates to the point where the opening of the groove is opposite to the culture dish, the glass beads in the groove fall into the culture dish under the action of gravity.

[0011] For example, the glass bead coating equipment also includes a labeling and positioning device, which is disposed between the feeding device and the liquid adding device along the conveying assembly. The labeling and positioning device includes a positioning member with a positioning plate movable between a first position and a second position. When the positioning plate moves from the first position to the second position, the positioning plate abuts against the outer edge of the petri dish. When the positioning plate moves from the second position to the first position, the positioning plate disengages from the outer edge of the petri dish.

[0012] For example, the labeling and positioning device further includes a labeling component, and the labeling component and the positioning component are disposed on opposite sides of the conveying assembly. The labeling component is used to affix a label to the side wall of the culture dish on the conveying assembly. Before the labeling component affixes a label to the side wall of the culture dish, the positioning component moves toward the conveying assembly so that the positioning plate abuts against the outer edge of the culture dish.

[0013] For example, the glass bead coating equipment further includes a receiving device, which is disposed downstream of the bead feeding device along the conveying assembly. The receiving device includes a receiving bin and a support member. The lower end of the receiving bin has a receiving port for the culture dishes to pass through and be stacked inside the receiving bin. The support member is rotatably disposed at the receiving port and can change the degree of obstruction of the receiving port by rotating relative to the receiving bin. Specifically, when the support member is subjected to an upward force from the culture dish on its lower surface, it opens the receiving port. After the culture dish is fed from the receiving port and moves upward to a first preset position, it falls to a second preset position by gravity. The support member obstructs at least part of the receiving port and supports the culture dish to confine it to the second preset position.

[0014] For example, the glass bead coating equipment also includes an adsorption device disposed next to the receiving device, which is used to transfer the petri dish containing glass beads to the receiving hopper.

[0015] For example, the feeding device and the receiving device are located in the first area, the labeling and positioning device is located in the second area, and the liquid adding device and the bead adding device are located in the third area. The air pressure in the space where the first area is located is normal pressure, the air pressure in the space where the second area is located is low positive pressure, and the air pressure in the space where the third area is located is high positive pressure.

[0016] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to better understand the technical means of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and in order to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention are described below. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the more detailed description of the embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are provided to further illustrate the embodiments of the invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings, the same reference numerals generally represent the same parts or steps.

[0018] Figure 1 A perspective view of a feeding device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0019] Figure 2 A top view of a feeding device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0020] Figure 3 A perspective view of a receiving component according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0021] Figure 4 A top view of a conveying assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0022] Figure 5 A perspective view of a bead-adding device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 6 A perspective view of a bead-adding device (excluding the bead storage compartment) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0024] Figure 7 A perspective view of a labeling positioning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 8 A perspective view of a positioning element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0026] Figure 9 A perspective view of a receiving device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0027] The components indicated by the reference numerals in the figures are as follows:

[0028] 1. Conveying assembly; 11. Second conveyor; 12. Third conveyor; 13. Fourth conveyor; 14. First transition section; 15. Second transition section; 2. Feeding device; 21. First conveyor; 211. Feeding position; 212. Waiting position; 22. Traction assembly; 221. First tractor; 222. Second tractor; 223. First drive component; 224. Second drive component; 225. Third drive component; 226. Fourth drive component; 23. Receiving assembly; 231. Receiving... 2311, First receiving body; 2312, Second receiving body; 232, Limiting component; 2321, First limiting body; 2322, Second limiting body; 3, Bead adding device; 31, Bead storage bin; 311, Discharge port; 32, Bead adding assembly; 321, Turntable; 322, Groove; 4, Labeling and positioning device; 41, Positioning component; 411, Positioning plate; 42, Labeling component; 5, Receiving device; 51, Receiving bin; 511, Receiving port; 52, Support component; 6, Petri dish. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more apparent, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Based on the embodiments of the present invention described herein, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without inventive effort should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0030] In the following description, numerous details are provided to enable a thorough understanding of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following description merely illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention, and that the invention can be practiced without one or more of these details. Furthermore, to avoid obscuring the invention, some technical features well-known in the art have not been described in detail.

