Auxiliary cover closing device for EP pipe

Abstract

The invention discloses an EP tube auxiliary cover closing device, which relates to the technical field of medical experiment equipment, and comprises a shell, a rotating table, a driving mechanism, a cover turning piece and a tube lifting piece, the rotating table is arranged in the machine shell, a plurality of pipe sleeves are arranged on the circumference of the rotating table, the pipe sleeves penetrate from the upper end of the rotating table to the lower end of the rotating table, and the pipe sleeves are used for being clamped into EP pipes. The driving mechanism is mounted at the lower end of the rotating table, connected with the rotating table and used for driving the rotating table to rotate; the cover turning piece is arranged at the upper end of the rotating table and acts on the EP pipe cover along with rotation of the rotating table, so that the EP pipe cover is turned over; the pipe lifting piece is arranged at the lower end of the rotating table and located below the cover turning piece, and the pipe lifting piece upwards acts on the EP pipe cover along with rotation of the rotating table so that the EP pipe cover can be buckled into the EP pipe. According to the invention, an experimental sample is prevented from being polluted in the cover closing process, the cover closing efficiency is improved, and the tube cover can tightly cover the EP tube.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of medical experimental equipment technology, specifically relating to an EP tube auxiliary capping device. Background Technology

[0002] EP tubes, as core consumables in laboratories, are widely used in nucleic acid extraction and purification, protein expression, cell culture, and biological sample storage, becoming an indispensable tool for various scientific research and experimental operations. Structurally, an EP tube consists of a tube body and a cap, connected by a strap. For ease of opening, the cap has a protruding rim. Currently, the EP tubes used in laboratories are sterilized by the manufacturer but not yet capped, requiring manual capping by laboratory personnel. However, most experiments require marking the EP tubes beforehand, necessitating capping and marking before the experiment can proceed. Manually capping each tube is inefficient and prone to introducing contaminants, leading to sample contamination. To address this, various devices for capping EP tubes have emerged, replacing manual capping and preventing contamination during the process. However, these devices cannot perfectly balance capping efficiency and quality. Insufficient closing force or time results in the cap not fitting tightly onto the tube body, while applying sufficient force and time reduces capping efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an EP tube auxiliary capping device that can well balance capping efficiency and capping quality.

[0004] To solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] An EP tube auxiliary cap-closing device includes a housing, a rotating platform, a drive mechanism, a flip-top component, and a tube-lifting component. The rotating platform is located inside the housing, and several tube sleeves are arranged on the circumference of the rotating platform, extending from the upper end to the lower end of the rotating platform. The tube sleeves are used to hold the EP tube in place. The drive mechanism is installed at the lower end of the rotating platform and connected to the rotating platform to drive the rotating platform to rotate. The flip-top component is located at the upper end of the rotating platform. As the rotating platform rotates, the flip-top component acts on the EP tube cap to flip the EP tube cap. The tube-lifting component is located at the lower end of the rotating platform and is positioned below the flip-top component. As the rotating platform rotates, the tube-lifting component acts upward on the EP tube cap to fasten the EP tube cap into the EP tube.

[0006] Furthermore, both the lower end face of the flip cover and the upper end face of the lifting tube include inclined portions, and the distance between the lower end face of the flip cover and the upper end face of the lifting tube decreases along the rotation direction of the rotary table.

[0007] Furthermore, the lower end face of the flip cover and the upper end face of the lifting tube also include a platform section, which is connected to the inclined section.

[0008] Furthermore, the inner wall of the sleeve is provided with a first guide groove and a second guide groove, both of which extend from the upper end to the lower end of the sleeve. A first electric push rod and a second electric push rod are fixedly provided on the housing. The first electric push rod is arranged horizontally, and the second electric push rod is arranged vertically. The first electric push rod can act on the connecting strip on the EP tube so that the connecting strip on the EP tube is opposite to the first guide groove, and the cover edge of the EP tube cap is opposite to the second guide groove. The second electric push rod can act on the upper end of the EP tube cap to push the EP tube out of the sleeve after the cap is closed.

