Automated slide staining apparatus

Abstract

The application discloses an automatic slice preparation and dyeing device and belongs to the technical field of microorganism detection devices. The automatic slice preparation and dyeing device comprises a rack, a disc, a dyeing mechanism, a flushing mechanism and a water collecting tank. The disc is rotationally connected with the rack. The disc is uniformly provided with a plurality of splash-proof grooves in the circumferential direction. The groove bottom of the splash-proof groove is concave downward to form a drainage groove. The groove bottom of the drainage groove is provided with a water passing hole. The dyeing mechanism is configured to drop dyeing reagent on the slide in the drainage groove. The flushing mechanism is configured to flush the dyeing reagent on the slide. The splash-proof groove can surround the splashing droplets generated in the flushing process. The water collecting tank is located below the disc. The water passing hole can guide the flushing liquid in the splash-proof groove and the drainage groove to the water collecting tank. The technical scheme of the application eliminates the midway transportation link of the wet slide. Not only the full-process automation from sample input to finished product output is realized, but also the breakage and cross-contamination risk caused by the wet slide transportation are avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of microbial detection equipment technology, and in particular to an automated slide preparation and staining device. Background Technology

[0002] In the fields of pathology and microbiology diagnosis, staining of tissue or cell smears is a crucial pretreatment step for microscopic observation. Conventional staining methods, such as Gram staining and acid-fast staining, typically involve multiple steps: reagent staining, mordanting, destaining, and counterstaining. Each step requires thorough rinsing and drying to prevent reagent residue and cross-contamination between steps, ensuring staining quality and accurate interpretation.

[0003] It should be noted that in the pursuit of equipment integration, the rinsing process presents a difficult-to-resolve contradiction. If the rinsing station is integrated inside the equipment, the rinsing process will generate a large number of droplets carrying chemical reagents or biological samples. These droplets can easily splash onto areas such as robotic arms, conveyor tracks, adjacent slides, and even the inner walls of the equipment, causing contaminants to be transferred between different samples through droplets, resulting in serious cross-contamination. For this reason, to avoid pollution of the overall environment caused by the rinsing process, existing technologies generally choose to physically isolate the high-risk "wet zone" rinsing from the "dry zone" drying that requires cleanliness, even at the cost of efficiency loss due to process interruption, forming a "wet-dry separation" architecture.

[0004] Therefore, in existing technologies, automated staining equipment generally adopts a "multi-tank immersion" dry-wet separation architecture. This involves a robotic arm gripping slides and immersing them sequentially into a series of independent reagent and washing tanks to complete the staining process. However, after staining and rinsing, the wet slides, still containing residual liquid, must be removed from the staining area and transferred to specialized equipment such as an oven or drying table for drying. This "dry-wet separation" architecture directly disrupts the continuous process flow, creating unavoidable interruptions and fragmentation. This not only limits the overall efficiency of the equipment but also inevitably increases the risk of slide breakage, sample label detachment, or confusion during the secondary transfer of wet slides. This contaminates the internal environment of the equipment and subsequent samples, posing a biosafety threat to operators. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention proposes an automated slide preparation and staining device that can realize the integrated automated operation of the entire staining and washing process, eliminate the intermediate transfer link of wet slides, improve staining efficiency while avoiding cross-contamination of samples to be tested, and reduce biosafety risks.

[0006] An automatic slide preparation and staining apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a frame, on which a disc is rotatably connected, a plurality of anti-splash grooves are uniformly arranged circumferentially, the anti-splash grooves are configured to position and support slides, the bottom of the anti-splash grooves is recessed to form a drainage groove, the bottom of the drainage groove has a water passage hole, the water passage hole is located on the side of the drainage groove away from the center of the disc, and the projection of the water passage hole on the horizontal plane spans the bottom of the anti-splash groove and the bottom of the drainage groove; a staining mechanism is arranged around the disc, the staining mechanism is configured to add staining reagent to the slide in the drainage groove; a rinsing mechanism is arranged around the disc, the rinsing mechanism is located on the side of the staining mechanism closer to the center of the disc, the rinsing mechanism is configured to rinse the staining reagent on the slide, the anti-splash grooves can contain splash droplets generated during rinsing; a water collection tank is located below the disc, the water collection tank is connected to the water passage hole, the water passage hole can guide the rinsing liquid in the anti-splash groove and the drainage groove to the water collection tank.

[0007] The system offers at least the following advantages: The frame is equipped with a disc, a staining mechanism, a rinsing mechanism, and a water collection tank. The disc is rotatably connected to the frame via a central shaft. Multiple splash-proof grooves are evenly distributed along the disc's circumference, serving to position and support slides. The bottom of each splash-proof groove is further recessed to form a drainage groove. A water passage hole is provided at the bottom of the drainage groove, located on the side furthest from the center of the disc. Its horizontal projection spans the adjacent bottom areas of the splash-proof and drainage grooves, forming a cross-regional flow channel. The staining mechanism is fixedly mounted on the frame and located on the circumference of the disc. It is configured to add staining reagent to slides that have progressed to the corresponding splash-proof grooves. The rinsing mechanism is mounted on the frame and located on the circumference of the disc, on the side of the staining mechanism closest to the center of the disc. It is configured to rinse the stained slides. A water collection tank is located below the disc and connects to the splash guard and drainage tank via water passages. During rinsing, the splash guard prevents splashed rinsing droplets from entering, thus preventing cross-contamination between slides. All waste liquid generated from rinsing and staining steps flows into the water collection tank below the disc through water passages at the bottom of the drainage tank, achieving centralized collection and rapid discharge of waste liquid. The splash guards, evenly spaced around the disc, provide fixed positions for the slides, allowing them to pass through the staining and rinsing processes sequentially via a rotating stepping motion, completely eliminating the need for transporting wet slides in traditional equipment. During rinsing, the splash guards form independent protective zones, effectively isolating splashed droplets generated during rinsing. Simultaneously, water passages across these zones guide the waste liquid from the sample area to the water collection tank for active discharge. Therefore, the technical solution of this invention eliminates the intermediate transport of wet slides, achieving full automation from sample input to finished product output, and avoiding the risks of breakage and cross-contamination associated with wet slide transport, thereby ensuring staining quality and reducing biosafety risks.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, two water passage holes are provided, which are arranged at opposite ends of the drainage channel along the short axis direction of the drainage channel.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the invention, a drying mechanism is also included, which is disposed on the frame and located on the periphery of the disk, and is configured to dry glass slides.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the staining mechanism includes a first staining component configured to add new staining reagent to the sample to be tested on a glass slide; the rinsing mechanism includes a rinsing component configured to rinse and remove residual staining reagent from the glass slide; and the drying mechanism includes a first drying component configured to dry the rinsing liquid on the glass slide. The first staining component, the rinsing component, and the first drying component are all disposed on a frame and arranged at the same station on the periphery of a disk. The first staining component, the rinsing component, and the second drying component are configured to respectively add staining reagent, rinse residual reagent, and dry the surface of the glass slide at the same station.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the drying mechanism further includes a second drying component disposed on the frame and arranged around the periphery of the disk, the second drying component being configured to dry and preheat the glass slide coated with the sample to be tested.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a window is provided on the frame, the window is located above the disk, and the window is configured to expose a glass slide that has stepped to the bottom of the window; the device further includes: a cover opening mechanism, disposed on the frame, configured to open the specimen cup and transfer the specimen cup in the open state to the sampling station; a sampling mechanism, disposed on the frame, configured to take a sample from the specimen cup at the sampling station and apply the obtained sample to the glass slide exposed by the window; and a recovery mechanism, disposed on the frame, configured to recover the stained glass slide from the window.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the cap-opening mechanism includes: a swing arm rotatably mounted on a frame, the swing arm having two swing ends fixedly connected to each other, the swing arm being configured to simultaneously drive the two swing ends to move alternately between a cap-opening station and a sampling station; two first clamping assemblies vertically mounted on the frame, the first clamping assemblies being configured to clamp the cap of the specimen cup at the cap-opening station; and two second clamping assemblies respectively mounted on the two swing ends of the swing arm, the second clamping assemblies being rotatable relative to the swing ends, the second clamping assemblies being configured to clamp the body of the specimen cup at the cap-opening station and rotate it relative to the cap of the specimen cup.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the sampling mechanism includes: a smearing component rotatably mounted on a frame; a gripping component drively connected to the smearing component, the smearing component being able to drive the gripping component to reciprocate in a horizontal plane, the gripping component being able to rise and fall relative to the smearing component, the gripping component being configured to grip a sampling cylinder; a suction component connected to the gripping component, the suction component being configured to draw the sample into the sampling cylinder; and a stirring component connected to the gripping component, the stirring component being configured to control the gripping component to drive the sampling cylinder to stir the sample in the specimen cup.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the sampling mechanism further includes an unloading assembly connected to the gripping assembly, the unloading assembly being configured to detach the sampling cylinder from the gripping assembly.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the recycling mechanism includes: a receiving component disposed on a frame, the receiving component being configured to store glass slides; a first transfer component disposed on the frame, the first transfer component being configured to pick up stained glass slides from a disk via a window; and a first transit component disposed on the frame, the first transit component being configured to receive glass slides transferred by the first transfer component and store them in the receiving component.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a first feeding mechanism is further included, disposed on the frame, the output end of the first feeding mechanism being connected to the input end of the disk, and the first feeding mechanism being configured to store and provide blank glass slides to the disk.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a first feeding mechanism includes: a hopper disposed on a frame, the hopper being configured to store blank glass slides; a second transfer assembly disposed on the frame, the input end of the second transfer assembly being connected to the output end of the hopper, the second transfer assembly being configured to sequentially transfer individual blank glass slides from the hopper; and a second intermediate transfer assembly disposed on the frame, the input end of the second intermediate transfer assembly being connected to the output end of the second transfer assembly, the output end of the second intermediate transfer assembly being connected to the input end of a disc, the second intermediate transfer assembly being configured to receive blank glass slides transferred by the second transfer assembly and sequentially input them into a splash guard.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a second feeding mechanism is also included. The second feeding mechanism is disposed on the frame. The second feeding mechanism, the cover opening mechanism and the disc are arranged sequentially on the periphery of the sampling mechanism along the rotation direction of the sampling mechanism. The second feeding mechanism is configured to store the sampling cylinder and sequentially output the sampling cylinder to the gripping station.