[0031] To fully understand the embodiments of the present invention, detailed structures will be presented in the following description. Obviously, the implementation of the embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the specific details familiar to those skilled in the art. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below; however, in addition to these detailed descriptions, the present invention may have other embodiments.

[0032] One embodiment of the present invention provides a glass bead coating device, which can automate loading, liquid addition, and bead addition operations. It is used to inoculate bacterial strains by moving glass beads coated with bacterial strains onto the culture medium. The trajectory of the glass beads moving on the culture medium can be understood as coating. A detailed description of a glass bead coating device according to an embodiment of the present invention will follow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the glass bead coating equipment includes a conveying assembly 1, a feeding device 2, a liquid adding device, and a bead adding device 3. The feeding device 2, the liquid adding device (not shown in the figure), and the bead adding device 3 are arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the conveying assembly 1. The feeding device 2 is used to store the culture dish 6 and transport the culture dish 6 to the conveying assembly 1. The conveying assembly 1 is used to transport the culture dish 6 sequentially to the liquid adding device and the bead adding device 3. The liquid adding device is used to add bacterial solution into the culture dish 6, and the bead adding device 3 is used to place glass beads into the culture dish 6. The feeding device 2 includes a first conveying component 21, a dragging component 22, and a receiving component 23. The first conveying component 21 is provided with a feeding position 211 and a waiting position 212 in sequence along its conveying direction. The dragging component 22 and the receiving component 23 are respectively arranged on the side of the waiting position 212. Multiple culture dishes 6 are stacked at the feeding position 211 to form a culture dish group. The first conveying component 21 drives the culture dish group from the feeding position 211 to the waiting position 212. The dragging component 22 is used to drag the culture dish group on the waiting position 212 to the receiving component 23. The receiving component 23 is used to transfer each culture dish 6 in the culture dish group dragged by the dragging component 22 to the conveying component 1.

[0034] The conveying component 1 can specifically be a conveyor belt. Driven by the conveyor belt, the culture dishes 6 on the feeding device 2 can be conveyed sequentially to the liquid adding device and the bead adding device 3. The first conveying component 21 can also specifically be a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt moves along its conveying direction and is sequentially provided with a feeding position 211 and a waiting position 212. The operator can stack multiple culture dishes 6 into a stack to form a culture dish group and place it on the feeding position 211 of the conveyor belt.

[0035] When the culture dish group moves from the loading position 211 to the waiting position 212 under the drive of the first conveyor 21, at least part of the dragging component 22 can move towards the culture dish group and act on the culture dish group, thereby dragging the culture dish group onto the receiving component 23. Then, the receiving component 23 can be used to disperse the culture dish group and transfer each culture dish 6 to the conveying component 1 in sequence.

[0036] The glass bead coating equipment of the present invention has a first conveying component 21 that can transport stacked culture dishes 6 on it from the loading position 211 to the waiting position 212. The dragging component 22 can cooperate with the receiving component 23 to disassemble the culture dish group into multiple culture dishes 6 and transport them sequentially to the liquid adding device and the bead adding device 3, thereby completing the addition of bacterial solution and glass beads to the culture dishes 6. In this way, the loading, liquid adding and bead adding operations are automated, which not only effectively improves the efficiency and effect of glass bead coating, but also avoids direct contact between the operator and the culture dishes 6, effectively improving the safety of the operator.

[0037] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the dragging assembly 22 includes a first dragging member 221 and a second dragging member 222. The first dragging member 221 and the second dragging member 222 are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the culture dish group in the waiting position 212. The first dragging member 221 and the second dragging member 222 can move away from or towards the receiving assembly 23. The first dragging member 221 and the second dragging member 222 are used to cooperate to drive the culture dish group in the waiting position 212 to move towards the receiving assembly 23, so as to drive the culture dish group from the waiting position 212 to the receiving assembly 23.

[0038] The towing assembly 22 may include a first drive member 223 and a second drive member 224 respectively provided corresponding to the first towing member 221 and the second towing member 222. The first drive member 223 can be connected to the first towing member 221 through a third drive member 225, and the second drive member 224 can be connected to the second towing member 222 through a fourth drive member 226.

