Self-centering finger capable of supporting upright and inverted clamping of culture dish

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of microbial sample preparation and culture counting, in particular to a self-centering finger capable of supporting upright and inverted clamping of a culture dish, the self-centering finger is composed of two rod-shaped finger rod bodies, the circle centers of the two rod-shaped finger rod bodies are opposite, and the two rod-shaped finger rod bodies are horizontally and oppositely arranged; a plurality of finger rod bodies are arranged on the finger rod bodies, connecting end blocks are arranged at one ends of the two finger rod bodies, the connecting end blocks are fixed to a driving device, a plurality of fixing end blocks are arranged on the finger rod bodies, and a plurality of stroke channels distributed at intervals are formed in the side faces, close to the circle centers of the finger rod bodies, of the fixing end blocks in a penetrating mode. An upper ejector rod and a lower ejector rod are arranged in the stroke channel in a penetrating mode, and the problems that in the prior art, a culture dish clamping finger is single in function, complex operations such as forward clamping and inverted clamping of a culture dish cannot be supported at the same time, turning of the culture dish cannot be supported, and the diverse requirements of different kinds of samples for sample clamping modes cannot be met are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of microbial sample preparation and culture counting, and more specifically to a self-centering finger that can support the clamping of culture dishes in both upright and inverted positions. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the rapid development of bioengineering technology and the increasing attention of the public to the hazards of microorganisms such as bacteria, the workload of various scientific research institutions and related testing departments in aspects such as microbial sample preparation and culture detection has increased rapidly. This has led to a gradual increase in the demand for automated equipment for microbial automatic sample preparation, culture counting, and other related automation equipment.

[0003] In such automated equipment, complex operations such as clamping, transferring, closing the lid, and flipping of culture dishes are inevitably involved. Inevitably, there will be times when upright and inverted culture dishes appear simultaneously. Currently, automated clamping devices can only clamp upright culture dishes. In such cases, usually, the upright and inverted culture dishes are classified and then operated in two different devices respectively. This method not only consumes time and effort but also increases equipment costs. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a finger that can support the clamping of culture dishes in both upright and inverted positions, which can meet the requirements of not dropping, contaminating the culture dishes, and the diverse placement types of samples during complex operations such as clamping, transferring, closing the lid, and flipping of culture dishes; existing culture dish clamping fingers, although they can achieve the clamping and transfer of culture dishes, mostly have single functions, cannot support the clamping of culture dishes in both upright and inverted positions simultaneously, cannot support complex operations such as flipping of culture dishes, and cannot meet the diverse needs of different types of samples for sample clamping methods.

[0004] In a fully automatic colony culture counting system with the publication number CN217499272U, it includes a constant temperature culture chamber, a circular turntable, a lifting manipulator, an electric claw, a rack, a scanning station, and a photographing station. The disadvantage of this solution is that although a self-centering finger for clamping culture dishes is installed at the end of the electric claw, this solution only supports a single-direction placement method of culture dishes. When upright and inverted culture dishes appear simultaneously, it cannot perform clamping operations efficiently, limiting the application scenarios of the product and unable to meet the diverse sample clamping needs in actual use. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention provides a self-centering finger that can support the clamping of culture dishes in both upright and inverted positions, solving the problems in the prior art that the culture dish clamping finger has a single function, cannot support the clamping of culture dishes in both upright and inverted positions simultaneously, cannot support complex operations such as flipping of culture dishes, and cannot meet the diverse needs of different types of samples for sample clamping methods.

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a self-centering finger that can support both the upright and inverted clamping of petri dishes, meeting the diverse requirements of different types of samples for the clamping method, and having the effect of supporting the upright and inverted clamping of petri dishes.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: A self-centering finger that can support the upright and inverted clamping of petri dishes, including a finger body, which is composed of two arc-shaped rod-like finger shafts, and the centers of the two finger shafts are opposite and horizontally opposed, and connection end blocks are provided at one end of each of the two finger shafts, and the connection end blocks are fixed to the driving device. There are several fixed end blocks on the finger shafts, and several spaced-apart stroke channels are penetrated through the side surfaces of the fixed end blocks near the centers of the finger shafts. Upper ejector rods and lower ejector rods are inserted into the stroke channels, and the upper ejector rods and the lower ejector rods can be compressed and rebound along the stroke channels.

