A fully automatic plate culture device

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of full-automatic plate culture device, it is related to microbiological experimental equipment technical field, including: incubator;Plate conveying track, one end of plate conveying track extends to the outside of incubator, for receiving the plate that external delivery comes, the other end extends to the inside of incubator;Plate culture barrel frame is set in the inside of incubator, and plate culture barrel frame is equipped with multiple plate culture barrels for carrying plate;Plate loading mechanism is set in the inside of incubator and is located below the end of plate conveying track, for receiving the plate that is transported from plate conveying track and plate is lifted to plate culture barrel upward. The above-mentioned full-automatic plate culture device realizes the full-automatic transfer and loading of plate from inoculation equipment to incubator, greatly reduces manual intervention, improves laboratory work efficiency, reduces labor cost, reduces the exposure time of plate in open environment, reduces the risk of environmental pollution.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of microbial experimental equipment technology, and in particular to a fully automated plate culture device. Background Technology

[0002] Plate incubators are fundamental equipment in microbiology laboratories used for culturing inoculated solid culture media such as agar plates. Their main function is to provide a constant temperature, humidity, and suitable gaseous environment for microbial growth. They have wide applications in clinical microbiology testing, food hygiene inspection, environmental monitoring, and scientific research.

[0003] Currently, the workflow of traditional plate incubators relies entirely on manual operation: Researchers first inoculate samples inside a biosafety cabinet, then manually remove the inoculated plates from the cabinet, move them to the incubator, open the door, and place the plates individually or in batches onto the shelves inside the incubator. After setting the incubation parameters, they close the door and begin incubation. Once incubation is complete, the door is manually opened again to remove the plates for result observation.

[0004] This traditional model, which relies heavily on manual operation, has many technical drawbacks:

[0005] First, it is inefficient and has high labor costs. The entire process from taking out and moving the tablets to placing them requires manual intervention, especially when processing large batches of samples. This operation is time-consuming and labor-intensive, seriously affecting the overall work efficiency of the laboratory.

[0006] Second, the standardization of procedures is low, and the incubation time is inconsistent. The timing of plate placement by laboratory personnel is arbitrary, potentially leading to discrepancies of several hours or even longer between the actual start times of incubation. For time-sensitive microbial cultures (such as certain fastidious bacteria and drug sensitivity tests), this difference directly affects bacterial growth, colony morphology, and even quantitative results, potentially leading to misinterpretations and posing a risk of medical malpractice.

[0007] Third, frequent opening and closing of the door leads to drastic fluctuations in the culture environment. Manually placing and removing plates requires repeatedly opening the incubator door, and each opening causes a sudden drop in temperature, changes in humidity, and the release of specific gases (such as...). The virus can escape and take a long time to recover. These repeated environmental fluctuations can interfere with the normal growth of microorganisms.

[0008] Fourth, there are biosafety risks. The incubator may contain potentially pathogenic microorganisms that are growing inside. Frequent opening of the incubator door may cause aerosols containing microorganisms to leak into the laboratory environment, posing a biosafety risk to operators.

[0009] With the continuous improvement of laboratory automation, the front-end processes of microbial detection (such as sample processing and plate inoculation) have gradually become automated. However, plate culture, a crucial step, still relies on traditional manual operation, which has become a bottleneck restricting the overall automation level and efficiency improvement of laboratories. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a fully automated plate culture device that can automatically load plates, reduce manual intervention, maintain a stable culture environment, and improve biosafety. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The purpose of this invention is to provide a fully automated plate culture device, which solves the technical problem that current plate culture work is highly dependent on manual operation and has many defects.

[0011] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a fully automated plate culture device, comprising:

[0012] Incubator;

[0013] A flat plate conveyor track, one end of which extends to the outside of the incubator to receive flat plates conveyed from the outside, and the other end extends to the inside of the incubator;

[0014] A plate culture rack is installed inside the incubator, and the plate culture rack is provided with multiple plate culture tanks for supporting the plates;

[0015] A plate loading mechanism is located inside the incubator and below the end of the plate conveying track. It is used to receive the plate conveyed from the plate conveying track and lift the plate upward into the plate culture tank.