[0039] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the first drive member 223 can drive the third drive member 225 and the first drag member 221 to move away from or towards the receiving component 23, while the third drive member 225 can drive the first drag member 221 to move away from or towards the first conveyor member 21. Similarly, the second drive member 224 can drive the fourth drive member 226 and the second drag member 222 to move away from or towards the receiving component 23, while the fourth drive member 226 can drive the second drag member 222 to move away from or towards the first conveyor member 21. Specifically, the first drive member 223, the second drive member 224, the third drive member 225, and the fourth drive member 226 can be cylinders or other devices capable of driving the first drag member 221 and the second drag member 222, etc., and this application does not specifically limit their use.

[0040] The first drag member 221 and the second drag member 222 can move to the side of the culture dish group on the waiting position 212 away from the receiving component 23 under the drive of the first drive member 223 and the second drive member 224, respectively. Then, the third drive member 225 and the fourth drive member 226 can drive the first drag member 221 and the second drag member 222 to move closer to the first conveyor 21, so as to abut against the side wall of the culture dish group. At this time, the first drag member 221 and the second drag member 222 can move closer to the receiving component 23 under the drive of the first drive member 223 and the second drive member 224, respectively, until the culture dish group is dragged onto the receiving component 23.

[0041] In the above embodiments, the coordinated action of the first drag member 221 and the second drag member 222 can precisely control the position of the culture dish group, ensuring that the culture dish group can move accurately onto the receiving component 23, effectively guaranteeing the reliability of the feeding device 2. Furthermore, it can reduce manual intervention, effectively improving the automation level and feeding efficiency of the feeding device 2.

[0042] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the receiving component 23 includes a receiving member 231, which includes multiple receiving bodies that move in opposite directions. The multiple receiving bodies have a first state of being close to each other and a second state of being far apart. In the first state, the first dragging member 221 and the second dragging member 222 cooperate to drag the culture dish group in the waiting position 212 onto the receiving member 231. In the second state, the receiving member 231 releases the receiving force on the culture dish group on the receiving member 231, so that the culture dish 6 placed at the bottom of the culture dish group is transferred to the conveying component 1 after being subjected to force.

[0043] like Figure 3 As shown, the receiving component 231 may include a first receiving body 2311 and a second receiving body 2312 that move towards each other. The first receiving body 2311 and the second receiving body 2312 can approach each other to form a first state. In the first state, the first dragging component 221 and the second dragging component 222 cooperate to drag the culture dish group located on the waiting position 212 onto the receiving surface formed by the first receiving body 2311 and the second receiving body 2312. The first receiving body 2311 and the second receiving body 2312 can move away from each other to form a second state. In the second state, the first receiving body 2311 and the second receiving body 2312 can release the receiving force on the culture dish group, so that each culture dish 6 in the culture dish group can be transferred from bottom to top onto the conveying component 1.

[0044] In the above embodiments, the receiving component 231 can be flexibly switched between the first state and the second state, thereby enabling the application and removal of the receiving force on the culture dish group, reducing manual intervention, effectively improving the automation level of the feeding device 2, as well as its ease of use and practicality.

[0045] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the receiving component 23 also includes a limiting member 232, which is located above the receiving component 231. The limiting member 232 includes multiple limiting bodies that move in opposite directions. The multiple limiting bodies have a third state of being close to each other and a fourth state of being far apart. In the third state, the limiting member 232 is used to limit the second culture dish 6 from bottom to top in the culture dish group on the receiving component 231. In the fourth state, the limiting member 232 removes the force on the culture dish group on the receiving component 231. The limiting member 232 is used at least to switch from the fourth state to the third state when the receiving component 231 is in the second state.

[0046] like Figure 3 As shown, the limiting member 232 may include a first limiting body 2321 and a second limiting body 2322 that move toward each other. The first limiting body 2321 and the second limiting body 2322 may approach each other and apply a limiting force to the culture dish group to form a third state, and the first limiting body 2321 and the second limiting body 2322 may move away from each other and remove the limiting force applied to the culture dish group to form a fourth state.