[0008] Preferably, rectangular fixed end blocks are fixed at the middle parts of the two finger shafts and at the other end away from the connection end blocks. There are two fixed end blocks on each finger shaft, and the fixed end blocks on the two finger shafts are symmetrical and integrally formed with the finger shafts.

[0009] Preferably, two stroke channels are provided on the fixed end blocks. The stroke channels are spaced apart and parallel to each other, and the centers of the cross-sections of the stroke channels on the same fixed end block are located on the same straight line. The cross-section of the stroke channel matches the upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod, and the upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod are respectively accommodated in the corresponding stroke channels.

[0010] Preferably, the upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod have the same shape, which is a circular rod-like structure. A part of the upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod located in the stroke channel and away from the center of the finger shaft has a diameter smaller than that of the stroke channel, which is the tail head of the ejector rod. Springs are sleeved on the outer circumferences of the tail heads of the ejector rods in the stroke channels.

[0011] Preferably, the stroke channel extends perpendicularly to the side surface of the fixed end block near the center of the finger shaft and penetrates through the fixed end block. The diameter of the end of the stroke channel away from the center of the finger shaft matches the tail head of the ejector rod, which is the tail hole of the ejector rod. The tail head of the ejector rod can be compressed or extended along the stroke channel towards the tail hole of the ejector rod.

[0012] Preferably, it further includes a petri dish. The petri dish is a cylindrical structure, composed of a dish bottom and a dish cover. Both the dish bottom and the dish cover are cylindrical tubular structures with one end closed. The inner diameter of the dish cover is larger than that of the dish bottom, and the open end of the dish cover is detachably sleeved on the outer circumference of the open end of the dish bottom.

[0013] Preferably, the inner space formed by the two finger shafts facing each other and horizontally opposed is matched with the shape of the culture dish, and the culture dish can be accommodated between the two finger shafts.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: The present invention provides a self-centering finger that can support the clamping of a culture dish in both upright and inverted postures, which can effectively solve the problems that the existing fingers for clamping a culture dish have a single function, cannot support the clamping of a culture dish in both upright and inverted postures at the same time, cannot support complex operations such as flipping the culture dish, and cannot meet the diverse requirements of different types of samples for the clamping method. It has the characteristics of being able to support the clamping of a culture dish in both upright and inverted postures at the same time and meeting the diverse requirements of different types of samples for the clamping method. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a front view schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the finger body clamping the culture dish in an inverted posture in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 For Figure 2 The partial enlarged view of the partial A in

[0018] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the finger body clamping the culture dish in an upright posture in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 5 For Figure 4 The partial enlarged view of the partial B in

[0020] Figure 6 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ejector rod structure in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 7 For Figure 6 The partial enlarged view of the partial C in

[0022] In the figure: driving device 1, finger body 2, connecting end block 2.1, finger shaft 2.2, fixed end block 2.3, upper ejector rod 2.31, lower ejector rod 2.32, ejector rod tail head 2.33, ejector rod tail hole 2.34, stop block 2.35, spring 2.36, stroke channel 2.37, culture dish 3, dish bottom 3.1, dish cover 3.2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0024] In recent years, with the rapid development of bioengineering technology and the increasing attention of the public to the hazards of microorganisms such as bacteria, the workload of various scientific research institutions and related testing departments in aspects such as microbial sample preparation, cultivation, and detection has increased rapidly, resulting in a gradual increase in the demand for automated equipment for microbial automatic sample preparation, cultivation counting, and other related aspects.