[0016] In some technical solutions, the flatbed conveyor track includes:

[0017] frame;

[0018] A conveyor motor is mounted on the frame;

[0019] The driving wheel and the driven wheel are rotatably mounted on the frame, and the conveying motor is connected to the driving wheel via a transmission.

[0020] A belt is fitted onto the driving pulley and the driven pulley;

[0021] A flat plate positioning sensor is installed on the frame to detect whether the flat plate has reached above the flat plate loading mechanism.

[0022] In some technical solutions, the tablet loading mechanism includes:

[0023] A guide rail fixing plate is fixedly disposed at the end of the flat conveyor track, and a guide rail is fixedly disposed on the guide rail fixing plate in the vertical direction;

[0024] A motor mounting plate is fixedly mounted on the guide rail fixing plate. A lead screw motor is mounted on the motor mounting plate. A nut is threaded onto the lead screw of the lead screw motor. A lifting block is fixedly connected to the nut. The lifting block is slidably connected to the guide rail.

[0025] A support shaft is fixedly mounted on the lifting block, and a support plate for supporting the flat plate is fixedly mounted on the top of the support shaft;

[0026] An origin sensor is used to detect whether the tray is in its initial position.

[0027] In some technical solutions, the plate culture tank rack is provided with multiple culture tank mounting positions along the circumferential direction for mounting plate culture tanks. A rotary motor is installed at the bottom of the plate culture tank rack, and the plate culture tank rack is rotatably mounted in the incubator through the rotary motor so that different plate culture tanks can be aligned with the top of the plate loading mechanism.

[0028] In some technical solutions, each culture tank mounting position is equipped with a first sensor to detect whether a plate culture tank is installed at the culture tank mounting position; each culture tank mounting position is also equipped with a second sensor to detect whether the corresponding plate culture tank is fully loaded.

[0029] In some technical solutions, the bottom of the plate culture tank is provided with multiple self-returning buckles along the circumferential direction to support the plate; the self-returning buckles include:

[0030] A hinge mounting base is fixedly disposed at the bottom of the flat plate culture tank and is used to connect the automatic return buckle to the flat plate culture tank.

[0031] A hinge shaft is disposed in the hinge shaft mounting base;

[0032] The support leg is rotatably mounted on the hinge shaft and is constrained by the hinge shaft mounting seat to rotate within a limited range. When the support leg rotates upward to its limit position, the free ends of the multiple self-returning latches of the support leg form a space for the plate to pass through. When the support leg rotates downward to its limit position, the space formed by the free ends of the multiple self-returning latches of the support leg is smaller than the outer contour of the plate, thereby supporting the plate above.

[0033] A torsion spring, mounted on the hinge shaft, is used to apply a torque to the support leg, causing it to rotate downwards to its limit position.

[0034] Some technical solutions also include a temperature control module, which includes:

[0035] A temperature sensor is located inside the incubator;

[0036] A heating element for heating the interior of the incubator;

[0037] A circulating fan is used to circulate the air inside the incubator.

[0038] Some technical solutions also include a gas path module, which includes:

[0039] Gas connection interface, used to connect to an external gas source;

[0040] A gas concentration sensor is installed inside the incubator;

[0041] A solenoid valve is installed on the air circuit interface.

[0042] In some technical solutions, a water tray is provided at the bottom of the incubator.

[0043] Some technical solutions also include a control and display module, which includes:

[0044] A touch screen is installed on the outer wall of the incubator to display environmental parameters inside the incubator and to set culture parameters;

[0045] The controller is electrically connected to the touch screen, the flatbed conveyor track, and the flatbed loading mechanism.

