Automatic sampling device for liquid chromatography

Abstract

The invention discloses a liquid chromatography automatic sampling device, which belongs to the technical field of liquid chromatography, and comprises a rack, an X-axis driving assembly, a Y-axis driving assembly, a horizontal mounting plate and a vertical mounting plate, the rack is provided with a sample inlet communicated with a liquid chromatography system, the X-axis driving assembly and the Y-axis driving assembly are both mounted on the rack, the horizontal mounting plate is connected with the X-axis driving assembly, the vertical mounting plate is connected with the Y-axis driving assembly, and the horizontal mounting plate is fixedly provided with a material placement assembly, a clamping uncovering assembly and an oscillation uniform mixing assembly; a TIP needle, an electric clamping jaw, a sample injection needle and a plurality of Z-axis driving assemblies matched with the TIP needle, the electric clamping jaw and the sample injection needle respectively are arranged on the vertical mounting plate; the movement directions of the X-axis driving assembly, the Y-axis driving assembly and the Z-axis driving assembly are perpendicular to one another in pairs. According to the invention, full-process automation is realized, errors caused by manual operation are reduced, the accuracy and repeatability of a detection result are effectively improved, and the overall sample treatment efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of liquid chromatography technology, and specifically relates to an automated liquid chromatography sample injector. Background Technology

[0002] A liquid chromatography (LC) instrument mainly consists of several units, including a solvent delivery system (infusion pump), an injection system, a separation system (chromatographic column), and a detection system (detector). The injector itself includes two types: manual injectors and automatic injectors. With technological advancements, users have increasingly higher demands for automation and integration, leading to a growing need for automatic injectors. Traditional analytical automatic injectors are primarily suitable for applications with a wide variety of samples and small injection volumes.

[0003] The injection system is a crucial link connecting sample pretreatment and chromatographic separation and analysis, and its performance directly affects the accuracy, repeatability, and efficiency of the analytical results. Injection systems can be divided into manual injectors and automatic injectors. Manual injectors are cumbersome to operate, rely entirely on manual labor, have poor reproducibility, and are difficult to handle large batches of samples. With the increasing demands for analytical throughput and the development of laboratory automation, automatic injectors have become the standard configuration of modern liquid chromatography systems.

[0004] Currently, most commercially available traditional autosamplers primarily automate the chromatographic analysis process, focusing on automatic sampling and injection. However, before samples can be analyzed, a series of complex pretreatment procedures are often required, such as opening and closing sample containers, drawing samples from raw sample tubes (e.g., blood collection tubes) and transferring them to vials, adding various preparative reagents to the vials, and mixing and incubating the samples. These pretreatment steps are still mostly performed manually by laboratory personnel, which presents the following significant drawbacks: Low level of automation and low efficiency: The manual operation involves many steps, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive, severely restricting the overall throughput of the laboratory and failing to meet the needs of high-throughput screening. In addition, the labor costs are high.

[0005] Large human error and poor reproducibility: The precision and consistency of manual pipetting, capping and other operations are difficult to guarantee, which introduces significant human error and leads to a decrease in the accuracy and repeatability (RSD) of the analytical results.

[0006] Easy to introduce contamination and cross-contamination: Manual operation increases the chance of sample exposure, and repeated manual opening of needles and container caps can easily lead to cross-contamination between samples or introduce impurities from the environment, which manifests as ghost peaks, residual peaks and other problems on the chromatogram.

[0007] In addition, even in traditional automated sample introduction processes, the technology itself has some inherent limitations, such as: leakage caused by wear or aging of components such as the injection needle, needle seat, and rotor seal due to long-term use; incomplete cleaning after sample introduction resulting in residues and contamination; and the lack of an efficient temperature control system to ensure the stability of the sample during standby and processing.

[0008] In summary, there is an urgent need to provide an automated liquid chromatography sampler that can effectively improve detection efficiency and accuracy and has a high degree of automation. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide an automated liquid chromatography sample injector that can effectively improve detection efficiency and accuracy and has a high degree of automation.

[0010] The above objective is achieved through the following technical solution: an automated liquid chromatography (HPLC) injection device, comprising a frame, and further comprising: an X-axis drive assembly, a Y-axis drive assembly, a horizontal mounting plate, and a vertical mounting plate; the X-axis drive assembly and the Y-axis drive assembly are both mounted on the frame, the horizontal mounting plate is connected to the X-axis drive assembly, and the vertical mounting plate is connected to the Y-axis drive assembly; the horizontal mounting plate is fixedly provided with a material placement assembly, a clamping and opening assembly, a shaking and mixing assembly, and an injection port; the vertical mounting plate is provided with a TIP needle, an electric gripper, an injection needle, and multiple Z-axis drive assemblies respectively matched thereto; the vertical mounting plate is provided with a pipette pump and a quantitative pump, the pipette pump being connected to the TIP needle, and the quantitative pump being connected to the injection needle; providing suction force to the TIP needle and the injection needle respectively. The technical solution of this invention integrates a material placement component, a clamping and opening component, and a oscillating and mixing component. By controlling the movement of the TIP needle, electric gripper, and injection needle, the fully automated steps of opening the cap, pipetting, oscillation, and injection can be achieved. From placing the blood collection tube into the instrument to obtaining the final test result, the entire process is automated, reducing the human contact with the sample, avoiding errors caused by human interference, and significantly improving the accuracy and repeatability of the test results.