[0025] When complex operations such as clamping, transferring, closing the lid, and flipping of petri dishes are necessarily involved in such automated equipment, it is inevitable that both upright petri dishes and inverted petri dishes will appear at the same time. Currently, only upright petri dishes can be clamped in automated clamping equipment. In such cases, usually, the upright and inverted petri dishes are classified and then operated in two pieces of equipment respectively. This method not only takes time and effort but also increases the equipment cost. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a finger that can support the clamping of upright and inverted petri dishes, which can meet the requirements that the petri dish will not fall, be contaminated, and the placement types of sample diversity during complex operations such as clamping, transferring, closing the lid, and flipping of the petri dish; the existing petri dish clamping fingers, although they can achieve the clamping and transferring of the petri dish, still have the problems that most of them have single functions, cannot support the clamping of upright and inverted petri dishes at the same time, cannot support complex operations such as flipping the petri dish, and cannot meet the diverse requirements of different types of samples for the sample clamping method. To solve the above problems, Embodiments 1 and 2 are provided. Both Embodiments 1 and 2 include a driving device 1, a finger main body 2, a connecting end block 2.1, a finger rod body 2.2, a fixed end block 2.3, an upper ejector rod 2.31, a lower ejector rod 2.32, an ejector rod tail head 2.33, an ejector rod tail hole 2.34, a stop block 2.35, a spring 2.36, a stroke channel 2.37, a petri dish 3, a dish bottom 3.1, and a dish lid 3.2.

[0026] See Figures 1 to 7Namely, this is Embodiment 1. Embodiment 1 is a self-centering finger that can support the clamping of a culture dish in the upright and inverted positions. It includes a finger body 2, which is composed of two rod-shaped finger shafts 2.2. The centers of the two finger shafts 2.2 are opposite to each other horizontally, and connection end blocks 2.1 are provided at one end of each of the two finger shafts 2.2. The connection end block 2.1 is fixed to the driving device 1. There are several fixed end blocks 2.3 on the finger shaft. A number of spaced-apart travel channels are provided through the side surface of the fixed end block 2.3 near the center of the finger shaft 2.2. In Embodiment 1, there are 2 travel channels 2.37 distributed vertically in the fixed end block. An upper ejector rod 2.31 and a lower ejector rod 2.32 are inserted into the travel channel 2.37. The upper ejector rod 2.31 and the lower ejector rod 2.32 can be compressed and rebound along the travel channel 2.37. By providing two finger shafts 2.2 on the finger body 2, the upper and lower ejector rods on the fixed end block 2.3 are used to clamp the dish cover 3.2 and the dish bottom 3.1 simultaneously, so as to support the clamping of the culture dish in the upright and inverted positions, meeting the diverse requirements of different types of samples for the sample clamping method.

[0027] Refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , Figure 2 , which is a schematic diagram of the finger body of Embodiment 1 clamping a culture dish in the inverted position. Figure 3 is Figure 2 The partial enlarged view of the partial A in. In the figure, rectangular fixed end blocks 2.3 are fixed at the middle parts of the two finger shafts 2.2 and at the other end away from the connection end block 2.1. There are two fixed end blocks 2.3 on each finger shaft. The fixed end blocks 2.3 on the two finger shafts are symmetric and are integrally formed with the finger shaft 2.2.

[0028] Refer to Figure 6 , which is the front view schematic diagram of the ejector rod structure of Embodiment 1. In the figure, two travel channels are provided on the fixed end block. The travel channels are spaced apart and parallel to each other, and the centers of the cross-sections of the travel channels on the same fixed end block are located on the same straight line. The cross-section of the travel channel matches the upper ejector rod 2.31 and the lower ejector rod 2.32. The upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod are respectively accommodated in the corresponding travel channels.

[0029] The upper ejector rod 2.31 and the lower ejector rod 2.32 have the same shape, which is a circular rod structure. A part of the upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod located in the travel channel and away from the center of the finger shaft 2.2 has a diameter smaller than that of the travel channel, which is the ejector rod tail head 2.34. A spring 2.36 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the ejector rod tail head 2.34 in the travel channel.

[0030] Refer to Figure 7 , which is Figure 6Partial enlarged view of part C. In the figure, the stroke channel extends outward perpendicular to the side surface of the fixed end block near the center of the finger rod body and penetrates the fixed end block 2.3. The diameter at one end of the stroke channel far from the center of the finger rod body matches the tail head of the ejector rod 2.33, which is the tail hole of the ejector rod 2.34. The tail head of the ejector rod can be compressed or extended along the stroke channel towards the tail hole of the ejector rod.