[0009] Furthermore, the inner wall of the sleeve is provided with a positioning groove for inserting the EP tube connecting strip, and the positioning groove is adjacent to the first guide groove.

[0010] Furthermore, a collection box is provided on the side of the casing to collect the EP tubes after the cover is closed.

[0011] Furthermore, a discharge platform is provided at the lower end of the second electric actuator, and the upper end of the discharge platform is inclined and lowered towards the collection box.

[0012] Furthermore, the drive mechanism includes a motor, a gear ring, planetary gears, a sun gear, and a gear carrier; the gear ring is fixed inside the housing; there are three planetary gears, which are evenly distributed and mesh with the inner side of the gear ring; the sun gear is located between the planetary gears and meshes with the three planetary gears, and the motor is connected to the sun gear; the gear carrier is connected to the three planetary gears, and an output shaft is provided at the upper end of the gear carrier, with the rotary table fixedly connected to the output shaft.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0014] 1. By inserting the EP tube into the tube sleeve, the EP tube is automatically driven through the flip-top and lifting parts as the rotary table rotates, thereby achieving the purpose of automatic capping. This helps to avoid contamination of experimental samples and improves capping efficiency.

[0015] 2. The flip-top mechanism acts on the EP pipe cap to flip it over, and the lifting mechanism acts upward on the EP pipe cap to make it snap into the EP pipe. This allows sufficient force to be applied to the cap so that it can be tightly covered on the EP pipe. Since the flip-top mechanism and the lifting mechanism are located at the top and bottom of the rotating platform, respectively, the cap-closing process is completed during the EP pipe conveying process, which is more conducive to improving the cap-closing efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the closing process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the tube sleeve structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 This is the present invention. Figure 1 A magnified view of area A in the middle.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the EP tube being pushed out of the sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] The following are the labels in the diagram: 1. Housing; 2. Flip-top; 3. Rotary table; 4. Tube sleeve; 41. Positioning groove; 42. First guide groove; 43. Second guide groove; 5. EP tube; 6. First electric actuator; 7. Second electric actuator; 8. Drive mechanism; 81. Motor; 82. Gear ring; 83. Sun gear; 84. Planetary gear; 85. Wheel frame; 86. Output shaft; 9. Tube lifting fitting; 10. Discharge platform; 11. Collection box; 12. Inclined section; 13. Platform section. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0024] like Figures 1-6 As shown, the EP tube auxiliary capping device of this embodiment includes a housing 1, a rotating platform 3, a drive mechanism 8, a flip-top component 2, and a tube lifting component 9. The rotating platform 3 is located inside the housing 1, and several tube sleeves 4 are provided on the circumference of the rotating platform 3. The tube sleeves 4 extend from the upper end of the rotating platform 3 to its lower end. The tube sleeves 4 are used to hold the EP tube 5 in place. The tube sleeves 4 can be made of sponge material, which is beneficial for protecting the EP tube 5. The tube sleeves 4 have a certain degree of elasticity, which can increase the friction between the inner wall of the tube sleeve 4 and the EP tube 5, so that the EP tube 5 rotates with the rotating platform 3, and it is also convenient to push the EP tube 5 out of the tube sleeves 4 by applying external force.

[0025] The drive mechanism 8 is installed at the lower end of the rotary table 3 and connected to the rotary table 3. It is used to drive the rotary table 3 to rotate. Specifically, the drive mechanism 8 includes a motor 81, a gear ring 82, planetary gears 84, a sun gear 83, and a gear carrier 85. The gear ring 82 is fixed inside the housing 1. There are three planetary gears 84, which are evenly distributed and mesh with the inner side of the gear ring 82. The sun gear 83 is located between the planetary gears 84 and meshes with the three planetary gears 84. The motor 81 is connected to the sun gear 83. The gear carrier 85 is connected to the three planetary gears 84. An output shaft 86 is provided in the upper end of the gear carrier 85. The rotary table 3 is fixedly connected to the output shaft 86. The motor 81 can drive the sun gear 83 to rotate, thereby driving the planetary gears 84 to rotate on the gear ring 82. This causes the output shaft 86 to decelerate and rotate, thereby making the rotary table 3 rotate smoothly.