[0047] When the receiving member 231 is in the first state, the first dragging member 221 and the second dragging member 222 can cooperate to drag the culture dish group in the waiting position 212 onto the receiving member 231. At this time, the limiting member 232 can be in the third state to limit the displacement of the second culture dish 6 and above from bottom to top in the culture dish group. Then, the receiving member 231 can switch from the first state to the second state, thereby transferring the bottommost culture dish 6 in the culture dish group to the conveying component 1. After the transfer is completed, the receiving member 231 can switch from the second state to the first state, and the limiting member 232 can switch from the third state to the fourth state. At this time, the remaining culture dishes 6 in the culture dish group can fall onto the receiving member 231 under the action of gravity. The feeding device 2 can repeat the above operation to transfer each culture dish 6 in the culture dish group to the conveying component 1 in sequence.

[0048] In the above embodiments, the limiting member 232 can flexibly switch between the third state and the fourth state, and with the cooperation of the receiving member 231, each culture dish 6 in the culture dish group can be transferred to the conveying component 1 in sequence, which effectively improves the convenience and efficiency of feeding the feeding device 2 and greatly enhances the practicality of the feeding device 2.

[0049] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4As shown, the conveying assembly 1 includes a second conveying member 11, a third conveying member 12, and a fourth conveying member 13 arranged sequentially along a first direction. In the first direction, the third conveying member 12 and the second conveying member 11 have an overlapping first transition section 14, and the fourth conveying member 13 and the third conveying member 12 have an overlapping second transition section 15. The length of the second transition section 15 is greater than the length of the first transition section 14. Multiple culture dishes 6 placed on the second conveying member 11 are sequentially conveyed to the third conveying member 12 through the first transition section 14, and at least some of the multiple culture dishes 6 on the third conveying member 12 are synchronously conveyed to the fourth conveying member 13 through the second transition section 15.

[0050] The first direction can be represented as the conveying direction of the conveying component 1. Multiple petri dishes 6 can be sequentially conveyed from the second conveying member 11 through the third conveying member 12 to the fourth conveying member 13 along the conveying direction of the conveying component 1.

[0051] The third conveyor 12 can be installed at the same height as the second conveyor 11, and the ends of the third conveyor 12 and the second conveyor 11 that are close to each other can overlap to form the first transition section 14. Similarly, the fourth conveyor 13 can be installed at the same height as the third conveyor 12, and the ends of the fourth conveyor 13 and the third conveyor 12 that are close to each other can overlap to form the second transition section 15.

[0052] The conveying speed of the conveying assembly 1 can be controlled by adjusting the lengths of the first transition section 14 and the second transition section 15. For example, the length of the first transition section 14 can correspond to the diameter of one culture dish 6, and the length of the second transition section 15 can correspond to the diameter of four culture dishes 6. Thus, multiple culture dishes 6 can be sequentially conveyed from the second conveyor 11 to the first transition section 14, and from the first transition section 14 to the third conveyor 12. When conveyed from the third conveyor 12 to the fourth conveyor 13, the multiple culture dishes 6 located on the third conveyor 12 can be sequentially conveyed to the second transition section 15. When there are four culture dishes 6 on the second transition section 15, the fourth conveyor 13 can be activated to simultaneously convey the four culture dishes 6 located on the second transition section 15 to the fourth conveyor 13.

[0053] In the above embodiment, multiple culture dishes 6 located on the second conveyor 11 can be sequentially conveyed to the third conveyor 12 via the first transition section 14. When the multiple culture dishes 6 on the third conveyor 12 are conveyed to the second transition section 15, the second transition section 15 can simultaneously convey the multiple culture dishes 6 located thereon to the third transition section. Thus, when the number of culture dishes 6 conveyed from the first transition section 14 to the third conveyor 12 is large, the second transition section 15 can act as a buffer and control the number of culture dishes 6 conveyed to the fourth conveyor 13, avoiding the accumulation of culture dishes 6 on the conveyor belt assembly, effectively improving the conveying flexibility and overall conveying efficiency of the conveying assembly 1.