[0031] Refer to Figure 4 , which is a schematic diagram of the finger main body in the first embodiment for clamping a petri dish in a positive position. The figure includes a petri dish 3. The petri dish is a cylindrical structure. In this embodiment, the size of the petri dish is a petri dish with a nominal diameter of 90 mm and a nominal height of 15 mm. It is composed of a dish bottom 3.1 and a dish cover 3.2. Both the dish bottom and the dish cover are cylindrical tubular structures with one end closed. The inner diameter of the dish cover is larger than that of the dish bottom, and the open end of the dish cover is detachably sleeved on the outer periphery of the open end of the dish bottom. The inner space formed by the two finger rod bodies facing each other horizontally matches the shape of the petri dish. The petri dish can be accommodated between the two finger rod bodies. In this embodiment, the two finger rod bodies enclose a circle, which matches the circle of the petri dish, and the diameter of the circle enclosed by the two finger rod bodies is larger than that of the petri dish, thereby increasing the adaptation range of the petri dish.

[0032] In Figure 2 and Figure 3Based on the above, the solution is further refined to obtain Embodiment 2. Embodiment 2 is similar to Embodiment 1, and both are self-centering fingers that can support the clamping of culture dishes in the upright and inverted positions. Embodiment 2 includes a finger body 2, which is composed of two arc-shaped finger shafts 2.2. The centers of the two finger shafts are opposite to each other and horizontally opposed. At one end of each of the two finger shafts, there is a rectangular connecting end block 2.1, which is inserted and fixed to the driving device 1. On the finger shaft and at the other end away from the connecting end block, several rectangular fixing end blocks are fixed. In Embodiment 2, the two arc-shaped finger shafts 2.2 can form a circular internal space, which matches the shape of the culture dish 3 to be clamped, having the effect of improving adaptability. And on each finger shaft, there are two fixing end blocks 2.3. The two fixing end blocks are respectively located at the middle end of the finger shaft and at one end away from the driving device 1. On the side of the fixing end block near the center of the finger shaft, several circular travel channels are vertically and spacedly arranged through the fixing end block. In Embodiment 2, there are 2 travel channels 2.37 arranged up and down in each fixing end block. The travel channels 2.37 are perpendicular to the opposite sides of the two finger shafts. And an upper ejector rod 2.31 and a lower ejector rod 2.32 are respectively inserted in the travel channels. When clamping, the travel channels are perpendicular to the side of the finger shaft. The upper ejector rod 2.31 and the lower ejector rod 2.32 can be compressed and rebound along the travel channels. When the upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod contact the culture dish, they just fit the wall surface of the culture dish, improving the clamping stability. In Embodiment 2, there are a total of 4 upper ejector rods 2.31 and 4 lower ejector rods 2.32. The upper ejector rods and the lower ejector rods have the same structure. And the 4 upper ejector rods are all located on the same side of the two finger shafts, while the 4 lower ejector rods are all located on the other side of the two finger shafts. By providing two finger shafts on the finger body and using the upper ejector rods and the lower ejector rods on the fixing end blocks to clamp the lid and the bottom of the dish at the same time, it can support the upright clamping and inverted clamping of the culture dish at the same time, meeting the diverse needs of different types of samples for the clamping method of the samples.

[0033] The working principles of Embodiment 1 and 2 are as follows: When the finger is installed on the driving mechanism to clamp the culture dish sample, the upper and lower multi-layer ejector rods installed on the finger can respectively clamp the dish cover and the dish bottom according to different placement methods of the culture dish. The compression amount of the ejector rods can be automatically adjusted according to the different diameters of the dish cover and the dish bottom. When the diameter of the dish cover is large, the compression amount of the ejector rod in contact with the dish cover is large; when the diameter of the dish bottom is small, the compression amount of the ejector rod in contact with the dish bottom is small. The compressed ejector rods have a certain elastic force, which can firmly clamp the dish cover and the dish bottom of the culture dish at the same time. Whether the culture dish is placed upright or inverted, it will not fall during subsequent complex operations such as transferring and flipping the culture dish after clamping, and the risk of contamination can be eliminated. Furthermore, the finger can support both the upright clamping and the inverted clamping of the culture dish, meeting the diverse needs of different types of samples for the clamping method of the sample. It can effectively solve the problems that the existing fingers for clamping culture dishes have a single function, cannot support both the upright clamping and the inverted clamping of the culture dish, cannot support complex operations such as flipping the culture dish, and cannot meet the diverse needs of different types of samples for the clamping method of the sample.