[0011] A further technical solution is that the clamping and opening assembly includes a fixed block, a movable block, and a clamping drive assembly. The fixed block is fixedly connected to a horizontal mounting plate, the movable block is slidably connected to the horizontal mounting plate and forms a clamping mechanism with the fixed block, and the clamping drive assembly is connected to and drives the movable block. The fixed block and movable block automatically provide stable clamping for the blood collection tubes and sample vials, ensuring the reliability of the electric gripper's opening / closing action and solving the problem of container breakage or seal failure caused by uneven force applied during manual opening.

[0012] A further technical solution is that the clamping and opening assembly also includes a blood collection tube holder and a shaking motor. The shaking motor is fixedly connected to a fixing block, and the blood collection tube holder is connected to the output shaft of the shaking motor. The upper part of the blood collection tube holder has a through hole for placing the blood collection tube, and the right side of the blood collection tube has a fixing component for fixing the blood collection tube in the through hole. Before opening the blood collection tube for sampling, the shaking motor shakes the blood collection tube in the blood collection tube holder to ensure uniform blood sample distribution.

[0013] A further technical solution includes a control terminal, wherein the X-axis drive assembly, Y-axis drive assembly, Z-axis drive assembly, clamping drive assembly and shaking motor are all electrically connected to the control terminal to achieve fully automated control from sample pretreatment and loading to sample injection.

[0014] A further technical solution is that the material placement assembly includes a material tray and a rotary motor. The rotary motor is fixedly connected to a horizontal mounting plate, and the material tray is rotatably connected to the horizontal mounting plate and driven by the rotary motor. The material tray has multiple independent placement areas for placing TIP heads, reagent kits, sample vials, and blood collection tubes. The rotary motor is electrically connected to a control terminal.

[0015] A further technical solution is that the material placement assembly also includes a barcode reader and a position sensor. The barcode reader is fixedly mounted on a horizontal mounting plate; the position sensor is mounted on the horizontal mounting plate, and the outer edge of the material tray has protrusions adapted to the position sensor; both the position sensor and the barcode reader are electrically connected to a control terminal. By scanning the barcode on the blood collection tube and binding it to the location, full-process traceability of the sample is achieved, avoiding sample confusion caused by manual marking errors, and further improving the reliability of the results.

[0016] A further technical solution involves providing multiple clamping slots of different sizes between the fixed block and the movable block, multiple placement slots on the upper surface of the fixed block, and a buffer and a pressure sensor between the movable block and the clamping drive assembly. The pressure sensor is electrically connected to a control terminal. The buffer and pressure sensor achieve flexible clamping, preventing rigid contact from damaging the blood collection tubes and sample vials.

[0017] A further technical solution is that the fixing component includes a swing arm, a spring, and a top rod. The middle part of the swing arm is rotatably connected to the right side of the blood collection tube fixing component. One end of the spring abuts against the right side of the blood collection tube fixing component, and the other end is connected to the upper end of the swing arm. The top rod is horizontally installed at the lower end of the swing arm. The right side of the blood collection tube fixing component is provided with a fixing hole, and one end of the top rod extends into the fixing hole to abut against the blood collection tube. The fixing block is also provided with a limiting block, which is used to abut against the upper right side of the swing arm.

[0018] A further technical solution is that the clamping drive assembly includes a clamping linear motor and a clamping mounting plate. The clamping mounting plate is slidably connected to a horizontal mounting plate. The clamping linear motor is fixedly mounted on the horizontal mounting plate, and its output end is connected to the clamping mounting plate. A slide rod is provided on the clamping mounting plate, and the movable block is slidably connected to the slide rod. A first buffer spring is sleeved on the slide rod. A pressure sensor is provided on the clamping mounting plate, and both the clamping linear motor and the pressure sensor are electrically connected to a control terminal.

[0019] In practical applications, the shaking motor blood collection tube fixing component uses a synergistic design of shaking motor-driven loosening and spring-force clamping to achieve automatic opening and closing of the blood collection tube when it is placed (without the need for manual manipulation of the clamping structure). It can also adaptively adjust the clamping force during oscillation through the spring (avoiding damage to the blood collection tube by rigid clamping). At the same time, the motor directly drives the clamped blood collection tube to oscillate, improving the mixing efficiency (stable oscillation frequency, and uniformity is 25% higher than manual shaking), solving the problems of easy detachment and poor mixing consistency of traditional manually clamped blood collection tubes.

[0020] A further technical solution is that the oscillating mixing component includes a module base plate, a support base, an oscillating body base, a placement fixture, a heating element, and an eccentric wheel oscillation mechanism. The module base plate is fixedly connected to a horizontal mounting plate, the support base is fixed to the module base plate, and at least two guide components are fixed on the support base. The oscillating body base is slidably connected to the guide components. The placement fixture is fixed to the oscillating body base, and the heating element is provided at the bottom of the placement fixture. The eccentric wheel oscillation mechanism includes an oscillating motor, an eccentric wheel, and a push rod. The oscillating motor is fixed to the module base plate, and its output shaft is fixedly connected to the eccentric wheel. One end of the push rod is hinged to the side of the eccentric wheel away from the center of rotation, and the other end of the push rod is hinged to the bottom or side of the oscillating body base. The module base plate is also provided with an origin sensor and a temperature sensor. The heating element, origin sensor, temperature sensor, and oscillating motor are all electrically connected to the control terminal. When the oscillating motor drives the eccentric wheel to rotate, the eccentric wheel, through eccentric motion, pushes the oscillating body base to perform high-frequency reciprocating oscillations along the guide mechanism, causing the placement fixture, sample vial, and internal sample solution to oscillate synchronously, accelerating the sample separation speed. The heating element is used to control the sample temperature. The eccentric wheel oscillation mechanism drives the placement fixture and sample vial to perform high-frequency oscillations. Through the rigid connection between the eccentric wheel and the guide mechanism, the circular motion of the motor is stably converted into linear oscillation. Combined with the heating element, this improves sample mixing efficiency while ensuring the activity of biological samples, solving the problems of unstable oscillation and poor temperature control in traditional mixing devices.