[0054] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the bead-adding device 3 includes a bead storage chamber 31 for storing glass beads and a bead-adding assembly 32. The bead storage chamber 31 has a discharge port 311. The bead-adding assembly 32 is rotatably disposed at the discharge port 311. The bead-adding assembly 32 has a turntable 321. The turntable 321 is provided with a groove 322 with one end open. The groove 322 is adapted to accommodate the glass beads. The culture dish 6 is disposed below the turntable 321. When the turntable 321 rotates to the point where the opening of the groove 322 is opposite to the culture dish 6, the glass beads in the groove 322 fall into the culture dish 6 under the action of gravity.

[0055] The bead storage chamber 31 can be made of materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or polyether ether ketone (PEEK). These materials have properties such as high temperature resistance and high chemical stability, so as to facilitate high-temperature sterilization of the bead storage chamber 31 and the beads inside the bead storage chamber 31.

[0056] The discharge port 311 can be located at one end of the bead storage chamber 31 near the culture dish 6, so that the beads in the bead storage chamber 31 can fall into the culture dish 6 through the discharge port 311 under the action of gravity.

[0057] The groove 322 can be formed on the side wall of the turntable 321. The groove 322 on the turntable 321 can be rotatably connected to the discharge port 311 of the bead storage bin 31 and the culture dish 6 respectively. When the groove 322 on the turntable 321 rotates to connect with the discharge port 311 of the bead storage bin 31, the balls in the bead storage bin 31 can fall into the groove 322 on the turntable 321 under the action of gravity. When the groove 322 on the turntable 321 continues to rotate to connect with the culture dish 6, the balls in the groove 322 can fall into the culture dish 6 under the action of gravity.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the balls in the bead storage chamber 31 can fall into the groove 322 on the side wall of the turntable 321. When the groove 322 of the turntable 321 rotates to the culture dish 6, the balls can fall into the culture dish 6 under the action of gravity. This realizes automatic bead addition to the culture dish 6, avoids the situation of contamination of the balls when adding beads manually, effectively shortens the bead addition time, and improves the bead addition efficiency.

[0059] In some embodiments, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the glass bead coating equipment also includes a labeling and positioning device 4. The labeling and positioning device 4 is disposed between the feeding device 2 and the liquid adding device along the conveying assembly 1. The labeling and positioning device 4 includes a positioning member 41. The positioning member 41 has a positioning plate 411 that can move between a first position and a second position. When the positioning plate 411 moves from the first position to the second position, the positioning plate 411 abuts against the outer edge of the petri dish 6. When the positioning plate 411 moves from the second position to the first position, the positioning plate 411 disengages from the outer edge of the petri dish 6.

[0060] When the culture dish 6 is transported using the conveying assembly 1, the culture dish 6 is prone to displacement on the conveying assembly 1 when subjected to external force, which in turn affects the subsequent processing operations of the culture dish 6. Thus, when the culture dish 6 moves to the positioning member 41, the positioning plate 411 can move from the first position to the second position, thereby adjusting the position of the culture dish 6 by pushing. After the position adjustment is completed, the positioning plate 411 can move from the second position to the first position.

[0061] The first position and the second position can be respectively represented as different positions of the positioning plate 411. Specifically, when the positioning plate 411 is in the first position, it can be far away from the culture dish 6 on the conveying assembly 1 to avoid the positioning plate 411 affecting the culture dish 6 being transported on the conveying assembly 1. When the positioning plate 411 is in the second position, it can abut against the culture dish 6 on the conveying assembly 1 to adjust the position of the culture dish 6.

[0062] The shape of the side of the positioning plate 411 facing the conveying assembly 1 can be adapted to the shape of the outer edge of the culture dish 6 so that when the positioning plate 411 is in the second position, the positioning plate 411 can stably abut against the outer edge of the culture dish 6, effectively improving the positioning accuracy.