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a third feeding mechanism is also included, which is disposed on the frame and connected to the disc. The third feeding mechanism is configured to store and provide a specimen cup containing the sample to be tested to the capping mechanism.

[0021] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the third feeding mechanism includes: a receiving tray, coaxially disposed at the upper end of the disc, the receiving tray being rotatable relative to the disc, and the receiving tray being configured to store specimen cups; and a third transfer component, disposed on the frame, the third transfer component being configured to transfer the specimen cups on the receiving tray to between the first clamping component and the second clamping component.

[0022] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the automated slide preparation and staining equipment in this specific embodiment;

[0025] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the dyeing mechanism, rinsing mechanism and drying mechanism;

[0026] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Sectional view in;

[0027] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the middle disc;

[0028] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the central opening mechanism;

[0029] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the second clamping component;

[0030] Figure 7 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the middle sampling mechanism and the second feeding mechanism;

[0031] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the sampling mechanism;

[0032] Figure 9 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the recycling mechanism;

[0033] Figure 10 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the first feeding mechanism.

[0034] Figure label:

[0035] Frame 1, window 11, water collection tank 12;

[0036] 2. Disc 2, splash guard 21, drainage groove 211, water passage hole 212;

[0037] First dyeing component 31, second dyeing component 32;

[0038] Rinse component 41;

[0039] First drying assembly 51, second drying assembly 52, third drying assembly 53, drying component 531, heating component 532;

[0040] The opening mechanism 6 includes a swing arm 61, a swing end 611, a swing motor 612, a first clamping assembly 62, a first claw control motor 621, a first lifting motor 622, a first chuck 623, a second clamping assembly 63, a second claw control motor 631, a first rotary motor 632, a second chuck 633, a connecting rod 634, an unlocking shaft 635, a temporary storage assembly 64, a temporary storage panel 641, and a first limiting groove 642.

[0041] Sampling mechanism 7, coating component 71, coating motor 711, gear 712, rack 713, gripping component 72, gripping cylinder 721, suction component 73, mixing component 74, mixing motor 741, unloading component 75, unloading plate 751;

[0042] Recycling mechanism 8, storage component 81, slide holder 811, slot 8111, first transfer component 82, first transfer component 83, first push track 831, first pusher 832;

[0043] First feeding mechanism 91, second transfer component 911, second push track 9111, second pusher 9112, second transfer component 912, third push track 9121, third pusher 9122, blocking component 913, hopper 914;

[0044] Second feeding mechanism 92, material box 921, second limiting groove 9211;

[0045] The third feeding mechanism 93, the storage tray 931, the third limiting groove 9311, and the third transfer component 932;

[0046] Sampling tube 10, glass slide 20, specimen cup 30, lid opening station 40, sampling station 50, gripping station 60, coating station 70. Detailed Implementation

[0047] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0048] In the description of this invention, "several" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," "exceeding," etc. are understood to exclude the stated number, and "above," "below," "within," etc. are understood to include the stated number. If "first," "second," etc. are used in the description, they are only configured to distinguish technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features or the order of the indicated technical features.

[0049] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set", "install", and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0050] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 This embodiment discloses an automatic slide preparation and staining device, including a frame 1, a disc 2, a staining mechanism, a rinsing mechanism, and a water collection tank 12. The disc 2 is rotatably connected to the frame 1. Multiple splash-proof grooves 21 are evenly arranged circumferentially on the disc 2. The splash-proof grooves 21 are positioned to hold and support glass slides 20. The bottom of each splash-proof groove 21 is recessed to form a drainage groove 211. A water passage hole 212 is provided at the bottom of the drainage groove 211, located on the side of the drainage groove 211 away from the center of the disc 2. The projection of the water passage hole 212 on the horizontal plane spans the bottom of the splash-proof groove 21 and the drainage groove. The bottom of the drain trough 211; the staining mechanism is arranged around the periphery of the disc 2, and the staining mechanism is configured to add staining reagent to the glass slide 20 in the drain trough 211; the rinsing mechanism is arranged around the periphery of the disc 2, and the rinsing mechanism is located on the side of the staining mechanism closer to the center of the disc 2, and the rinsing mechanism is configured to rinse the staining reagent on the glass slide 20; the anti-splash trough 21 can block the splash droplets generated during the rinsing process; the water collection trough 12 is located below the disc 2, and the water collection trough 12 is connected to the water passage hole 212, which can guide the rinsing liquid in the anti-splash trough 211 and the drain trough 211 to the water collection trough 12.