[0046] Compared to the aforementioned background technology, the fully automated plate culture device provided by this invention achieves fully automated transfer and loading of plates from the inoculation device to the incubator through a plate transport track and plate loading mechanism. This significantly reduces manual intervention, improves laboratory work efficiency, lowers labor costs, reduces the exposure time of plates in the open environment, reduces the risk of environmental contamination, and reduces the opportunity for operators to come into contact with potentially pathogenic microorganisms, thus improving biosafety. Furthermore, the plates can be placed into the incubator without opening the incubator door, avoiding environmental fluctuations caused by frequent door opening and closing, maintaining the stability of temperature, humidity, and gas environment within the incubator, and providing more stable conditions for microbial growth. Attached Figure Description

[0047] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0048] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall layout of the fully automated plate culture device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram from another perspective of the fully automated plate culture device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flatbed conveyor track provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of the flatbed conveyor track provided in an embodiment of the present invention from another perspective;

[0052] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the flat plate loading mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the plate culture rack provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of flat plates being stacked in a flat plate culture tank rack according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the plate culture tank provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the automatic return buckle provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] Figures 1 to 9 Chinese figure labels:

[0058] 1. Incubator; 11. Water tray; 12. Touch screen display;

[0059] 2. Flatbed conveyor track; 21. Conveyor motor; 22. Drive wheel; 23. Driven wheel; 24. Belt; 25. Frame;

[0060] 3. Flat plate culture tank rack; 31. Culture tank mounting position; 32. Rotary motor;

[0061] 4. Flat plate culture tank; 41. Automatic return buckle; 411. Hinge shaft; 412. Support leg; 413. Torsion spring;

[0062] 5. Flatbed loading mechanism; 51. Guide rail fixing plate; 52. Guide rail; 53. Motor mounting plate; 54. Screw motor; 541. Screw; 542. Nut; 55. Lifting block; 56. Support shaft; 57. Pallet; 571. Rubber pad;

[0063] 6. Flat panel. Detailed Implementation

[0064] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0065] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0066] Please refer to this as well. Figures 1 to 9 This invention provides a fully automated plate culture device. The fully automated plate culture device provided by this invention includes:

[0067] Incubator 1;

[0068] The flat plate conveying track 2 extends to the outside of the incubator 1 at one end to receive the flat plate 6 conveyed from the outside, and extends to the inside of the incubator 1 at the other end.

[0069] A plate culture rack 3 is set inside the incubator 1, and multiple plate culture tanks 4 are provided on the plate culture rack 3 to support the plate 6;

[0070] The plate loading mechanism 5 is located inside the incubator 1 and below the end of the plate conveying track 2. It is used to receive the plate 6 conveyed from the plate conveying track 2 and lift the plate 6 upward into the plate culture tank 4.

[0071] The incubator 1 forms a core culture space where environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity can be precisely controlled. To achieve automated sample loading, the fully automated plate culture device is equipped with a plate transport track 2. One end extends to the outside of the incubator 1 to connect to upstream equipment (such as a fully automated plate inoculation instrument) or receive manually placed plates 6. The other end extends through the side wall of the incubator 1 into its interior, allowing the plates 6 to enter the culture area. Inside the incubator 1 is a plate culture bucket rack 3, on which multiple plate culture buckets 4 are arranged to hold the plates 6. These buckets are containers for stacking and culturing the plates 6. The plate loading mechanism 5 is located inside the incubator 1, precisely below the end of the plate transport track 2. It is the actuator that loads the plates 6 transported by the track 2 into the plate culture buckets 4. Its function is to receive the plates 6 transported from the track and, through an upward lifting action, precisely place the plates 6 into the plate culture buckets 4 located directly above them.

[0072] This setup enables fully automated transfer and loading of the plate 6 from the inoculation device to the incubator 1, significantly reducing manual intervention, improving laboratory efficiency, lowering labor costs, reducing the exposure time of the plate 6 in the open environment, reducing the risk of environmental contamination, and reducing the opportunity for operators to come into contact with potentially pathogenic microorganisms, thus improving biosafety. Through the plate transport track 2 and the plate loading mechanism 5, the plate 6 can be placed into the incubator 1 without opening the door throughout the process, avoiding environmental fluctuations caused by frequent door opening and closing, maintaining the stability of temperature, humidity, and gas environment inside the incubator 1, and providing more stable conditions for microbial growth.