[0021] A further technical solution is that the horizontal mounting plate is also equipped with a needle cleaner. The needle cleaner is electrically connected to the control terminal. When one sample injection is completed and analysis is finished, and another sample needs to be added, the needle moves into the needle cleaner, which then operates to clean the outer wall of the needle and perform high-pressure rinsing on the inner wall. Automated needle cleaning reduces residue, avoids cross-contamination, and solves the problem of incomplete manual cleaning.

[0022] A further technical solution is that the frame is surrounded by a fully enclosed outer shell, the outer shell is equipped with a flip-top door, the flip-top door is located directly above the material placement assembly, and the outer shell is equipped with a maintenance and inspection window on its side.

[0023] A further technical solution is that the material placement assembly is equipped with a cooling pipe, the frame is equipped with a cooling pump, the cooling pipe is connected to the cooling pump, and the outer shell of the material placement assembly is also equipped with heat insulation cotton.

[0024] A further technical solution is that the X-axis drive assembly includes an X-axis drive motor, an X-axis lead screw, and an X-axis lead screw nut. The X-axis lead screw is horizontally laid on the frame and rotatably connected to the frame. The X-axis lead screw nut is engaged with the X-axis lead screw and is fixedly connected to a horizontal mounting plate. The output shaft of the X-axis drive motor is connected to the X-axis lead screw. The Y-axis drive assembly includes a Y-axis drive motor, a Y-axis lead screw, and a Y-axis lead screw nut. The Y-axis lead screw is horizontally laid on the frame and rotatably connected to the frame. The Y-axis lead screw nut is engaged with the Y-axis lead screw and is fixedly connected to a vertical mounting plate. The output shaft of the Y-axis drive motor is connected to the Y-axis lead screw. The Z-axis drive assembly includes a Z-axis drive motor, a Z-axis lead screw, and a Z-axis lead screw nut. The Z-axis lead screw is horizontally laid on a vertical mounting plate and rotatably connected to the vertical mounting plate. The Z-axis lead screw nut is engaged with the Z-axis lead screw. The Z-axis lead screw nuts in the multiple Z-axis drive assemblies are respectively fixedly connected to the TIP head, the electric gripper, and the injection needle. The output shaft of the Z-axis drive motor is connected to the Z-axis lead screw. This invention achieves precise three-dimensional movement of the TIP head, electric gripper, and injection needle through X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis drive assemblies, solving the problems of motion interference and large positioning deviations in traditional drive modules, and ensuring the accuracy of sample switching between various pretreatment stations.

[0025] Compared with the prior art, the implementation of the technical solution of the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. This invention, by establishing an X, Y, Z three-axis drive assembly and a clamping and opening assembly, can achieve full automation of the sample opening, mixing, and liquid transfer pretreatment steps combined with the sampling and injection function (existing technologies require manual sample injection after pretreatment). This invention requires no human intervention throughout the process, reduces human influence, minimizes errors caused by human operation, and effectively improves the accuracy and repeatability of test results, meeting the core requirements of automated testing.

[0026] 2. The clamping and opening assembly proposed in this invention enables the blood collection tube and sample bottle fixing structure to achieve self-adaptation through the elastic buffer design of the clamping and opening assembly, which can match containers of different specifications and adapt to various testing scenarios.

[0027] 3. This invention uses two mixing methods, shaking and oscillation, and does not require a centrifugation step, which is more efficient than traditional static setting and improves the overall sample processing efficiency.

[0028] 4. The X, Y, and Z axis drive assembly established in this invention achieves three-dimensional precise movement of the TIP needle, electric gripper, and injection needle through the cooperation of linear guide rails, ball screws, and synchronous belt tensioning transmission; ensuring that the injection needle accurately aligns with the sampling position and the injection port of the chromatography system, with stable station switching, providing reliable support for automated processes, precise positioning and coordination, and ensuring reliable operation.

[0029] 5. The pipetting assembly of the present invention can automatically replace the sampling auxiliary component (TIP head), and the injection needle can automatically complete the internal and external synchronous cleaning, which greatly reduces cross-contamination between samples. 6. The sample carrier component of the present invention has a cooling and heat preservation function, and the oscillation and mixing component can precisely control the temperature, which can not only ensure the activity of biological samples, but also adapt to the processing needs of different types of samples. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall appearance of the automatic liquid chromatography sample injector of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the automatic liquid chromatography sample injector of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the horizontal mounting plate and the frame in the automatic liquid chromatography sample injector of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the horizontal mounting plate, material placement assembly, clamping and opening assembly, and oscillation mixing assembly in the automatic liquid chromatography sample injector of the present invention. Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the material placement component and the horizontal mounting plate in the automatic liquid chromatography sample injector of the present invention. Figure 6 This is a second schematic diagram of the connection structure between the material placement component and the horizontal mounting plate in the automatic liquid chromatography sample injector of the present invention. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the clamping and opening component in the automatic liquid chromatography sample injector of the present invention. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the stationary component in the automated liquid chromatography sample injector of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the oscillation and mixing component in the automated liquid chromatography sample injector of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the TIP needle, electric gripper, and injection needle with the vertical mounting plate in the automatic liquid chromatography injection device of the present invention. Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of the material tray in the automatic liquid chromatography sampler of the present invention.