[0051] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, the frame 1 is equipped with a disc 2, a staining mechanism, a rinsing mechanism, and a water collection tank 12. The disc 2 is rotatably connected to the frame 1 via a central pivot. Multiple splash-proof grooves 21 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the disc 2, which are configured to position and support glass slides 20. The bottom of each splash-proof groove 21 is further recessed to form a drainage groove 211. A water passage hole 212 is provided at the bottom of the drainage groove 211, located on the side of the drainage groove 211 away from the center of the disc 2. Its horizontal projection spans the adjacent bottom areas of the splash-proof groove 21 and the drainage groove 211, forming a cross-regional flow channel. The staining mechanism is fixedly mounted on the frame 1 and located on the periphery of the disc 2. It is configured to add staining reagent to the glass slides 20 that have progressed to the corresponding workstation in the drainage groove 211. The rinsing mechanism is mounted on the frame 1 and located on the periphery of the disc 2. The rinsing mechanism is located on the side of the staining mechanism closer to the center of the disc 2, and is configured to rinse the stained glass slides 20. The water collection tank 12 is located below the disc 2. It is connected to the splash guard 21 and the drain 211 through the water passage 212. During the rinsing process, the splash guard 21 blocks the splashed rinsing droplets inside to prevent cross-contamination between the slides 20. All waste liquid generated from the rinsing and staining steps flows into the water collection tank 12 below the disc 2 through the water passage 212 at the bottom of the drain 211, realizing the centralized collection and rapid discharge of waste liquid.

[0052] The slides 20 are fixed in place by anti-splash grooves 21 evenly arranged around the circumference of the disc. The slides 20 are then rotated and stepped through the staining and rinsing processes sequentially, completely eliminating the need for transporting wet slides 20 as in traditional equipment. During rinsing, the anti-splash grooves 21 form an independent protective zone, effectively isolating splash droplets generated during rinsing. Simultaneously, water passages 212, opened across the zone, guide the waste liquid from the sample area to the collection tank 12 for active drainage. Therefore, the technical solution of this invention eliminates the intermediate transport link of the wet slides 20, achieving full automation from sample input to finished product output, and avoiding the risks of breakage and cross-contamination caused by transporting wet slides 20, thereby ensuring staining quality and reducing biosafety risks.

[0053] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, two water passage holes 212 are provided, and the two water passage holes 212 are arranged at opposite ends of the drainage channel 211 along the short axis direction.

[0054] Reference Figure 4Within each splash guard 21, two rectangular water passage holes 212 extend along its long axis and span over the drainage trough 211 and the splash guard 21, respectively. These two water passage holes 212 are symmetrically arranged. Thus, the splash guard 21 ensures the precise positioning of the glass slide 20 and effectively acts as a dike to prevent liquid from splashing out of the working area during rinsing and drying, preventing cross-contamination. Simultaneously, the water passage holes 212 cover both the drainage trough 211 and the splash guard 21, forming a channel for drainage from a higher level to a lower level. This means that under the influence of gravity, the liquid can naturally and quickly drain from the drainage trough 211 into the collection tank 12.

[0055] It should be noted that the length of the water passage 212 is designed to be half the long axis of the drainage channel 211, rather than running through the entire length. This ensures a large drainage cross-sectional area to cope with the peak flushing flow while retaining enough solid material to maintain the overall structural strength and rigidity of the disc 2, ensuring the stability and lifespan of the equipment under long-term high-speed operation.

[0056] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, a drying mechanism is also included, which is disposed on the frame 1 and located on the periphery of the disk 2, and the drying mechanism is configured to dry the glass slide 20.

[0057] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the staining mechanism includes a first staining component 31, which is configured to add new staining reagent to the sample to be tested on the slide 20; the rinsing mechanism includes a rinsing component 41, which is configured to rinse and remove residual staining reagent on the slide 20; and the drying mechanism includes a first drying component 51, which is configured to dry the rinsing liquid on the slide 20. The first staining component 31, the rinsing component 41, and the first drying component 51 are all arranged on the frame 1 and at the same station on the periphery of the disk 2. The first staining component 31, the rinsing component 41, and the first drying component 51 are configured to perform the operations of adding staining reagent, rinsing residual reagent, and drying the surface of the slide 20 on the same station, respectively.

[0058] Reference Figure 2 The first staining component 31, the rinsing component 41, and the first drying component 51 constitute an integrated processing unit. Specifically, when the splash guard 21 carrying the slide 20 rotates to this station, the output end of the first staining component 31 is aligned vertically with the sample to be tested on the slide 20, achieving precise quantitative addition of staining reagent. The rinsing component 41 is located on the side of the first staining component 31 near the center of the disk 2, and is activated immediately after the previous staining is completed. It thoroughly removes residual reagent by spraying cleaning liquid. The first drying component 51 then operates to quickly evaporate the residual liquid on the surface of the slide 20, bringing it to a basically dry state and providing a clean substrate for subsequent processes.

[0059] Furthermore, the first dyeing component 31, the rinsing component 41, and the first drying component 51 are integrated on a mounting base. The mounting base has an internal cavity and is connected to the operating space of the disc 2 through a bottom through hole, forming a unified functional module.

[0060] Specifically, the first staining assembly 31 includes one or more flexible or rigid infusion tubing and an external staining reagent container connected thereto. The infusion tubing integrates a precision infusion pump, such as a peristaltic pump or syringe pump, to precisely control the reagent delivery volume and flow rate, ensuring a consistent reagent dosage for each slide 20 and achieving quantitative sample addition. Furthermore, the output end of the first staining assembly 31, and the output end of the infusion tubing, is a dispensing needle fixed to a mounting base. This needle is preferably made of a corrosion-resistant material and can accurately align with the sample area on the slide 20. The structure of the second staining assembly 32 is the same as that of the first staining assembly 31, and will not be described further here.

[0061] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the rinsing assembly 41 is connected to an external pure water tank or a direct laboratory water supply system via an inlet pipe. A water pump and control valve are installed in the pipe to provide a stable and pressurized cleaning water flow. The actuating end of the rinsing assembly 41 is a nozzle mounted on a mounting base. The nozzle can be aimed at the glass slide 20 at a certain angle to spray, utilizing the shear force of the water flow to more effectively flush away residual reagents. It is noteworthy that the output end of the rinsing assembly 41 is intentionally positioned so as not to directly target the sample area on the glass slide 20, but rather to the side. Cleaning is achieved through diffused water flow or indirect rinsing, avoiding potential tissue section detachment, damage, or morphological disruption that could result from direct impact of high-pressure or concentrated water flow on the sample. This maximizes the protection of sample integrity while cleaning.

[0062] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the first drying component 51 is a miniature fan or a blowing system connected to an external clean air source. Its output end is connected to the cavity of the mounting base, and the airflow generated is guided through the cavity and through holes to be blown evenly onto the glass slide 20 in the splash-proof groove 21. It should be noted that the splash-proof groove 21 is recessed downward to form a drainage groove 211. The glass slide 20 is placed on the protrusion naturally formed by the splash-proof groove 21, and the glass slide 20 is kept separate from the bottom of the drainage groove 211. Therefore, when the first drying component 51 blows air into the splash-proof groove 21, the airflow will dry the glass slide 20 from all directions under the guidance of the water passage 212 and the drainage groove 211, thereby further promoting the drying of the glass slide 20 and reducing the possibility of cross-contamination during the dyeing process.

[0063] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the drying mechanism further includes a second drying component 52, which is disposed on the frame 1 and arranged around the periphery of the disk 2. The second drying component 52 is configured to dry and preheat the glass slide 20 coated with the sample to be tested.

[0064] See attached document Figure 2 Multiple second drying components 52 are provided, positioned on the frame 1 and above the disc 2. These components are arranged sequentially along the rotation direction of the disc 2, forming a continuous and uniform preheating area. The preheated slide 20 provides a temperature-stable reaction interface for subsequent staining reagents, which not only helps promote the uniform and rapid binding of reagents and samples, but also effectively evaporates and removes any condensed ambient moisture or trace amounts of water from the slide 20 surface during preheating, ensuring that the slide 20 is in a clean and dry initial state when entering the staining station.