[0073] In addition, an entrance is provided at the lower part of the side wall of the incubator 1, through which the flat plate conveying track 2 passes. A door is rotatably connected (e.g., by a hinge) at the entrance. The door can rotate in the vertical plane and is normally closed. When the flat plate 6 on the flat plate conveying track 2 is conveyed to the door, the door rotates in the vertical plane under the pushing action of the flat plate 6, thereby opening the door and allowing the flat plate 6 to enter the interior of the incubator 1. After the flat plate 6 passes, the door closes again.

[0074] In some embodiments, the flatbed conveyor track 2 includes:

[0075] Rack 25;

[0076] Conveyor motor 21 is mounted on frame 25;

[0077] The driving wheel 22 and the driven wheel 23 are rotatably mounted on the frame 25, and the conveying motor 21 is connected to the driving wheel 22 for transmission.

[0078] Belt 24 is fitted onto drive pulley 22 and driven pulley 23;

[0079] A flat plate positioning sensor is installed on the frame 25 to detect whether the flat plate 6 has reached above the flat plate loading mechanism 5.

[0080] Please refer to this as well. Figures 3 to 4The flatbed conveyor track 2 includes a frame 25 supporting the overall structure. A conveyor motor 21, a drive wheel 22, and a driven wheel 23 are mounted on the frame 25. The drive wheel 22 and driven wheel 23 are rotatably mounted at both ends of the frame 25 via bearings. The conveyor motor 21 is connected to the drive wheel 22 via a belt 24, gears, and other transmission components, driving its rotation. An annular belt 24 is fitted over the drive wheel 22 and driven wheel 23. The flatbed 6 is placed on the belt 24 and moves with the belt 24 due to friction. In this embodiment, the belt 24 is a narrow belt with a circular or near-circular cross-section, made of rubber or a similar material to increase friction on the conveyed flatbed 6. Two belts 24 are provided, spaced apart. The flatbed loading mechanism 5 is located below the end of the flatbed conveyor track 2, below the space between the two belts 24.

[0081] To ensure the accurate delivery of the plate 6 to the plate loading mechanism 5, a plate positioning sensor is installed on the frame 25 (usually at the end of the track) to detect in real time whether the plate 6 has reached the predetermined position directly above the plate loading mechanism 5. When the plate 6 moves to the end and obstructs or triggers the positioning sensor, the sensor sends a signal, and the conveyor motor 21 stops. At this point, the plate 6 is precisely positioned directly above the plate loading mechanism 5, ready to be loaded into the plate culture tank 4. This setup achieves precise, reliable, and automated delivery of the plate 6.

[0082] In some embodiments, the tablet loading mechanism 5 includes:

[0083] The guide rail fixing plate 51 is fixedly installed at the end of the flat conveyor rail 2, and the guide rail 52 is fixedly installed on the guide rail fixing plate 51 along the vertical direction.

[0084] The motor mounting plate 53 is fixedly mounted on the guide rail fixing plate 51. A lead screw motor 54 is mounted on the motor mounting plate 53. A nut 542 is threadedly connected to the lead screw 541 of the lead screw motor 54. A lifting block 55 is fixedly connected to the nut 542. The lifting block 55 is slidably connected to the guide rail 52.

[0085] A support shaft 56 is fixedly mounted on a lifting block 55, and a support plate 57 for supporting the flat plate 6 is fixedly mounted on the top of the support shaft 56.

[0086] The origin sensor is used to detect whether the tray 57 is in the initial position.