[0063] In the above embodiment, when the position of the culture dish 6 on the conveying assembly 1 is offset, the positioning plate 411 can move towards the culture dish 6 so that the positioning plate 411 can abut against the outer edge of the culture dish 6, thereby adjusting the specific position of the culture dish 6 on the conveying assembly 1 by pushing the culture dish 6, effectively improving the convenience and accuracy of positioning the culture dish 6.

[0064] In some embodiments, such as Figure 7 As shown, the labeling and positioning device 4 also includes a labeling component 42. The labeling component 42 and the positioning component 41 are disposed on opposite sides of the conveying assembly 1. The labeling component 42 is used to affix a label to the side wall of the culture dish 6 on the conveying assembly 1. Before the labeling component 42 affixes a label to the side wall of the culture dish 6, the positioning component 41 moves toward the conveying assembly 1 so that the positioning plate 411 abuts against the outer edge of the culture dish 6.

[0065] The height of the labeling component 42 can correspond to the height of the petri dish 6, so that the labeling component 42 can easily affix labels to the side wall of the petri dish 6.

[0066] When the culture dish 6 is transported using the transport assembly 1, the culture dish 6 is prone to displacement on the transport assembly 1 when subjected to external force, which will affect the subsequent labeling operation of the culture dish 6. In this way, the positioning member 41 can move towards the culture dish 6 and abut against the outer edge of the culture dish 6, thereby correcting the position of the culture dish 6.

[0067] In the above embodiments, the cooperation between the positioning element 41 and the petri dish 6 can prevent the label from shifting or misaligning, effectively improving the accuracy and consistency of label application.

[0068] In some embodiments, such as Figure 9 As shown, the glass bead coating equipment also includes a receiving device 5, which is disposed downstream of the bead feeding device 3 along the conveying assembly 1. The receiving device 5 includes a receiving bin 51 and a support member 52. The lower end of the receiving bin 51 has a receiving port 511, through which the culture dishes 6 pass and are stacked within the receiving bin 51. The support member 52 is rotatably disposed at the receiving port 511 and can change the degree to which it blocks the receiving port 511 by rotating relative to the receiving bin 51. Specifically, when the support member 52 is subjected to an upward force from the culture dish 6 on its lower surface, it opens the receiving port 511. After the culture dish 6 is fed from the receiving port 511 and moves upward to a first preset position, it falls to a second preset position by gravity. The support member 52 blocks at least part of the receiving port 511 and supports the culture dish 6 to confine the culture dish 6 to the second preset position.

[0069] The receiving bin 51 may have a receiving cavity formed in a vertical direction, and the culture dishes 6 can be stacked in sequence in the receiving cavity through the receiving port 511 below the receiving bin 51.

[0070] The support member 52 is rotatably disposed at the receiving port 511 of the receiving bin 51, and when the support member 52 is in a horizontal position, it can block at least part of the receiving port 511.

[0071] The first preset position and the second preset position can be respectively represented as different positions of the petri dish 6 in the receiving chamber of the receiving bin 51. Specifically, the first preset position can be specifically represented as the position when the petri dish 6 moves vertically upward along the receiving port 511 and separates from the lower surface of the support member 52, and the second preset position can be specifically represented as the position when the upper surface of the support member 52 supports the petri dish 6.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the petri dish 6 can abut against the lower surface of the support member 52 and push the support member 52 to rotate into the receiving bin 51, so that the petri dish 6 can move from the receiving port 511 at the lower end of the receiving bin 51 into the receiving bin 51. After the petri dish 6 moves to the first preset position in the receiving bin 51, the petri dish 6 can move to the second preset position under the action of gravity and abut against the upper surface of the support member 52, thereby ensuring that the support member 52 can support the petri dish 6 and preventing the petri dish 6 from falling from the lower end of the receiving bin 51. This effectively reduces the moving distance and transfer risk of the petri dish 6 to the receiving bin 51, simplifies the mechanical mechanism of the receiving device 5, realizes the miniaturization of the receiving device 5, and reduces the manufacturing cost and space required by the receiving device 5.

[0073] In some embodiments, the glass bead coating equipment further includes an adsorption device (not shown) disposed next to the receiving device 5, which is used to transfer the petri dish 6 containing glass beads to the receiving bin 51.