[0065] Specifically, each second drying component 52 can be independently configured as a heating unit such as an infrared heating lamp, a ceramic heating plate, or a hot air nozzle. Furthermore, through the sequential action of multiple second drying components 52 along the rotation direction, the slide 20 can achieve a gradient heating process during its movement. This gradual heating method effectively avoids sample damage that may be caused by instantaneous high temperature, and while achieving the preheating target, it also ensures the morphological integrity and biological structure stability of the sample to be tested.

[0066] In some embodiments of the present invention, the staining mechanism further includes a second staining component 32, which is arranged sequentially with the integrated processing unit along the rotation direction of the disk 2. The second staining component 32 is used to add staining reagent to the slide 20 for the first time. After the slide 20 has completed the first staining reagent addition, the disk 2 moves the slide 20 to the integrated processing unit, where the rinsing component 41 and the first drying component 51 of the integrated processing unit sequentially complete the rinsing and preliminary drying. Finally, the first staining component 31 adds staining reagent for the second time.

[0067] It is worth noting that the final step of the integrated processing unit is the addition of staining reagent. Therefore, the drying mechanism also includes a third drying component 53, which specifically includes a drying element 531 and a heating element 532, arranged sequentially downstream of the integrated processing unit. It should be noted that the drying element 531 and the heating element 532, as the terminal processing unit of the staining process, function to deeply and thoroughly dry the slides 20 that have completed all staining and cleaning steps, producing a finished product that can be directly used for mounting and microscopic examination. Specifically, refer to the appendix... Figure 2The drying element 531 is fixedly mounted on the frame 1, located at the beginning of the terminal processing unit. It can use a strong airflow to force away most of the liquid remaining on the surface of the glass slide 20, quickly removing any visible water. Multiple heating elements 532 are arranged sequentially downstream of the drying element 531 along the rotation direction of the disk 2. These heating elements 532 continuously and evenly bake the initially dried glass slide 20 through radiant heat or hot air convection to evaporate any trace moisture remaining in the glass slide 20 and sample gaps, ensuring that it reaches a completely dry state.

[0068] The structure of the drying component 531 is the same as that of the first drying component 51, and the structure of the heating component 532 is the same as that of the second drying component 52. These will not be described further here.

[0069] It should be noted that, depending on the different dyeing process requirements, multiple integrated processing units consisting of a first dyeing component 31, a rinsing component 41, and a first drying component 51 can be arranged along the circumference of the disc, forming a flexibly configurable dyeing process in conjunction with the second dyeing component 32. Based on... Figures 2 to 3 In the specific embodiment shown, three integrated processing units are provided. The second dyeing component 32 and the three integrated processing units are arranged sequentially along the rotation direction of the disk 2. The following is based on... Figures 2 to 3The structure shown further illustrates the technical solution of this embodiment of the invention. Taking Gram staining as an example, firstly, the slide 20 carrying the microbial sample passes through the preheating zone of the second drying component 52 and is heated to a suitable temperature to remove environmental moisture, providing a stable pretreatment carrier for the subsequent staining reaction. Subsequently, the disk 2 rotates to deliver the slide 20 to the corresponding station below the second staining component 32, where the crystal violet staining solution is precisely distributed to the sample area to be tested for initial staining. After initial staining, the slide 20 enters the corresponding station below the first integrated processing unit. Through timing control, the slide 20 sequentially completes staining, rinsing, and drying actions at the same station without needing to be transferred to another station. Specifically, the rinsing component 41 sprays water to rinse away excess crystal violet staining solution, then the first drying component 51 starts and dries the slide 20, and finally, the first staining component 31 precisely adds iodine solution to the slide 20 for mordanting. After mordanting, slide 20 enters the corresponding station below the second integrated processing unit, following the same cycle of rinsing, drying, and dripping. Finally, a destaining agent is added to the sample for destaining. After destaining, slide 20 enters the corresponding station below the third integrated processing unit, again following the cycle of rinsing, drying, and dripping. Finally, safranin counterstaining solution is added to the sample for counterstaining. Finally, slide 20, having completed all staining steps, sequentially enters the stations corresponding to the drying unit 531 and the heating unit 532. First, residual droplets are removed by powerful blowing, then deep drying is achieved through heating, resulting in a finished slide 20 that meets microscopic examination standards. The entire process, through the precise positioning of disk 2 and the coordination of multiple mechanisms, achieves standardized and automated operation of the entire Gram staining process. It should be further noted that the technical solution of this invention can also efficiently complete fully automated operations of various complex staining methods such as acid-fast staining and fluorescent staining.

[0070] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, a window 11 is provided on the frame 1, the window 11 is located above the disk 2, and the window 11 is configured to expose the glass slide 20 that has stepped to the bottom of the window 11; the device also includes: a cover opening mechanism 6, which is provided on the frame 1, and is configured to open the specimen cup 30 and move the specimen cup 30 in the open state to the sampling station 50; a sampling mechanism 7, which is provided on the frame 1, and is configured to take a sample from the specimen cup 30 at the sampling station 50 and coat the obtained sample to be tested onto the glass slide 20 exposed by the window 11; and a recovery mechanism 8, which is provided on the frame 1, and is configured to recover the stained glass slide 20 from the window 11.

[0071] Please refer to Figures 1 to 2The window 11 can reveal the glass slide 20 currently held on the splash guard 21 directly below it, thus providing a channel for subsequent sampling, coating, and slide 20 retrieval operations. The sampling mechanism 7 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1, and the capping mechanism 6 and the disc 2 are arranged sequentially around the sampling mechanism 7 along its rotation direction. The capping mechanism 6 is fixedly mounted on the frame 1, and its position corresponds to the movement path of the sampling mechanism 7. The capping mechanism 6 can automatically open the lid of the specimen cup 30 before sampling and move the open specimen cup 30 to the sampling station 50, clearing obstacles for the sampling operation. The sampling mechanism 7, as a key component for sample transfer, is rotatably mounted on the frame 1. Based on this layout, the sampling mechanism 7 can complete the sampling operation sequentially: it rotates to the sampling station 50, performs sampling from the already opened specimen cup 30 at the sampling station 50, and then rotates and positions itself above the window 11 to quantitatively coat the obtained sample onto the blank glass slide 20 exposed by the window 11, thereby completing the automatic slide preparation process. The recovery mechanism 8 is mounted on the frame 1 and located on the output side of the disc 2. It can automatically pick up the glass slide 20 that has completed all staining and drying processes, transfer it, and collect it at a designated location, realizing the automatic recovery and collection of the finished product.

[0072] The technical solution of this invention, through the coordinated operation of the disc 2, the capping mechanism 6, the sampling mechanism 7, and the recovery mechanism 8, can automatically complete the entire process of specimen capping, precise sample coating, multi-step staining, and slide 20 recovery, thereby eliminating the biosafety risks and result variability caused by manual operation. Simultaneously, the disc 2-type staining layout, combined with multi-station collaborative control, not only significantly improves staining efficiency and throughput, but also ensures the consistency of processing conditions for each slide 20 through precise timing and positioning control, thus fundamentally guaranteeing the reliability and repeatability of staining results, making it suitable for high-throughput standardized testing scenarios.

[0073] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the cap-opening mechanism 6 includes a swing arm 61, a first clamping assembly 62, and a second clamping assembly 63. The swing arm 61 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1 and has two swing ends 611 fixedly connected to each other. The swing arm 61 is configured to simultaneously drive the two swing ends 611 to move alternately between the cap-opening station 40 and the sampling station 50. The two first clamping assemblies 62 are vertically mounted on the frame 1 and are configured to clamp the cap of the specimen cup 30 at the cap-opening station 40. The two second clamping assemblies 63 are respectively mounted on the two swing ends 611 of the swing arm 61 and are rotatable relative to the swing ends 611. The second clamping assemblies 63 are configured to clamp the body of the specimen cup 30 at the cap-opening station 40.