[0032] The component numbers in the diagram are as follows: 1. Rack; 2. X-axis drive assembly; 3. Y-axis drive assembly; 4. Z-axis drive assembly; 5. Horizontal mounting plate; 6. Vertical mounting plate; 61. Tip needle; 62. Motorized gripper; 63. Injection needle; 64. Pipette pump; 7. Material placement assembly; 71. Material tray; 72. Rotary motor; 73. TIP head; 74. Reagent kit; 75. Sample vial; 76. Blood collection tube; 77. Barcode reader; 78. Position sensor; 79. Bump; 710. Cooling pipe; 711. Insulation cotton; 712. Cooling water connector; 8. Clamping and opening assembly; 81. Fixing block; 82. Movable block; 83. Clamping drive assembly; 831. Clamping linear motor; 832. Clamping mounting plate; 833. Slide rod; 834. Pressure sensor; 835. Clamping linear guide rail; 84. Blood collection tube fixing component; 841. Fixing hole; 85. Shaking motor; 86. Fixing assembly; 861. Swing rod; 862. Spring; 863. Top rod; 864. Limiting block; 9. Oscillating and mixing assembly; 91. Module base plate; 92. Support base; 93. Oscillating body base; 94. Placement fixture; 95. Guide mechanism; 96. Origin sensor; 97. Oscillating motor; 98. Buffer spring; 99. Heating element; 10. Needle cleaner; 11. Inlet; 12. Control terminal; 13. Flip-top door; 14. Outer casing; 15. Metering pump; 16. Peristaltic pump; 17. Maintenance and inspection window. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. This description is merely illustrative and explanatory, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art can combine the features in the embodiments described herein and in different embodiments accordingly based on the description in this document.

[0034] The embodiments of the present invention are as follows, with reference to Figures 1-10 An automated liquid chromatography (HPLC) injection device includes a frame 1, and further includes an X-axis drive assembly 2, a Y-axis drive assembly 3, a horizontal mounting plate 5, and a vertical mounting plate 6. The X-axis drive assembly 2 and the Y-axis drive assembly 3 are both mounted on the frame 1. The horizontal mounting plate 5 is connected to the X-axis drive assembly 2, and the vertical mounting plate 6 is connected to the Y-axis drive assembly 3. The horizontal mounting plate 5 is fixedly equipped with a material placement assembly 7, a clamping and opening assembly 8, a shaking and mixing assembly 9, and an injection port 11. The vertical mounting plate 6 is equipped with a tip pin 61, an electric gripper 62, an injection needle 63, and multiple Z-axis drive assemblies 4 that are respectively matched thereto. The movement directions of the X-axis drive assembly 2, the Y-axis drive assembly 3, and the Z-axis drive assembly 4 are mutually perpendicular. The technical solution of this invention integrates a material placement component 7, a clamping and opening component 8, and a oscillating and mixing component 9. By controlling the movement of the TIP needle 61, the electric gripper 62, and the injection needle 63, the fully automated steps of opening the cap, pipetting, oscillating, and injection can be achieved. From placing the blood collection tube 76 into the instrument to obtaining the final test result, the entire process is automated, reducing the human contact with the sample, avoiding errors caused by human interference, and significantly improving the accuracy and repeatability of the test results.

[0035] It is worth noting that the TIP needle 61, electric gripper 62 and injection needle 63 can all be purchased directly from existing products on the market. For example, in this embodiment, the electric gripper 62 used is the RJ28 model electric gripper 62 of Shenzhen Daken Technology Co., Ltd., which can realize the function of gripping rotation.

[0036] In practical applications, operators input instructions to place various materials, such as blood collection tubes 76 containing samples to be tested, empty sample vials 75, TIP heads 73, and reagent kits 74, at designated positions on the material placement assembly 7. The control terminal 12 controls the X-axis drive assembly 2 to move the material placement assembly 7 to the predetermined position. The control terminal 12 then controls the Y-axis drive assembly 3, Z-axis drive assembly 4, clamping and opening assembly 8, oscillating and mixing assembly 9, electric gripper 62, and TIP needle 61 to perform corresponding actions to complete pretreatment steps such as opening the cap, transferring samples, adding reagents, and oscillating and mixing. Then, the injection needle 63 is controlled to perform corresponding actions to extract samples from the pretreated samples and inject them into the liquid chromatography system through the injection port 11 for analysis.

[0037] Specifically, the material placement assembly 7 includes a material tray 71 and a rotary motor 72. The rotary motor 72 is fixedly connected to the horizontal mounting plate 5. The material tray 71 is rotatably connected to the horizontal mounting plate 5 and is driven by the rotary motor 72. The material tray 71 is provided with a TIP needle 61 placement position, a reagent kit 74 placement position, a sample vial 75 placement position, and a blood collection tube 76 placement position for placing the TIP needle 73, reagent kit 74, sample vial 75, and blood collection tube 76.

[0038] like Figure 11 As shown, the material tray 71 is further provided with a cooling pipe 710. The cooling water can be sent into the cooling pipe 710 through the cooling water connector 712 via a cooling pump. The inner wall of the material tray 71 is also lined with heat insulation cotton 711, which can cool the blood collection tube 76 and the reagent kit 74 and control the temperature at 2~6℃.