[0087] Please refer to this as well. Figure 3 and Figure 5A guide rail fixing plate 51 is vertically fixedly installed on the frame 25 at the end of the flatbed conveying track 2. At least one guide rail 52 is fixedly installed on the guide rail fixing plate 51 along the vertical direction. A motor mounting plate 53 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the guide rail fixing plate 51. A lead screw motor 54 is installed on the motor mounting plate 53. The lead screw 541 of the lead screw motor 54 is arranged vertically and a nut 542 is threaded onto it. The nut 542 is fixedly connected to a lifting block 55, and the lifting block 55 also forms a sliding fit with the guide rail 52, ensuring that the lifting block 55 can only move strictly vertically along the guide rail 52 to prevent uneven loading and jamming. A support shaft 56 is fixed vertically on the lifting block 55, and a support plate 57 for directly supporting the flatbed 6 is installed on its top. In addition, the flatbed loading mechanism 5 is also equipped with an origin sensor, which can be installed on the motor mounting plate 53 or the guide rail fixing plate 51. The origin sensor can detect whether the support plate 57 has descended back to the initial standby position.

[0088] Once the plate 6 is in place, the lead screw motor 54 receives an action command, driving the lead screw 541 to rotate. This causes the nut 542, along with the connected lifting block 55, support shaft 56, and pallet 57, to move upwards along the guide rail 52. The pallet 57 contacts and lifts the plate 6 from below, smoothly raising it until it is placed into the upper plate culture tank 4. After placement, the lead screw motor 54 reverses, the pallet 57 descends, and the origin sensor confirms that it has reset, awaiting the next work cycle. This setup ensures the stability and positioning accuracy of the plate 6 during the transfer process.

[0089] In addition, rubber pads 571 are provided at the four corners of the top of the pallet 57. The rubber material has a high coefficient of friction, which can ensure that the plate 6 will not slide or shift relative to each other during the lifting process, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the position of the plate 6 and the stability of the loading process. Moreover, the rubber pads 571 provide elastic buffering at the moment when the pallet 57 contacts the plate 6, which can absorb the small impacts and vibrations when the plate loading mechanism 5 is started, and protect the plate 6.

[0090] In some embodiments, the plate culture tank rack 3 is provided with a plurality of culture tank mounting positions 31 for mounting plate culture tanks 4 along the circumferential direction. A rotary motor 32 is installed at the bottom of the plate culture tank rack 3. The plate culture tank rack 3 is rotatably mounted in the incubator 1 by means of the rotary motor 32, so that different plate culture tanks 4 can be aligned above the plate loading mechanism 5.

[0091] Please refer to this as well. Figure 1 , Figure 6 and Figure 8The main body of the plate culture tank rack 3 is roughly a cylindrical support structure, with multiple culture tank mounting positions 31 evenly arranged along the circumference for placing individual plate culture tanks 4. A rotary motor 32 is installed at the bottom center of the plate culture tank rack 3, and the entire plate culture tank rack 3 is driven by the rotary motor 32 to perform precise rotational movement relative to the incubator 1.

[0092] When a plate culture container 4 is full or set to receive a specific type of plate 6, the control system can control the rotary motor 32 to drive the plate culture container rack 3 to rotate a certain angle, rotating the next empty or designated plate culture container 4 directly above the plate loading mechanism 5. This setup significantly increases the capacity of plates 6 loaded in a single batch and the total amount of cultured, while also facilitating the zoning management of plates 6 for different samples or with different culture requirements.