[0074] The adsorption device can adsorb onto the bottom wall of the culture dish 6 and move the culture dish 6 into the receiving bin 51. After the culture dish 6 enters the receiving bin 51, the adsorption device can release the culture dish 6 to store the culture dish 6 in the receiving bin 51.

[0075] The adsorption device can be a suction cup. Using the suction cup to adsorb the culture dish 6 can not only ensure the firmness of the adsorption, but also avoid damage to the surface of the culture dish 6.

[0076] In the above embodiments, the adsorption device can be used to transfer the culture dish 6 containing glass beads to the receiving bin 51, which not only reduces the number of manual operation steps, but also avoids direct contact between the operator and the culture dish 6, effectively improving the material receiving efficiency and safety of the glass bead coating equipment.

[0077] In some embodiments, the feeding device 2 and the receiving device 5 are located in a first region, the labeling and positioning device 4 is located in a second region, and the liquid adding device and the bead adding device 3 are located in a third region. The air pressure in the space where the first region is located is normal pressure, the air pressure in the space where the second region is located is low positive pressure, and the air pressure in the space where the third region is located is high positive pressure.

[0078] The space where the glass bead coating equipment is located can be divided into a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone according to different usage needs.

[0079] The first zone can be under normal pressure to facilitate routine operations such as loading and unloading. The second zone can be under low positive pressure to reduce the impact of dust and contaminants on the culture dish 6, thereby improving the accuracy and stability of labeling and positioning. The third zone can be under high positive pressure to further reduce the impact of dust and contaminants on the culture dish 6 during the process of adding liquid and beads, thereby ensuring the coating effect of the glass bead coating equipment.

[0080] In the above embodiments, by setting the air pressure in different areas, a suitable environment can be provided for different production steps, thereby greatly improving the coating efficiency and effect of the glass bead coating equipment.

[0081] Although exemplary embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the above exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as claimed in the appended claims.

[0082] For ease of description, the term "connection" may be used herein to describe the relationship between one or more elements or features shown in the figure and other elements or features. It should be understood that "connection" may include direct connections or indirect connections via other elements or features, and this document is intended to encompass all such cases.

[0083] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, parts, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0084] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0085] The present invention has been described through the above embodiments. However, it should be understood that the above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention to the scope of the described embodiments. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many more variations and modifications can be made based on the teachings of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A glass bead coating apparatus characterized by, The device comprises a conveying assembly, a feeding device, a liquid adding device and a bead adding device, the feeding device, the liquid adding device and the bead adding device are arranged along the conveying direction of the conveying assembly in sequence, the feeding device is used for storing and conveying the culture dishes to the conveying assembly, the conveying assembly is used for conveying the culture dishes to the liquid adding device and the bead adding device in sequence, the liquid adding device is used for adding bacterial liquid into the culture dishes, and the bead adding device is used for placing glass beads in the culture dishes; The feeding device comprises a first conveying member, a pulling assembly and a receiving assembly, the first conveying member is provided with a feeding position and a waiting position along the conveying direction of the first conveying member in sequence, the pulling assembly and the receiving assembly are arranged on the sides of the waiting position respectively, a plurality of culture dishes are stacked at the feeding position to form a culture dish group, the first conveying member drives the culture dish group to move from the feeding position to the waiting position, the pulling assembly is used for pulling the culture dish group on the waiting position to the receiving assembly, and the receiving assembly is used for moving each culture dish in the culture dish group pulled by the pulling assembly to the conveying assembly respectively. The pulling assembly comprises a first pulling member and a second pulling member, the first pulling member and the second pulling member are arranged on the opposite sides of the culture dish group at the waiting position respectively, and the first pulling member and the second pulling member can move away from or close to the receiving assembly, the first pulling member and the second pulling member are used for driving the culture dish group at the waiting position to move close to the receiving assembly to drive the culture dish group to move from the waiting position to the receiving assembly. The receiving assembly comprises a receiving member and a limiting member, the receiving member comprises a plurality of receiving bodies moving towards each other, the plurality of receiving bodies have a first state of close to each other and a second state of away from each other, in the first state, the first pulling member and the second pulling member cooperate to pull the culture dish group at the waiting position to the receiving member, in the second state, the receiving member cancels the receiving force on the culture dish group on the receiving member to make the culture dish placed at the bottom of the culture dish group move to the conveying assembly under the force; the limiting member is located above the receiving member, the limiting member comprises a plurality of limiting bodies moving towards each other, the plurality of limiting bodies have a third state of close to each other and a fourth state of away from each other, in the third state, the limiting member is used for limiting the second culture dish from bottom to top in the culture dish group on the receiving member, in the fourth state, the limiting member cancels the force on the culture dish group on the receiving member, and the limiting member is used for switching from the fourth state to the third state at least when the receiving member is in the second state.