[0039] Specifically, the clamping and opening assembly 8 includes a fixed block 81, a movable block 82, and a clamping drive assembly 83. The fixed block 81 is fixedly connected to the horizontal mounting plate 5, the movable block 82 is slidably connected to the horizontal mounting plate 5 and forms a clamping mechanism with the fixed block 81, and the clamping drive assembly 83 is connected to and drives the movable block 82. The fixed block 81 and the movable block 82 automatically provide stable clamping for the blood collection tube 76 and the sample bottle 75, ensuring the reliability of the electric gripper 62's opening / closing action and solving the problem of container breakage or seal failure caused by uneven force applied during manual opening.

[0040] Specifically, the vertical mounting plate 6 is equipped with a pipette pump 64 and a metering pump 15. The pipette pump 64 is connected to the TIP needle 61, and the metering pump 15 is connected to the injection needle 63. These provide suction force to the TIP tip 73 and the injection needle 63, respectively.

[0041] Specifically, it also includes a control terminal 12, which is electrically connected to the X-axis drive assembly 2, Y-axis drive assembly 3, Z-axis drive assembly 4, pipette pump 64, rotary motor 72, clamping drive assembly 83, oscillation motor 97, and heating element 99, realizing full automation from sample pretreatment and loading to sample injection. The electrical connections include communication connections and electrical connections.

[0042] It is worth noting that the control terminal 12 can be any programmable controller that can be programmed or programmed on the market, such as a computer.

[0043] Specifically, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the material placement assembly 7 also includes a barcode reader 77 and a position sensor 78. The barcode reader 77 is fixedly mounted on the horizontal mounting plate 5; the position sensor 78 is mounted on the horizontal mounting plate 5, and the outer edge of the material tray 71 is provided with a protrusion 79 adapted to the position sensor 78; both the position sensor 78 and the barcode reader 77 are electrically connected to the control terminal 12. By scanning the barcode on the blood collection tube 76 and binding it to the position, the entire process of sample traceability is achieved, avoiding sample confusion caused by manual marking errors, and further improving the reliability of the results.

[0044] Specifically, such as Figure 7 The fixed block 81 and the movable block 82 are provided with multiple clamping slots of different sizes. The upper surface of the fixed block 81 is provided with multiple placement slots. A buffer and a pressure sensor 834 are provided between the movable block 82 and the clamping drive assembly 83. The pressure sensor 834 is electrically connected to the control terminal 12. Flexible clamping is achieved through the buffer and the pressure sensor 834 to avoid damage to the blood collection tube 76 and the sample bottle 75 by rigid contact.

[0045] In this embodiment, the clamping drive assembly 83 is driven by a clamping linear motor combined with a clamping linear guide rail 835. Specifically, the clamping drive assembly 83 includes a clamping linear motor 831 and a clamping mounting plate 832. The clamping mounting plate 832 is slidably connected to a horizontal mounting plate 5. The clamping linear motor 831 is fixedly mounted on the horizontal mounting plate 5, and its output end is connected to the clamping mounting plate 832. The clamping mounting plate 832 is provided with a slide rod 833. The movable block 82 is slidably connected to the slide rod 833. A first buffer spring is sleeved on the slide rod 833. The clamping mounting plate 832 is provided with a pressure sensor 834. Both the clamping linear motor 831 and the pressure sensor 834 are electrically connected to the control terminal 12. When the clamping linear motor 831 controls the movable block 82 to clamp the blood collection tube 76 or the sample bottle 75, the first buffer spring can convert the rigid contact of the blood collection tube 76 or the sample bottle 75 into a flexible contact. At the same time, the pressure sensor 834 can also provide feedback on the clamping pressure in real time, which can effectively prevent excessive clamping pressure from damaging the blood collection tube 76 and the sample bottle 75.

[0046] Specifically, the clamping and opening assembly 8 also includes a blood collection tube fixing component 84 and a shaking motor 85. The shaking motor 85 is fixedly connected to the fixing block 81, and the blood collection tube fixing component 84 is connected to the output shaft of the shaking motor 85. The upper part of the blood collection tube fixing component 84 is provided with a through hole for placing the blood collection tube 76, and the right side of the blood collection tube 76 is provided with a fixing component 86 for fixing the blood collection tube 76 in the through hole. Before opening the blood collection tube 76 for sampling, the blood collection tube 76 in the blood collection tube fixing component 84 is shaken by the shaking motor 85 to ensure that the blood sample is uniform.

[0047] Specifically, such as Figure 8 As shown, the fixing component 86 includes a swing rod 861, a spring 862, and a top rod 863. The middle part of the swing rod 861 is rotatably connected to the right side of the blood collection tube fixing component 84. One end of the spring 862 abuts against the right side of the blood collection tube fixing component 84, and the other end is connected to the upper end of the swing rod 861. The top rod 863 is horizontally installed at the lower end of the swing rod 861. The right side of the blood collection tube fixing component 84 is provided with a fixing hole 841, and one end of the top rod 863 extends into the fixing hole 841 to abut against the blood collection tube 76. The fixing block 81 is also provided with a limiting block 864, which is used to abut against the upper right side of the swing rod 861.

[0048] In practical applications, the shaking motor 85 and the blood collection tube fixing component 84 are designed in a coordinated manner through the shaking motor 85 driving the loosening and the spring 862 clamping. This achieves automatic opening and closing of the blood collection tube 76 when it is placed without the need for manual manipulation of the clamping structure. At the same time, the spring 862 can adaptively adjust the clamping force during oscillation to avoid damage to the blood collection tube 76 by rigid clamping. Meanwhile, the shaking motor 85 directly drives the clamped blood collection tube 76 to oscillate, improving the mixing efficiency and stabilizing the oscillation frequency. The uniformity is improved by 25% compared to manual shaking, solving the problems of easy detachment and poor mixing consistency of the traditional manually clamped blood collection tube 76.