[0074] like Figure 5As shown, the swing arm 61 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1 via the swing motor 612. It has two fixedly connected swing ends 611. The swing arm 61 is configured to drive the two swing ends 611 to move alternately between the opening station 40 and the sampling station 50, so that the opening operation matches the sampling rhythm of the sampling mechanism 7. This allows one swing end 611 to perform the opening operation at the opening station 40 while the other swing end 611 can simultaneously perform the feeding or standby operation at the sampling station 50, forming a continuous operation cycle.

[0075] Furthermore, two first clamping components 62 are provided and are vertically and flexibly mounted on the frame 1 at positions corresponding to the opening station 40. The first clamping components 62 can clamp and fix the lid of the specimen cup 30 at the opening station 40. The second clamping components 63 are correspondingly mounted on the two swing ends 611 of the swing arm 61. Each second clamping component 63 can not only swing with the swing arm 61, but also rotate independently relative to the swing end 611. The second clamping component 63 can clamp the cup body of the specimen cup 30 at the opening station 40. Through the coordinated cooperation of the first clamping components 62 and the second clamping components 63, when the second clamping component 63 clamps the cup body and rotates relative to the swing end 611, the first clamping component 62 clamps the lid and rises upward, resulting in a relative rotational displacement between the cup body and the lid, thereby realizing the automatic opening of the specimen cup 30.

[0076] Furthermore, the first clamping assembly 62 includes two first jaws 623 controlled by a first jaw control motor 621 to open and close. The two first jaws 623 are driven vertically by a first lifting motor 622, and are connected by a tension spring to maintain a clamping posture in the normal state. The second clamping assembly 63 includes two second jaws 633 controlled by a second jaw control motor 631. The two second jaws 633 are driven to rotate by a first rotary motor 632, and are also connected by a tension spring to maintain a clamping posture in the normal state. Specifically, as... Figure 6 As shown, each second claw 633 is equipped with a connecting rod 634. The two connecting rods 634 are arranged alternately in space. When the swing arm 61 drives the second claw 633 to move to the opening position 40, the second claw control motor 631 at the bottom of the frame 1 extends the unlocking shaft 635 upward. The unlocking shaft 635 acts on the two connecting rods 634 at the same time, forcing the two second claws 633 to open against the force of the tension spring. At this time, the specimen cup 30 is placed into the clamping cavity formed by the two first claws 623 and the two second claws 633. The first claw control motor 621 controls the first claw 623 to return to the clamping state, and the unlocking shaft 635 retracts downward and causes the second claw 633 to return to the clamping state under the action of the tension spring. Thus, the first claw 623 clamps the cup lid, and the second claw 633 clamps the cup body, completing the stable fixation of the specimen cup 30.

[0077] When the lid is opened, the first rotary motor 632 drives the second claw 633 and the cup body to rotate relative to the swing end 611 of the swing arm 61. At the same time, the first lifting motor 622 drives the first claw 623 and the cup lid to rise. The cup body and the cup lid are separated through the combined motion of rotation and lifting. After separation, the swing arm 61 moves the open specimen cup 30 to the sampling station 50, preparing for the sampling operation of the sampling mechanism 7.

[0078] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the capping mechanism 6 further includes a temporary storage component 64, which is disposed on the frame 1 and configured to receive and temporarily store the specimen cup 30 to be processed, so as to ensure the continuity and controllable rhythm of the capping process.

[0079] like Figure 5 As shown, the temporary storage component 64 is a temporary storage panel 641 disposed between the two first clamping components 62. The temporary storage panel 641 has two first limiting grooves 642 that match the shape of the specimen cup 30. Each first limiting groove 642 can accommodate and limit the position of one specimen cup 30. Thus, the specimen cups 30 can be temporarily stored in an orderly manner before entering the opening station 40, which facilitates loading and positioning by a robotic arm or manual labor, and provides a physical basis for the system to achieve batch processing and rhythm control, further improving the overall smoothness and automation of the equipment.

[0080] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the sampling mechanism 7 includes a smearing component 71, a gripping component 72, and a suction component 73. The smearing component 71 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1. The gripping component 72 is connected to the smearing component 71 and is configured to drive the gripping component 72 to reciprocate in a horizontal plane. The gripping component 72 is able to rise and fall relative to the smearing component 71 and is configured to grip the sampling cylinder 10. The suction component 73 is connected to the gripping component 72 and is configured to extract the sample into the sampling cylinder 10.

[0081] It should be noted that there are multiple sampling mechanisms 7 arranged in a circular pattern. In this specific embodiment, there are three sampling mechanisms 7 in total. The three sampling mechanisms 7 are evenly distributed along the circumferential direction and correspond to the gripping station 60, the sampling station 50 and the coating station 70, respectively. The sampling station 60 is defined as the operating position where the sampling mechanism 7 obtains the sterile sampling tube 10 from the second feeding mechanism 92. At this station, the gripping component 72 performs a descent action, forming an interference fit with the inner wall of the sampling tube 10 through the elastic seal, thus completing the picking up and fixing of the sampling tube 10. The sampling station 50 is defined as the operating position for drawing liquid samples from the opened specimen cup 30. At this station, the gripping component 72 holds the sampling tube 10 and lowers it below the liquid surface of the specimen cup 30. The suction component 73 is activated and forms a negative pressure inside the sampling tube 10, drawing a quantitative amount of liquid sample into the cavity of the sampling tube 10. The coating station 70 is defined as the operating position for transferring the sample in the sampling tube 10 to the surface of the glass slide 20 exposed by the window 11. This station is directly opposite the window 11. Here, the gripping component 72 uses horizontal reciprocating motion to keep the bottom of the sampling tube 10 in contact with the surface of the glass slide 20 and move it evenly, realizing the automated coating preparation of the sample.

[0082] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the smearing component 71 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1, and its output end is connected to the gripping component 72. The gripping component 72 can move up and down relative to the base, automatically gripping the sampling cylinder 10 and maintaining it in a stable vertical clamping state. The suction component 73 is connected to the gripping component 72. It should be noted that the sampling cylinder 10 has a hollow cylindrical structure with an opening at its lower end. When the gripping component 72 holds the sampling cylinder 10 and places it into the specimen cup 30 so that the bottom of the sampling cylinder 10 contacts the liquid sample, the suction component 73 uses the generated negative pressure to draw the sample through the opening into the sampling cylinder 10, thereby completing sample collection. The smearing component 71 can drive the gripping component 72 to reciprocate in the horizontal plane, thereby enabling the bottom of the sampling cylinder 10 to perform a reciprocating smearing action on the glass slide 20, and finally uniformly and completely coating the sample in the sampling cylinder 10 onto the surface of the glass slide 20.

[0083] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the coating component 71 may be a component capable of performing a transfer action, such as a cylinder or a lead screw and nut drive pair. In this specific embodiment, the coating component 71 includes a coating motor 711, a gear 712 disposed at the output end of the coating motor 711, and a rack 713 connected to the gripping component 72. When a coating operation on the specimen needs to be performed, driving the gear 712 at the output end of the coating motor 711 to roll causes the meshing rack 713 to move, thereby achieving linear displacement of the gripping component 72.