[0093] Specifically, in this embodiment, the number of culture tank mounting positions 31 on the plate culture tank rack 3 is 8, which can simultaneously accommodate 8 plate culture tanks 4. Each plate culture tank 4 can stack 50 plates 6, and the 8 plate culture tanks 4 can accommodate a total of 400 plates 6, providing a large processing capacity. The plate culture tank rack 3 and the plate culture tanks 4 adopt a quick-release design, which is convenient for users to remove and put back. For example, the plate culture tanks 4 can be directly accommodated in the culture tank mounting position 31. When removing them, simply hold the handle of the plate culture tank 4 and pull it horizontally out of the culture tank mounting position 31. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, a limiting sinking step can be provided at the bottom of the culture tank mounting position 31, and a magnet can be provided on the upper outer side of the plate culture tank 4. The corresponding side wall of the culture tank mounting position 31 is provided with a magnet that magnetically attracts the plate culture tank 4. In use, hold the handle of the plate culture tank 4 so that the bottom of the plate culture tank 4 enters the culture tank mounting position 31 first. The plate culture tank 4 enters the limiting sinking step hole. The function of the limiting step is to restrict the bottom of the plate culture tank 4, prevent it from falling, and prevent it from sliding out horizontally. After the bottom of the plate culture tank 4 enters the limiting sinking step, it is pushed flat to make the plate culture tank 4 completely enter the culture tank installation position 31, so that the magnets on the side walls of the two attract each other, preventing the plate culture tank 4 from shifting in a free state or while the plate culture tank frame 3 is rotating. At the same time, the magnetic attraction force plus the weight of the plate culture tank 4 can also prevent the plate culture tank 4 from shifting vertically during the process of the new plate 6 entering the plate culture tank 4 below.

[0094] In some embodiments, each culture tank mounting position 31 is provided with a first sensor to detect whether a plate culture tank 4 is installed on the culture tank mounting position 31; each culture tank mounting position 31 is also provided with a second sensor to detect whether the corresponding plate culture tank 4 is fully loaded.

[0095] Each culture tank mounting position 31 is equipped with a first sensor and a second sensor. The first and second sensors can be photoelectric sensors or proximity switches. The first sensor can be installed at the bottom of the culture tank mounting position 31, and the second sensor can be installed at the top of the culture tank mounting position 31. The first sensor detects whether a plate culture tank 4 is placed on the culture tank mounting position 31. The second sensor detects whether the plate culture tank 4 on the corresponding culture tank mounting position 31 is filled with plate 6.

[0096] By reading the signals from the first and second sensors, the system can determine in real time which tanks are present and which are not full. When a new plate 6 needs to be placed, the control system automatically selects a tank installation position 31 that is present but not full, and then drives the rotary motor 32 to rotate the tank directly above the plate loading mechanism 5. This setup ensures the continuity and automation of the loading process, eliminating the need for manual intervention in determining and switching the tank status.

[0097] In some embodiments, the bottom of the plate culture tank 4 is provided with a plurality of self-returning buckles 41 along the circumferential direction for supporting the plate 6; the self-returning buckles 41 include:

[0098] The hinge mounting base is fixedly located at the bottom of the flat plate culture tank 4 and is used to connect the automatic return buckle 41 to the flat plate culture tank 4.

[0099] Hinge 411 is mounted on the hinge mounting base;

[0100] The support leg 412 is rotatably mounted on the hinge pin 411 and rotates within a limited range due to the constraint of the hinge pin mounting seat. When the support leg 412 rotates upward to its limit position, the free ends of the support legs 412 of the multiple self-returning latches 41 form a space for the plate 6 to pass through. When the support leg 412 rotates downward to its limit position, the space formed by the free ends of the support legs 412 of the multiple self-returning latches 41 is smaller than the outer contour of the plate 6, thereby supporting the plate 6 above. In use, the support leg 412 and / or the gravity of the plate 6 above are used to keep the support leg 412 rotating downward to its limit position.

[0101] In some embodiments, a torsion spring 413 is also included, disposed on the hinge pin 411, for applying torque to the leg 412 to keep it rotated downward to its limit position. By providing the torsion spring 413, the return of the leg 412 (i.e., rotation downward to its limit position) is made faster and more reliable.

[0102] Please refer to this as well. Figure 8 and Figure 9To ensure the orderly and stable stacking of the plates 6 within the plate culture tank 4, multiple self-returning latches 41 are provided circumferentially on the inner bottom side of the plate culture tank 4. Each self-returning latch 41 includes a hinge mounting base, a hinge 411 fixed on the hinge mounting base, a support leg 412 that can rotate around the hinge 411, and a torsion spring 413 sleeved on the hinge 411.