[0049] Specifically, such as Figure 9 As shown, the oscillating mixing assembly 9 includes a module base plate 91, a support base 92, an oscillating body base 93, a placement fixture 94, a heating element 99, and an eccentric wheel oscillation mechanism. The module base plate 91 is fixedly connected to the horizontal mounting plate 5. The support base 92 is fixed to the module base plate 91. At least two guide mechanism components 95 are fixed on the support base 92. The oscillating body base 93 is slidably connected to the guide mechanism components 95. A second buffer spring 98 is also sleeved on the guide mechanism component 95. The placement fixture 94 is fixed to the oscillating body base 93. The bottom of the placement fixture 94 is provided with the heating element 99. The eccentric wheel oscillation mechanism includes an oscillation motor 97, an eccentric wheel, and a push rod. The oscillation motor 97 is fixed on the module base plate 91, and its output shaft is fixedly connected to the eccentric wheel. One end of the push rod is hinged to the side of the eccentric wheel away from the center of rotation, and the other end of the push rod is hinged to the bottom or side of the oscillation body base 93. The module base plate 91 is also provided with an origin sensor 96 and a temperature sensor. The heating element 99, the origin sensor 96, the temperature sensor, and the oscillation motor 97 are all electrically connected to the control terminal 12. When the oscillation motor 97 drives the eccentric wheel to rotate, the eccentric wheel pushes the oscillation body base 93 to perform high-frequency reciprocating oscillation along the guide mechanism 95 through eccentric motion, causing the placement fixture 94, sample bottle 75, and internal sample solution to oscillate synchronously, accelerating the sample separation speed. The heating element 99 is used to control the sample temperature. The eccentric wheel oscillation mechanism drives the placement fixture 94 and sample bottle 75 to oscillate at high frequency. Through the rigid connection of the "eccentric wheel-guide mechanism 95", the circular motion of the oscillation motor 97 is stably converted into linear oscillation. In conjunction with the heating element 99, the sample mixing efficiency is improved while ensuring the activity of biological samples, solving the problems of unstable oscillation and poor temperature control in traditional mixing devices. Specifically, the horizontal mounting plate 5 is also equipped with a needle cleaner 10. When one sample is added and the analysis is completed, and another sample needs to be added, the needle 63 moves into the needle cleaner 10. The needle cleaner 10 then cleans the outer wall of the needle 63 and performs high-pressure rinsing on the inner wall. The automated cleaning of the needle 63 reduces residue, avoids cross-contamination, and solves the problem of incomplete manual cleaning.

[0050] Specifically, the injection needle cleaner 10 is equipped with an ultrasonic generator and a high-pressure flushing pipeline. A peristaltic pump 16 is mounted on the frame 1. The high-pressure flushing pipeline is connected to the peristaltic pump 16. After the same sample is dispensed, the injection needle 63 moves to the injection needle cleaner 10. The peristaltic pump 16 flushes the inner wall of the injection needle 63 via the high-pressure flushing pipeline, while the ultrasonic generator cleans the outer wall of the injection needle 63 using ultrasonic waves. It is worth noting that the X-axis drive assembly 2, Y-axis drive assembly 3, Z-axis drive assembly 4, and clamping drive assembly 83 can directly adopt any existing linear drive transmission mechanism, such as a lead screw drive or a linear motor drive.

[0051] In this embodiment, the X-axis drive assembly 2, Y-axis drive assembly 3, and Z-axis drive assembly 4 all employ screw drive mechanisms. Specifically, the X-axis drive assembly 2 includes an X-axis drive motor, an X-axis lead screw, and an X-axis lead screw nut. The X-axis lead screw is horizontally mounted on the frame 1 and rotatably connected to the frame 1. The X-axis lead screw nut is engaged with the X-axis lead screw and is fixedly connected to the horizontal mounting plate 5. The output shaft of the X-axis drive motor is connected to the X-axis lead screw. The Y-axis drive assembly 3 includes a Y-axis drive motor, a Y-axis lead screw, and a Y-axis lead screw nut. The Y-axis lead screw is horizontally mounted on the frame 1 and rotatably connected to the frame 1. The Y-axis lead screw nut is engaged with the Y-axis lead screw and is fixedly connected to the vertical mounting plate 6. The output shaft of the Y-axis drive motor is connected to the Y-axis lead screw. The Z-axis drive assembly 4 includes a Z-axis drive motor, a Z-axis lead screw, and a Z-axis lead screw nut. The Z-axis lead screw is horizontally laid on the vertical mounting plate 6 and rotatably connected to the vertical mounting plate 6. The Z-axis lead screw nut is engaged with the Z-axis lead screw. The Z-axis lead screw nuts in the multiple sets of Z-axis drive assemblies 4 are respectively fixedly connected to the TIP head 73, the electric gripper 62, and the injection needle 63. The output shaft of the Z-axis drive motor is connected to the Z-axis lead screw. This invention achieves precise three-dimensional movement of the TIP head 73, the electric gripper 62, and the injection needle 63 through the X-axis drive assembly 2, the Y-axis drive assembly 3, and the Z-axis drive assembly 4, solving the problems of motion interference and large positioning deviation in traditional drive modules, and ensuring the accuracy of sample switching between various pretreatment stations. Specifically, leakage sensors are installed at the connection points of the pipette pump 64, the metering pump 15, and the peristaltic pump 16 to detect whether there is leakage at the pump connection points and to feed back to the control terminal 12 to generate an alarm signal.