2. The glass bead coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The conveying assembly comprises a second conveying member, a third conveying member and a fourth conveying member arranged sequentially in a first direction, wherein the third conveying member and the second conveying member have a first transition section overlapping each other in the first direction, and the fourth conveying member and the third conveying member have a second transition section overlapping each other; the length of the second transition section is greater than the length of the first transition section; a plurality of culture dishes placed on the second conveying member are sequentially conveyed to the third conveying member through the first transition section, and at least part of the plurality of culture dishes on the third conveying member are synchronously conveyed to the fourth conveying member through the second transition section.

3. The glass bead coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The beading device comprises a beading storage bin and a beading assembly, the beading storage bin has a discharge port, the beading assembly is rotationally arranged at the discharge port, the beading assembly has a rotating disc, the rotating disc is provided with an open-ended groove, the groove is matched with the glass beads to accommodate the glass beads, and the culture dish is arranged below the rotating disc; wherein when the rotating disc rotates to the opening of the groove opposite to the culture dish, the glass beads in the groove fall into the culture dish under the action of gravity.

4. The glass bead coating apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The glass bead coating equipment further comprises a labeling positioning device, the labeling positioning device is arranged between the feeding device and the liquid adding device along the conveying assembly, the labeling positioning device comprises a positioning member, the positioning member has a positioning plate movable between a first position and a second position, when the positioning plate moves from the first position to the second position, the positioning plate abuts against the outer edge of the culture dish, and when the positioning plate moves from the second position to the first position, the positioning plate is separated from the outer edge of the culture dish.

5. The glass bead coating apparatus of claim 4, wherein, The labeling positioning device further comprises a labeling member, the labeling member and the positioning member are arranged on opposite sides of the conveying assembly, the labeling member is used for pasting labels on the side wall of the culture dish on the conveying assembly, and before the labeling member pastes labels on the side wall of the culture dish, the positioning member moves towards the conveying assembly so that the positioning plate abuts against the outer edge of the culture dish.

6. The glass bead coating apparatus of claim 5, wherein, The glass bead coating equipment further comprises a receiving device, the receiving device is arranged downstream of the beading device along the conveying assembly, the receiving device comprises a receiving bin and a supporting member, the lower end of the receiving bin has a receiving port, the receiving port is used for passing the culture dish to be stacked in the receiving bin, and the supporting member is rotationally arranged at the receiving port and can change the degree of shielding the receiving port by rotating relative to the receiving bin; wherein the supporting member opens the receiving port when the lower surface is subjected to the upward force of the culture dish; after the culture dish is sent into the receiving port and moves upward to a first preset position, the culture dish falls to a second preset position by gravity, the supporting member shields at least part of the receiving port and supports the culture dish to limit the culture dish at the second preset position.

7. The glass bead coating apparatus of claim 6, wherein, The glass bead coating device further comprises an adsorption device arranged beside the receiving device, and the adsorption device is used for transferring the culture dish with the glass beads to the receiving bin.

8. The glass bead coating apparatus of claim 7, wherein, The feeding device and the receiving device are located in a first area, the labeling and positioning device is located in a second area, and the liquid adding device and the bead adding device are located in a third area. The space where the first area is located has normal pressure, the space where the second area is located has low positive pressure, and the space where the third area is located has high positive pressure.

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