[0084] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the gripping assembly 72 includes a gripping cylinder 721, which is capable of lifting and lowering relative to the application motor 711. The outer diameter of the gripping cylinder 721 is tightly fitted with the inner diameter of the sampling cylinder 10. To achieve reliable gripping and sealing, an annular sealing element is sleeved on the lower outer periphery of the gripping cylinder 721. When the gripping cylinder 721 performs a gripping action, its lower end extends into the interior of the sampling cylinder 10, and the sealing element undergoes the expected elastic deformation due to radial compression from the inner wall of the sampling cylinder 10. It should be noted that a huge static friction force is generated between the outer peripheral surface of the deformed sealing element and the inner wall of the sampling cylinder 10. This friction force is sufficient to overcome the weight of the sampling cylinder 10 itself and the inertial force generated during its movement, thereby firmly gripping the sampling cylinder 10 and making it move synchronously with the gripping cylinder 721. On the other hand, the elastic deformation of the seal fills the gap that may exist between the outer wall of the gripping cylinder 721 and the inner wall of the sampling cylinder 10, thereby forming a seal between the outer wall of the gripping cylinder 721 and the inner wall of the sampling cylinder 10. As a result, when the subsequent suction component 73 generates negative pressure, the sample can be efficiently and smoothly drawn into the sampling cylinder 10.

[0085] Specifically, the gripping cylinder 721 can be lifted and lowered by components such as cylinders and lead screw nut drive pairs, which will not be described in detail here.

[0086] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the output end of the suction component 73 is connected to the upper end of the gripping cylinder 721 via a connecting pipe. When the gripping component 72 lowers the sampling cylinder 10 and immerses the opening at the bottom of the sampling cylinder 10 into the liquid sample to be collected, a reliable seal is formed between the gripping cylinder 721 and the sampling cylinder 10. At this time, the suction component 73 is activated, serving as the power source of the system. It rapidly extracts air from the continuous cavity from the gripping cylinder 721 to the bottom opening of the sampling cylinder 10 through suction, thereby creating a negative pressure within it. Under atmospheric pressure, the external liquid sample is continuously and smoothly forced into the cavity through the opening at the bottom of the sampling cylinder 10 until the preset collection volume is reached.

[0087] It should be further explained that the suction component 73 is not an independent and single-function sampling module. Instead, it achieves the dual function reuse of "physical gripping" and "fluid channel" through the existing mechanical structure of the gripping cylinder 721. This means that the gripping cylinder 721 itself serves as both a robotic arm that performs the gripping action and a key pipeline for negative pressure transmission. As a result, the entire device does not need to introduce additional, dedicated suction nozzles or complex fluid pipeline switching mechanisms for the sampling function, further simplifying the mechanical structure and control logic.

[0088] Specifically, the suction component 73 adopts a syringe-type structure. The piston is driven by the suction motor to reciprocate in the cylinder. When the piston retracts, a negative pressure is formed in the gripping cylinder 721 to extract the sample. When it is pushed forward, the sample can be discharged. Further details will not be provided here.

[0089] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the sampling mechanism 7 further includes a stirring assembly 74, which is connected to the gripping assembly 72. The stirring assembly 74 is configured to control the gripping assembly 72 to drive the sampling tube 10 to stir the sample in the specimen cup 30. Specifically, the stirring assembly 74 can drive the gripping assembly 72 and the sampling tube 10 it holds to rotate around a vertical central axis. This rotational action can agitate the liquid in the specimen cup 30 before sample collection, which is particularly suitable for resuspending diluted samples that have precipitated, thereby ensuring the representativeness and homogeneity of the collected samples and improving the accuracy of subsequent test results. Figure 8 As shown, the stirring assembly 74 includes a stirring motor 741 and a drive shaft. The stirring motor 741 is fixedly mounted on the gripping assembly 72, and its output shaft is connected to the gripping assembly 72 via a coupling to directly drive the gripping assembly 72 to rotate around its own axis. Further details will not be provided here.

[0090] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the sampling mechanism 7 further includes an unloading assembly 75, which is connected to the gripping assembly 72. The unloading assembly 75 is configured to reliably peel the used sampling cylinder 10 from the gripping assembly 72 through a specific mechanical action after the coating process is completed, thereby achieving automatic unloading of consumables and avoiding manual intervention. Figure 8 As shown, the unloading assembly 75 includes an unloading plate 751 with a through hole. The inner diameter of the through hole is adapted to the outer diameter of the gripping cylinder 721, so that the unloading plate 751 is sleeved on the outside of the gripping cylinder 721 like a sleeve. The unloading plate 751 is positioned above the seal and can move independently and controllably relative to the gripping cylinder 721. Thus, when the coating process is completed and the used sampling cylinder 10 needs to be discarded, the unloading plate 751 moves downward along the outer wall of the gripping cylinder 721 until it abuts against the upper end face of the sampling cylinder 10, thereby applying a continuous and uniform downward thrust to the sampling cylinder 10 and peeling the sampling cylinder 10 off from the end of the gripping cylinder 721.

[0091] Specifically, the unloading plate 751 can be lifted and lowered by components such as cylinders and lead screw nut drive pairs, which will not be described in detail here.

[0092] Furthermore, the sampling mechanism 7 also includes a first fixed seat and a second fixed seat. The first fixed seat is connected to the output end of the coating component 71, and the coating component 71 can drive the first fixed seat to swing back and forth on the horizontal plane. The second fixed seat can be raised and lowered on the first fixed seat, and the gripping component 72, the suction component 73, the stirring component 74 and the unloading component 75 are all mounted on the second fixed seat.

[0093] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the recycling mechanism 8 includes: a storage component 81, disposed on the frame 1, configured to store glass slides 20; a first transfer component 82, disposed on the frame 1, configured to pick up glass slides 20 with completed sample staining from the disk 2 through the window 11; and a first transfer component 83, disposed on the frame 1, configured to receive glass slides 20 transferred by the first transfer component 82 and store them in the storage component 81.

[0094] like Figure 9 As shown, the storage component 81 includes a slide holder 811, which has multiple slots 8111 arranged vertically to accommodate individual slides 20. These slots 8111 are evenly arranged in a straight line to ensure a stable spacing between the slides 20. The first transfer component 82 can be a multi-degree-of-freedom robotic arm or a simple robotic hand combining a linear module and a vacuum suction cup, etc., capable of picking up slides; further details are omitted here. The first transfer component 83 includes a first pusher track 831 arranged vertically and a first pusher 832 that can reciprocate on the first pusher track 831. The first pusher track 831 adjusts the vertical orientation and height of the slide 20, and the first pusher 832 pushes the slide 20 horizontally for precise movement, ultimately placing it smoothly into the designated slot 8111 or groove in a horizontal position; further details are omitted here.

[0095] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, a first feeding mechanism 91 is also included, which is disposed on the frame 1. The output end of the first feeding mechanism 91 is connected to the input end of the disk 2. The first feeding mechanism 91 is configured to store and provide blank glass slides 20 to the disk 2.

[0096] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the first feeding mechanism 91 includes a hopper 914, a second transfer component 911, and a second transfer component 912. The hopper 914 is mounted on the frame 1 and is configured to store blank glass slides 20. The second transfer component 911 is mounted on the frame 1, and its input end is connected to the output end of the hopper 914. The second transfer component 911 is configured to sequentially transfer single blank glass slides 20 from the hopper 914. The second transfer component 912 is mounted on the frame 1, and its input end is connected to the output end of the second transfer component 911. The output end of the second transfer component 912 is connected to the input end of the disk 2. The second transfer component 912 is configured to receive blank glass slides 20 transferred by the second transfer component 911 and sequentially input them into the splash guard 21.