[0052] Specifically, the automated liquid chromatography sampler also includes a flip-top door 13 and a housing 14 for enclosing the automated liquid chromatography sampler. The housing 14 is also provided with a maintenance and inspection window to facilitate observation of the internal structure of the equipment and to carry out maintenance.

[0053] It is worth noting that the sample bottle 75 used in this invention is existing technology. For details, please refer to the patent number "CN221412342U" which discloses "A filter tip, adapter and micro-volume ultrafiltration bottle". Alternatively, any sample storage container available on the market can be used.

[0054] To better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the implementation process of a specific embodiment is provided as follows: The entire process of this automated sample introduction device can be divided into five core stages: sample loading, automated pretreatment, sampling, sample introduction, and cleaning. Figures 1-9 The details are as follows: Sample loading The operator opens the flip-top door 13 and places the blood collection tube 76, sample bottle 75, TIP needle, and reagent kit 74 into the corresponding positions on the material tray 71, such as the blood collection tube 76 placement position, sample bottle 75 placement position, TIP needle placement position, and reagent kit 74 placement position.

[0055] After the flip door 13 is closed, the built-in program in the control terminal 12 is started to automatically call and control each drive device: control the X-axis drive component 2 to drive the material tray 71 to move linearly along the X-axis; at the same time control the rotary motor 72 to drive the material tray 71 to rotate a specified angle.

[0056] The control barcode reader 77 reads the barcode of the blood collection tube 76 and binds it to the rotation position of the material tray 71 and enters it into the control terminal 12. The cooling pump is started to continuously circulate cooling water in the cooling pipe inside the material tray 71. With the help of the outer insulation cotton, the sample is kept at 2℃~6℃.

[0057] Automated Sample Pretreatment Clamping and opening: Control the Y-axis drive assembly 3 and the Z-axis drive assembly 4 to make the electric gripper 62 grab the sample bottle 75 from the material tray 71 and put it into the clamping and opening assembly 8. Then, start the clamping drive assembly 83 to make the movable block 82 and the fixed block 81 clamp the sample bottle 75. Continue to control the electric gripper 62 to rotate and remove the bottle cap of the sample bottle 75 and put the bottle cap of the sample bottle 75 into the placement groove of the fixed block 81. Continue to control the electric gripper 62 to transfer the sample bottle 75 to the placement fixture 94 of the oscillating mixing assembly 9.

[0058] Shaking and pipetting of blood collection tube 76: Control the electric gripper 62 to grasp the blood collection tube 76 into the blood collection tube fixing component 84, start the shaking motor 85 to drive the blood collection tube fixing component 84 to shake and mix; after shaking, control the electronic gripper to move the blood collection tube 76 between the fixed block 81 and the movable block 82 to be clamped, then operate the electric gripper 62 to descend and rotate and remove the cap of the blood collection tube 76; then continue to drive the Y-axis drive component 3 and the Z-axis drive component 4 to move the TIP needle 61 above the material tray 71 and automatically descend to install the disposable TIP head 73. Then continue to control the TIP needle 61 to move above the blood collection tube fixing component 84, start the pipetting pump 64 and descend to draw blood sample from the blood collection tube 76, then control the TIP needle 61 to rise and move to the oscillation mixing component 9, and add the blood sample to the sample bottle 75 where the fixture 94 is placed. After completing the pipetting, replace the disposable TIP head 73 and continue to draw reagents from the reagent kit 74 in the material tray 71 and add them to the sample bottle 75. After the liquid transfer is completed, control the electric gripper 62 to put the cap back on the blood collection tube 76, and put the blood collection tube 76 back on the material tray 71, and put the cap back on the sample bottle 75.

[0059] Oscillating heating and mixing: Start the heating element 99 and use the insulation cotton to control the temperature, such as 37°C. Start the oscillation motor 97 and drive the oscillation body base 93 to reciprocate along the guide mechanism 95 through the eccentric wheel to achieve the mixing of sample and reagent. After oscillation and mixing, control the electric gripper 62 to put the sample bottle 75 back onto the material tray 71.

[0060] Sampling and injection process Control the X-axis drive assembly 2 and the Y-axis drive assembly 3 to move the injection needle 63 above the material tray 71 and sample bottle 75, start the quantitative pump 15 and the Z-axis drive assembly 4 to lower the injection needle 63 into the sample bottle 75 for sampling.

[0061] Control the X-axis drive assembly 2, Y-axis drive assembly 3 and Z-axis drive assembly 4 to move the injection needle 63 into the injection port 11, start the quantitative pump 15, and add the sample into the liquid chromatography system through the injection port 11.

[0062] Cleaning process After the same sample is injected, the injection needle 63 is moved to the injection needle cleaner 10, the peristaltic pump 16 is started, the outer wall of the injection needle 63 is cleaned by ultrasonic cleaning, and the inner wall of the injection needle 63 is rinsed by high pressure to avoid residual contamination of the next sample on the injection needle 63.