[0026] The housing 1 includes an upper housing and a lower housing that are connected to each other. Specifically, the rotary table 3 is located in the upper housing, the drive mechanism 8 is located in the lower housing, and the output shaft 86 extends from the lower housing into the upper housing and is fixedly connected to the rotary table 3 by a nut.

[0027] The flip cover 2 is located at the upper end of the rotating platform 3. As the rotating platform 3 rotates, the flip cover 2 acts on the tube cap of the EP tube 5 to flip the tube cap of the EP tube 5. The tube lifting component 9 is located at the lower end of the rotating platform 3 and is located below the flip cover 2. As the rotating platform 3 rotates, the tube lifting component 9 acts upward on the tube cap of the EP tube 5 to make the tube cap of the EP tube 5 snap into the EP tube 5.

[0028] The lower end face of the flip cover 2 and the upper end face of the lifting tube 9 both include an inclined portion 12. As the rotating table 3 rotates, the distance between the lower end face of the flip cover 2 and the upper end face of the lifting tube 9 decreases. The flip cover 2 is fixed inside the housing 1. The inclined portion 12 on the lower end face of the flip cover 2 can rotate the tube cap of the EP tube 5 to the opening of the EP tube 5 and insert it into the EP tube 5. In order to ensure the quality of closing the cap and avoid insufficient action time, which would cause the tube cap of the EP tube 5 to pop out, a platform portion 13 is also included on the lower end face of the flip cover 2 and the upper end face of the lifting tube 9. The platform portion 13 is connected to the inclined portion 12, and the platform portion 13 is used to increase the time for applying pressure to the tube cap.

[0029] The inner wall of the sleeve 4 is provided with a first guide groove 42 and a second guide groove 43. Both the first guide groove 42 and the second guide groove 43 extend from the upper end to the lower end of the sleeve 4. The housing 1 is fixedly provided with a first electric push rod 6 and a second electric push rod 7. The first electric push rod 6 is arranged horizontally and the second electric push rod 7 is arranged vertically. The first electric push rod 6 can act on the connecting strip on the EP tube 5 so that the connecting strip on the EP tube 5 is opposite to the first guide groove 42. The cap edge of the EP tube 5 is opposite to the second guide groove 43. The second electric push rod 7 can act on the upper end of the cap of the EP tube 5 to push the EP tube 5 out of the sleeve 4 after the cap is closed. The inner wall of the sleeve 4 is provided with a positioning groove 41 for inserting the connecting strip of the EP tube 5. The positioning groove 41 is adjacent to the first guide groove 42. The positioning groove 41 is provided to facilitate the operator to position the orientation of the tube cover. The EP tube 5 can be rotated by the first electric push rod 6 so that the connecting strip and the edge of the cover are aligned with the first guide groove 42 and the second guide groove 43 respectively, thereby facilitating the second electric push rod 7 to push the EP tube 5 out of the sleeve 4.

[0030] In addition, a collection box 11 is provided on the side of the housing 1 to collect the EP tube 5 after the cover is closed, so that it can be easily picked up and used. In order to make it easier to drop the EP tube 5 into the collection box 11, a discharge platform 10 is provided at the lower end of the second electric push rod 7. The upper end of the discharge platform 10 is tilted and lowered towards the collection box 11, so that the EP tube 5 can easily slide into the collection box 11 along the discharge platform 10 under the action of gravity.

[0031] In use, after power is supplied, the motor 81 of the drive mechanism 8 is started, which in turn drives the rotary table 3 to rotate counterclockwise. Then, the EP tube 5 is inserted into the tube sleeve 4, so that the tube cap of the EP tube 5 faces upward and the connecting strip on the EP tube 5 is placed in the positioning groove 41. When the EP tube 5 passes the tilted part 12 of the flip cover 2 and the lifting part 9, the flip cover 2 pushes the tube cap to flip back and snap into the opening of the EP tube 5. Then, it passes through the platform part 13, which applies a downward force to the tube cap of the EP tube 5 and an upward force to the bottom of the EP tube 5, thereby tightening the tube cap on the EP tube 5. When the EP tube 5 moves to the positions of the first electric push rod 6 and the second electric push rod 7, the first electric push rod 6 pushes the connecting strip of the EP tube 5, so that the EP tube 5 rotates in the tube sleeve 4. The connecting strip on the EP tube 5 is aligned with the first guide groove 42, and the cover edge on the tube cap is aligned with the second guide groove 43. Finally, the second electric push rod 7 acts downward to push out the EP tube 5. After the cover is closed, the EP tube 5 is removed from the tube sleeve 4 and enters the collection box 11.