[0097] like Figure 10 As shown, the hopper 914 adopts a vertical storage design with a strip-shaped clearance groove at its bottom. The second transfer component 911 includes a second pusher track 9111 arranged horizontally in the left-right direction and a second pusher 9112 that can reciprocate on the second pusher track 9111. The second pusher 9112 can pass horizontally through the clearance groove, so that the bottommost glass slide 20 stacked in the hopper 914 is separated from the hopper 914, realizing the extraction of individual glass slides 20 one by one. The second transfer component 912 includes a third pusher track 9121 arranged in the front-back direction and a third pusher 9122 disposed thereon. The input end of the third pusher track 9121 is connected to the output end of the second pusher track 9111, and the output end extends to the loading station of the disc 2. When the second pusher 9112 conveys the separated glass slide 20 along the second pusher track 9111 to the input end of the third pusher track 9121, the third pusher 9122 immediately moves and precisely pushes the glass slide 20 into the corresponding anti-splash groove 21 on the disc 2 in the front-back direction, completing the automatic feeding process of the glass slide 20.

[0098] To further control the feeding cycle and accurately position the glass slide 20, the first feeding mechanism 91 is also equipped with a blocking component 913. The blocking component 913 is preferably an electromagnetically controlled movable stop pin, which is set on the third push track 9121. When the second pusher 9112 pushes the glass slide 20 into the input end of the third push track 9121, the electromagnetic lock is in the extended state, temporarily blocking and positioning the glass slide 20. After the system issues a feeding command, the electromagnetic lock retracts, and the third pusher 9122 then moves to accurately push the glass slide 20 into the corresponding splash-proof groove 21 on the disc 2 in the front-back direction.

[0099] It is worth noting that, since there is a certain height difference between the third push track 9121 and the bottom of the anti-splash groove 21 on the disk 2, in order to ensure the reliability of the push process, the push end of the third pusher 9122 is provided with a forward-protruding structure. This protruding part can effectively abut against the tail edge of the glass slide 20 during the push action, ensuring that the glass slide 20 can be smoothly and completely pushed into the anti-splash groove 21 when crossing the gap and step between the track and the anti-splash groove 21, thereby avoiding problems such as carding, tilting, or incomplete push caused by insufficient push force or inaccurate positioning.

[0100] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, a second feeding mechanism 92 is also included. The second feeding mechanism 92 is disposed on the frame 1. The second feeding mechanism 92, the cover opening mechanism 6, and the disc 2 are sequentially arranged around the sampling mechanism 7 along the rotation direction of the sampling mechanism 7. The second feeding mechanism 92 is configured to store the sampling cylinder 10 and sequentially output the sampling cylinder 10 to the gripping station 60. Specifically, as Figure 7 As shown, the second feeding mechanism 92 includes a material bin 921, which moves precisely in the horizontal direction (front-back and left-right) via a linear module or servo drive system. The upper surface of the material bin 921 has multiple second limiting slots 9211 arranged in a matrix pattern, matching the shape of the sampling cylinder 10. Each second limiting slot 9211 can accommodate one sampling cylinder 10, forming an orderly array-like storage layout. During operation, the material bin 921 adjusts its position according to system instructions, sequentially moving the second limiting slots 9211 to the docking positions corresponding to the gripping components 72 of the sampling mechanism 7. When the gripping components 72 descend to the feeding station, they reliably grip the sampling cylinder 10 from the precisely positioned slots, thereby achieving high-density storage and precise on-demand supply of the sampling cylinder 10, effectively supporting the continuous automated operation of the equipment.

[0101] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, a third feeding mechanism 93 is also included. The third feeding mechanism 93 is disposed on the frame 1 and connected to the disc 2. The third feeding mechanism 93 is configured to store and provide specimen cups 30 containing samples to be tested to the capping mechanism 6. Specifically, the third feeding mechanism 93 includes a receiving tray 931 and a third transfer component 932. The receiving tray 931 is coaxially disposed at the upper end of the disc 2 and is rotatable relative to the disc 2. The receiving tray 931 is configured to store specimen cups 30. The third transfer component 932 is disposed on the frame 1 and is configured to transfer the specimen cups 30 on the receiving tray 931 to between the first clamping component 62 and the second clamping component 63 at the capping station 40.

[0102] like Figure 2As shown, the storage tray 931 is rotatably and coaxially mounted on the upper end of the disc 2. The storage tray 931 has multiple third limiting grooves 9311 for accommodating specimen cups 30, forming a reusable storage area for the specimen cups 30. The third transfer component 932 is mounted on the frame 1, with its picking end corresponding to the discharge station of the storage tray 931. It can sequentially pick up the specimen cups 30 from the storage tray 931 and transfer them to the opening station 40. Through the coordinated operation of the rotating feeding of the storage tray 931 and the third transfer component 932, the continuous supply of specimen cups 30 and the synchronization of the opening process are achieved, providing a reliable material guarantee for the full-process automation of the equipment.

[0103] Specifically, the third transfer component 932 can be a multi-degree-of-freedom robotic arm or a simple robotic hand composed of a linear module and a vacuum suction cup, etc., capable of performing picking actions, which will not be elaborated further here. It is worth noting that the storage tray 931 is coaxially integrated above the disc 2. The vertical stacking improves space utilization and makes the equipment layout more compact. At the same time, the vertical short-distance material flow formed avoids positioning errors and equipment wear caused by long-distance transfer, shortens material transfer time, and improves overall efficiency.

[0104] The following is based on Figures 1 to 10 The structure shown further illustrates the technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0105] First, such as Figure 10 As shown, the first feeding mechanism 91 stores blank glass slides 20 through a vertical hopper 914. The second pusher 9112 separates the bottom glass slide 20 through the bottom clearance groove of the hopper 914, and transports it to the third pusher track 9121 via the second pusher track 9111. After the blocking component 913 controls the cycle, the third pusher 9122 precisely pushes the glass slide 20 into the splash-proof groove 21 of the disk 2. Next, the sample preparation stage is then initiated. Figure 2 As shown, the storage tray 931 rotates to feed the specimen, and the third transfer component 932 transfers the specimen cup 30 to the opening station 40. Figure 5 As shown, the lid-opening mechanism 6 uses the first jaw 623 to hold the lid and the second jaw 633 to hold the cup body, achieving lid opening through a combined rotational and lifting motion. The swing arm 61 then transfers the opened specimen cup 30 to the sampling station 50. Figure 7 As shown, the gripping component 72 of the sampling mechanism 7 takes the sampling cylinder 10 from the second feeding mechanism 92, as... Figure 8As shown, after the sample is extracted by the suction component 73, the sampling cylinder 10, having completed sample extraction, is moved above the window 11 of the disk 2. The sample is then evenly coated onto the blank glass slide 20 through horizontal reciprocating motion. Subsequently, the staining process unfolds systematically as the disk 2 rotates. The glass slide 20 first enters the pretreatment area, passing sequentially through the preheating zone of the second drying component 52, where surface moisture is removed and the glass slide 20 is preheated. The glass slide 20 rotates to the area below the second staining component 32 to receive the initial staining reagent, and then enters the integrated processing unit consisting of the first staining component 31, the rinsing component 41, and the first drying component 51 to complete multiple staining processes. Specifically, the rinsing component 41 rinses away residual reagent, and the wastewater is discharged into the water collection tank 12 through the water hole 212. The first drying component 51 rapidly dries the glass slide 20, and the first staining component 31 adds staining reagent. It should be noted that, according to the program settings, the slide 20 can repeatedly undergo the staining, washing, and drying steps. Finally, it undergoes final drying by first removing excess water with the drying unit 531, followed by deep drying with several heating elements 532. Finally, the finished product recycling stage is automatically completed by the recycling mechanism 8. The first transfer component 82 retrieves the stained slide 20 from the disk 2, and the first intermediate transfer component 83 pushes the slide 20 horizontally into the slot 8111 of the slide holder 8111.