[0034] The beneficial effects of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 are as follows: This embodiment provides a self-centering finger that can support both the upright and inverted clamping of a culture dish, which can effectively solve the problems that the existing fingers for clamping culture dishes have a single function, cannot support both the upright clamping and the inverted clamping of the culture dish, cannot support complex operations such as flipping the culture dish, and cannot meet the diverse needs of different types of samples for the clamping method of the sample. It has the characteristics of being able to support both the upright clamping and the inverted clamping of the culture dish, meeting the diverse needs of different types of samples for the clamping method of the sample.

[0035] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not impose any limitations on the present invention. Any simple modification, change, and equivalent transformation made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present invention still fall within the protection scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A self-centering finger capable of supporting the clamping of a culture dish in both upright and inverted positions, characterized in that, Comprising: A finger main body, which is composed of two rod-shaped finger shafts. The centers of the two finger shafts are opposite to each other and horizontally opposed. Connection end blocks are provided at one end of each of the two finger shafts. The connection end blocks are fixed to the driving device. There are several fixed end blocks on the finger shafts. A plurality of spaced-apart stroke channels are penetrated through the side surface of the fixed end block near the center of the finger shaft. An upper ejector rod and a lower ejector rod are inserted into the stroke channels. The upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod can be compressed and rebound along the stroke channels.

2. The self-centering finger capable of supporting the clamping of a culture dish in both upright and inverted positions according to claim 1, wherein Rectangular fixed end blocks are fixed at the middle parts of the two finger shafts and at the other end away from the connection end blocks. Two fixed end blocks are provided on each finger shaft. The fixed end blocks on the two finger shafts are symmetric and integrally formed with the finger shafts.

3. The self-centering finger capable of supporting the clamping of a culture dish in both upright and inverted positions according to claim 1, characterized in that, Two stroke channels are provided on the fixed end block. The cross section of the stroke channel is circular. The stroke channels are spaced apart and parallel to each other. The centers of the cross sections of the stroke channels on the same fixed end block are located on the same straight line. The cross section of the stroke channel matches the upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod. The upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod are respectively accommodated in the corresponding stroke channels.

4. The self-centering finger capable of supporting the clamping of a culture dish in both upright and inverted positions according to claim 1, characterized in that The upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod have the same shape, both being circular rod-shaped structures. The diameter of a part of the upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod away from the center of the finger shaft is smaller, which is the ejector rod tail head. Springs are sleeved on the outer periphery of the ejector rod tail head in the stroke channel.

5. The self-centering finger capable of supporting the clamping of a culture dish in both upright and inverted positions according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, The stroke channel extends outward perpendicular to the side surface of the fixed end block near the center of the finger shaft and penetrates the fixed end block. The diameter of one end of the stroke channel away from the center of the finger shaft matches the ejector rod tail head, which is the ejector rod tail hole. The ejector rod tail head can be compressed or extended along the stroke channel towards the ejector rod tail hole.

6. The self - centering finger capable of supporting the clamping of the culture dish in the upright and inverted positions according to claim 1, wherein, It further includes a culture dish. The culture dish is of a cylindrical structure and is composed of a dish bottom and a dish cover. Both the dish bottom and the dish cover are cylindrical tubular structures with one end closed. The inner diameter of the dish cover is larger than that of the dish bottom. The open end of the dish cover is detachably sleeved on the outer periphery of the open end of the dish bottom.

7. A self-centering finger capable of supporting the clamping of a culture dish in both upright and inverted positions, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The internal space shape formed by the two finger shafts opposite to each other and horizontally opposed matches the culture dish. The culture dish can be accommodated between the two finger shafts.

8. The self-centering finger capable of supporting the clamping of the culture dish in the upright and inverted positions according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that The lengths of the upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod are the same, and the maximum compression amount of the upper ejector rod and the lower ejector rod is 4.5 mm.

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