[0063] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automated liquid chromatography sample injector, comprising a frame (1), characterized in that, It also includes: an X-axis drive assembly (2), a Y-axis drive assembly (3), a horizontal mounting plate (5), and a vertical mounting plate (6); the X-axis drive assembly (2) and the Y-axis drive assembly (3) are both mounted on the frame (1), the horizontal mounting plate (5) is connected to the X-axis drive assembly (2), and the vertical mounting plate (6) is connected to the Y-axis drive assembly (3). The horizontal mounting plate (5) is fixedly provided with a material placement assembly (7), a clamping and opening assembly (8), a oscillating and mixing assembly (9), and an injection port (11); the vertical mounting plate (6) is provided with a TIP needle (61), an electric gripper (62), an injection needle (63), and multiple Z-axis drive assemblies (4) that are respectively matched therewith; the vertical mounting plate (6) is provided with a pipette pump (64) and a metering pump (15), the pipette pump (64) is connected to the TIP needle (61), and the metering pump (15) is connected to the injection needle (63); The clamping and opening assembly (8) includes a fixed block (81), a movable block (82), and a clamping drive assembly (83). The fixed block (81) is fixedly connected to the horizontal mounting plate (5). The movable block (82) is slidably connected to the horizontal mounting plate (5) and forms a clamping mechanism with the fixed block (81). The clamping drive assembly (83) is connected to and drives the movable block (82). The clamping and opening assembly (8) also includes a blood collection tube fixing component (84) and a shaking motor (85). The shaking motor (85) is fixedly connected to the fixing block (81). The blood collection tube fixing component (84) is connected to the output shaft of the shaking motor (85). The upper part of the blood collection tube fixing component (84) is provided with a through hole for placing the blood collection tube (76). The right side of the blood collection tube fixing component (84) is provided with a fixing component (86) for fixing the blood collection tube (76) in the through hole.

2. The automated liquid chromatography sample injector according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a control terminal (12), wherein the X-axis drive assembly (2), Y-axis drive assembly (3), Z-axis drive assembly (4), clamping drive assembly (83) and rocking motor (85) are all electrically connected to the control terminal (12).

3. The automated liquid chromatography sample injector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The material placement assembly (7) includes a material tray (71) and a rotary motor (72). The rotary motor (72) is fixedly connected to the horizontal mounting plate (5). The material tray (71) is rotatably connected to the horizontal mounting plate (5) and is driven by the rotary motor (72). The material tray (71) has multiple independent placement areas for placing TIP heads (73), reagent kits (74), sample vials (75), and blood collection tubes (76), respectively. The rotary motor (72) is electrically connected to the control terminal (12).

4. The automated liquid chromatography sample injector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The material placement assembly (7) also includes a barcode reader (77) fixedly installed on the horizontal mounting plate (5) and a position sensor (78) installed on the horizontal mounting plate (5). The outer edge of the material tray (71) is provided with a protrusion (79) adapted to the position sensor (78). Both the position sensor (78) and the barcode reader (77) are electrically connected to the control terminal (12).

5. The automated liquid chromatography sampler according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that: Multiple clamping slots of different sizes are provided between the fixed block (81) and the movable block (82). Multiple placement slots are provided on the upper surface of the fixed block (81). A buffer and a pressure sensor (834) are provided between the movable block (82) and the clamping drive assembly (83). The pressure sensor (834) is electrically connected to the control terminal (12).

6. The automated liquid chromatography sampler according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that: The fixing component (86) includes a swing rod (861), a spring (862), and a top rod (863). The middle part of the swing rod (861) is rotatably connected to the right side of the blood collection tube fixing component (84). One end of the spring (862) abuts against the right side of the blood collection tube fixing component (84), and the other end is connected to the upper end of the swing rod (861). The top rod (863) is horizontally installed at the lower end of the swing rod (861). The right side of the blood collection tube fixing component (84) is provided with a fixing hole (841). One end of the top rod (863) extends into the fixing hole (841) and abuts against the blood collection tube (76). The fixing block (81) is also provided with a limiting block (864), which is used to abut against the upper right side of the swing rod (861).

7. The automated liquid chromatography sampler according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that: The clamping drive assembly (83) includes a clamping linear motor (831) and a clamping mounting plate (832). The clamping mounting plate (832) is slidably connected to the horizontal mounting plate (5). The clamping linear motor (831) is fixedly mounted on the horizontal mounting plate (5), and its output end is connected to the clamping mounting plate (832). The clamping mounting plate (832) is provided with a slide rod (833). The movable block (82) is slidably connected to the slide rod (833). A first buffer spring is sleeved on the slide rod (833). The clamping mounting plate (832) is provided with a pressure sensor (834). The clamping linear motor (831) and the pressure sensor (834) are both electrically connected to the control terminal (12).

8. The automated liquid chromatography sample injector according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that: The oscillating mixing assembly (9) includes a module base plate (91), a support base (92), an oscillating body base (93), a placement fixture (94), a heating element (99), and an eccentric wheel oscillation mechanism. The module base plate (91) is fixedly connected to a horizontal mounting plate (5). The support base (92) is fixed to the module base plate (91). At least two guide components (95) are fixed on the support base (92). The oscillating body base (93) is slidably connected to the guide components (95). The placement fixture (94) is fixed to the oscillating body base (93). The bottom is provided with the heating element (99). The eccentric wheel oscillation mechanism includes an oscillation motor (97), an eccentric wheel and a push rod. The oscillation motor (97) is fixed on the module base plate (91), and its output shaft is fixedly connected to the eccentric wheel. One end of the push rod is hinged to the side of the eccentric wheel away from the rotation center, and the other end of the push rod is hinged to the bottom or side of the oscillation body base (93). The module base plate (91) is also provided with an origin sensor (96) and a temperature sensor. The heating element (99), origin sensor (96), temperature sensor and oscillation motor (97) are all electrically connected to the control terminal (12).

9. The automated liquid chromatography sample injector according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that: The horizontal mounting plate (5) is also equipped with a needle cleaner (10).

10. The automated liquid chromatography sample injector according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that: The material placement assembly (7) is provided with a cooling pipe (710), the frame (1) is provided with a cooling pump, the cooling pipe (710) is connected to the cooling pump, and the outer shell of the material placement assembly is also provided with insulation cotton (712).

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