[0032] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An EP tube assisted capping device, characterized in that, The utility model relates to an EP tube auxiliary closing cover device, which comprises a casing (1), a rotating table (3) arranged in the casing (1), a plurality of pipe sleeves (4) arranged on the circumference of the rotating table (3), the pipe sleeves (4) penetrating through the upper end to the lower end of the rotating table (3), and the pipe sleeves (4) being used for clamping EP tubes. A driving mechanism (8) is arranged at the lower end of the rotating table (3) and connected with the rotating table (3) to drive the rotating table (3) to rotate. A cover turning part (2) is arranged at the upper end of the rotating table (3) and acts on the cover of the EP tube to turn the cover of the EP tube when the rotating table (3) rotates. A tube lifting part (9) is arranged at the lower end of the rotating table (3) and below the cover turning part (2), and the tube lifting part (9) acts on the cover of the EP tube upward to make the cover of the EP tube buckle into the EP tube when the rotating table (3) rotates.

2. The EP tube auxiliary closing cover device according to claim 1, wherein the lower end surface of the cover turning part (2) and the upper end surface of the tube lifting part (9) each comprise an inclined part (12), and the distance between the lower end surface of the cover turning part (2) and the upper end surface of the tube lifting part (9) decreases along the rotating direction of the rotating table (3).

3. The EP tube auxiliary closing cover device according to claim 2, wherein the lower end surface of the cover turning part (2) and the upper end surface of the tube lifting part (9) further comprise a platform part (13) connected with the inclined part (12).

4. The EP tube auxiliary closing cover device according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall of the pipe sleeve (4) is provided with a first guide groove (42) and a second guide groove (43), the first guide groove (42) and the second guide groove (43) penetrating through the upper end to the lower end of the pipe sleeve (4), the casing (1) is fixedly provided with a first electric push rod (6) and a second electric push rod (7), the first electric push rod (6) is arranged horizontally, the second electric push rod (7) is arranged vertically, the first electric push rod (6) can act on the connecting band of the EP tube to make the connecting band of the EP tube opposite to the first guide groove (42), the cover of the EP tube opposite to the second guide groove (43), and the second electric push rod (7) can act on the upper end of the cover of the EP tube to push the closed EP tube out of the pipe sleeve (4).

5. The EP tube auxiliary closing cover device according to claim 4, wherein the inner wall of the pipe sleeve (4) is provided with a positioning groove (41) for the connecting band of the EP tube, and the positioning groove (41) is adjacent to the first guide groove (42).

6. The EP tube auxiliary closing cover device according to claim 4, wherein the side surface of the casing (1) is provided with a collecting box (11) for collecting the closed EP tube.

7. The EP tube auxiliary closing cover device according to claim 6, wherein ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The lower end of the second electric push rod (7) is provided with a discharging table (10), and the upper end of the discharging table (10) is inclined and lowered towards the aggregate box (11).

8. The EP tube assisted lid closing device of claim 1, wherein, The driving mechanism (8) comprises a motor (81), a ring gear (82), three planetary gears (84), a sun gear (83) and a wheel carrier (85); the ring gear (82) is fixed in the shell (1); the planetary gears (84) are evenly engaged on the inner side of the ring gear (82); the sun gear (83) is arranged between the planetary gears (84) and engaged with the three planetary gears (84); the motor (81) is connected with the sun gear (83); the wheel carrier (85) is connected with the three planetary gears (84); the wheel carrier (85) is provided with an output shaft (86) in the upper end thereof; and the rotating table (3) is fixedly connected with the output shaft (86).

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