[0106] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0107] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such equivalent modifications or substitutions are included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. An automatic slide preparation and staining device, characterized in that, Includes a frame (1), on which are provided: A disc (2) is rotatably connected to the frame (1). The disc (2) is evenly provided with a plurality of anti-splash grooves (21) along the circumference. The anti-splash grooves (21) are configured to position and support glass slides (20). The bottom of the anti-splash grooves (21) is recessed downward to form a drainage groove (211). A water passage hole (212) is opened at the bottom of the drainage groove (211). The water passage hole (212) is located on the side of the drainage groove (211) away from the center of the disc (2). The projection of the water passage hole (212) on the horizontal plane spans the bottom of the anti-splash groove (21) and the bottom of the drainage groove (211). The length of the water passage hole (212) is half of the long axis of the drainage groove (211). The staining mechanism is arranged around the disk (2) and is configured to add staining reagent to the glass slide (20) in the drainage trough (211); The rinsing mechanism is arranged around the disk (2). The rinsing mechanism is located on the side of the staining mechanism near the center of the disk (2). The rinsing mechanism is configured to rinse the staining reagent on the slide (20). The anti-splash groove (21) can block splash droplets generated during the rinsing process. A water collection tank (12) is located below the disc (2). The water collection tank (12) is connected to the water passage hole (212). The water passage hole (212) can guide the flushing liquid in the splash guard (21) and the drain tank (211) to the water collection tank (12). A drying mechanism is provided on the frame (1) and located on the periphery of the disk (2), the drying mechanism being configured to dry glass slides (20). The opening mechanism (6) is provided on the frame (1). The opening mechanism (6) is configured to open the specimen cup (30) and transfer the specimen cup (30) in the open state to the sampling station (50). The staining mechanism includes a first staining component (31) configured to add fresh staining reagent to the sample to be tested on the slide (20). The rinsing mechanism includes a rinsing component (41) configured to rinse and remove residual staining reagent from the slide (20). The drying mechanism includes a first drying component (51) configured to dry the rinsing liquid on the slide (20). The first staining component (31), the rinsing component (41), and the first drying component (51) are described in detail. All components (51) are set on the frame (1) and arranged at the same station around the disk (2). The first staining component (31), the rinsing component (41) and the first drying component (51) are configured to perform the operations of adding staining reagent, rinsing residual reagent and drying the surface of the slide (20) on the same station, respectively. When the first drying component (51) blows air into the splash guard (21), the airflow will dry the slide (20) from each side under the guidance of the water passage (212) and the drain (211). The drying mechanism also includes a plurality of second drying components (52), which are disposed on the frame (1) and arranged around the periphery of the disc (2). The second drying components (52) are configured to dry and preheat the glass slide (20) coated with the sample to be tested. Through the sequential action of the plurality of second drying components (52) along the rotation direction, the glass slide (20) achieves a gradient heating process during its movement. The frame (1) has a window (11) located above the disk (2). The window (11) is configured to hold the glass slide (20) on the splash guard (21) located directly below it, thereby providing a channel for subsequent sampling, coating and glass slide (20) recycling operations. It also includes a third feeding mechanism (93), which is disposed on the frame (1) and connected to the disc (2). The third feeding mechanism (93) is configured to store and provide the specimen cup (30) containing the sample to be tested to the opening mechanism (6).

2. The automatic slide preparation and staining equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, Two water passage holes (212) are provided, and the two water passage holes (212) are arranged at opposite ends of the drainage channel (211) along the short axis direction of the drainage channel (211).

3. The automatic slide preparation and staining equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The device also includes: The sampling mechanism (7) is set on the frame (1). The sampling mechanism (7) is configured to take a sample from the specimen cup (30) at the sampling station (50) and apply the obtained sample to the glass slide (20) exposed by the window (11). A recycling mechanism (8) is provided on the frame (1) and is configured to recycle stained slides (20) from the window (11).

4. The automatic slide preparation and staining equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The opening mechanism (6) includes: A swing arm (61) is rotatably mounted on the frame (1). The swing arm (61) has two swing ends (611) and the two swing ends (611) are fixedly connected. The swing arm (61) is configured to simultaneously drive the two swing ends (611) to move alternately between the opening station (40) and the sampling station (50). Two first clamping assemblies (62) are vertically mounted on the frame (1), and the first clamping assemblies (62) are configured to clamp the lid of the specimen cup (30) at the lid opening station (40); Two second clamping components (63) are respectively disposed on the two swing ends (611) of the swing arm (61). The second clamping components (63) are rotatable relative to the swing ends (611). The second clamping components (63) are configured to clamp the body of the specimen cup (30) at the opening station (40) and rotate it relative to the lid of the specimen cup (30).

5. The automatic slide preparation and staining equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sampling mechanism (7) includes: The application assembly (71) is rotatably mounted on the frame (1); The gripping component (72) is connected to the smearing component (71) in a transmission manner. The smearing component (71) can drive the gripping component (72) to reciprocate in the horizontal plane. The gripping component (72) can be raised and lowered relative to the smearing component (71). The gripping component (72) is configured to grip the sampling cylinder (10). A suction component (73) is connected to the gripping component (72), and the suction component (73) is configured to draw the sample into the sampling tube (10); A stirring assembly (74) is connected to the gripping assembly (72) and the stirring assembly (74) is configured to control the gripping assembly (72) to drive the sampling tube (10) to stir the sample in the specimen cup (30).

6. The automatic slide preparation and staining equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sampling mechanism (7) further includes a discharge assembly (75) connected to the gripping assembly (72), the discharge assembly (75) being configured to detach the sampling cylinder (10) from the gripping assembly (72).

7. The automatic slide preparation and staining equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The recycling mechanism (8) includes: A storage assembly (81) is disposed on the frame (1), the storage assembly (81) being configured to store a glass slide (20). A first transfer assembly (82) is disposed on the frame (1) and is configured to pick up a stained slide (20) from the disk (2) through the window (11). A first transfer component (83) is disposed on the frame (1) and is configured to receive a glass slide (20) transferred by the first transfer component (82) and store it in the storage component (81).

8. The automatic slide preparation and staining equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a first feeding mechanism (91) disposed on the frame (1), the output end of the first feeding mechanism (91) being connected to the input end of the disk (2), and the first feeding mechanism (91) being configured to store and provide blank glass slides (20) to the disk (2).

9. The automatic slide preparation and staining equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first feeding mechanism (91) includes: A hopper (914) is provided on the frame (1) and the hopper (914) is configured to store blank glass slides (20). The second transfer component (911) is disposed on the frame (1). The input end of the second transfer component (911) is connected to the output end of the hopper (914). The second transfer component (911) is configured to sequentially transfer a single blank glass slide (20) on the hopper (914). The second transfer component (912) is disposed on the frame (1). The input end of the second transfer component (912) is connected to the output end of the second transfer component (911). The output end of the second transfer component (912) is connected to the input end of the disk (2). The second transfer component (912) is configured to receive the blank glass slide (20) transferred by the second transfer component (911) and input it sequentially into the splash guard (21).

10. The automatic slide preparation and staining equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that, It also includes a second feeding mechanism (92), which is mounted on the frame (1). The second feeding mechanism (92), the cover opening mechanism (6), and the disc (2) are arranged sequentially around the sampling mechanism (7) along the rotation direction of the sampling mechanism (7). The second feeding mechanism (92) is configured to store the sampling cylinder (10) and sequentially output the sampling cylinder (10) to the gripping station (60).

11. The automatic slide preparation and staining equipment according to claim 10, characterized in that, The third feeding mechanism (93) includes: A storage tray (931) is coaxially disposed at the upper end of the disc (2). The storage tray (931) is rotatable relative to the disc (2). The storage tray (931) is configured to store a specimen cup (30). A third transfer assembly (932) is disposed on the frame (1) and is configured to transfer the specimen cup (30) on the storage tray (931) between the first clamping assembly (62) and the second clamping assembly (63).

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