[0103] When the tray 57 of the plate loading mechanism 5 lifts the plate 6 upward into the plate culture tank 4, the top of the plate 6 contacts the support leg 412, forcing the support leg 412 to overcome the torque of the torsion spring 413 and rotate upward to its limit position. At this time, the free ends of the support legs 412 of the multiple self-returning latches 41 form a space for the plate 6 to pass through smoothly. When the tray 57 rises above the support leg 412, under the restoring force of the torsion spring 413, the torsion spring 413 causes the support leg 412 to rotate downward to its limit position. This limit position is determined by the hinge mounting seat. At this time, the space formed by the free ends of the support legs 412 of the multiple self-returning latches 41 is smaller than the outer contour of the plate 6, so the plate 6 can be stably placed on these horizontal support legs 412, thus supporting the upper plate 6 through the multiple support legs 412. When the next plate 6 enters, this process is repeated, and it falls below the previous plate 6, finally supporting all the stacked plates 6 through the support legs 412.

[0104] In some embodiments, a temperature control module is further included, the temperature control module comprising:

[0105] The temperature sensor is located inside incubator 1;

[0106] Heating elements are used to heat the interior of incubator 1;

[0107] A circulating fan is used to circulate the air inside incubator 1.

[0108] To ensure the environment necessary for microbial growth, the fully automated plate culture device integrates a temperature control module. The temperature control module includes: a temperature sensor placed in a sensitive location inside the incubator 1 to monitor the actual temperature of the culture space in real time; heating elements (such as heating rods, heating wires, etc.) to generate heat; and a circulating fan to force airflow within the incubator 1, distributing heat evenly to every corner and eliminating temperature dead zones.

[0109] During operation, the temperature sensor feeds back the detection signal to the control system, which compares it with the user-set target temperature (e.g., 37°C). If the detected temperature is lower than the set value, the heating element is activated, and the circulating fan runs continuously to accelerate heat exchange, allowing the temperature to rise quickly and evenly to the set range and remain stable. This setup ensures a uniform and stable temperature within the incubator 1, providing an optimal growth and metabolic environment for microorganisms.

[0110] In some embodiments, a pneumatic circuit module is also included, the pneumatic circuit module comprising:

[0111] Gas connection interface, used to connect to an external gas source;

[0112] A gas concentration sensor is installed inside incubator 1;

[0113] The solenoid valve is installed on the air circuit interface.

[0114] For applications requiring a specific gas environment (e.g., 5%) For microbial culture, the fully automated plate culture device is also equipped with a gas path module. The gas path module includes: a gas interface for connecting to an external gas cylinder; and a gas concentration sensor installed inside the incubator 1 for continuous monitoring of the target gas (such as...). The concentration of the gas; and a solenoid valve installed on the gas pipeline to control the opening and closing of the gas path.

[0115] During use, the user sets the desired gas concentration via the interface. A gas concentration sensor monitors the concentration inside the chamber in real time and sends feedback to the controller. When the concentration falls below the set value, the controller opens the solenoid valve, supplying gas to the chamber via an external gas source; when the concentration reaches the set value, the controller closes the solenoid valve, stopping the gas supply. This closed-loop feedback control system maintains a precise and stable gas environment within the sealed chamber for extended periods, meeting the growth requirements of fastidious bacteria and other aerobic organisms.

[0116] In some embodiments, the incubator 1 has a water tray 11 at its inner bottom.

[0117] Please refer to Figure 1 To maintain suitable humidity within incubator 1 and prevent the agar medium from drying and cracking, a water inlet tray 11 is installed on the inner bottom plate of incubator 1. During use, sufficient sterile water or distilled water is added to the water inlet tray 11. Under the influence of the internal temperature of incubator 1, the water will naturally evaporate and diffuse into the air. The operation of the circulating fan accelerates the uniform distribution of water vapor, thereby forming and maintaining a high and stable relative humidity environment throughout the entire culture space, providing the necessary moisture conditions for microbial growth.

[0118] In some embodiments, a control and display module is further included, the control and display module comprising:

[0119] A touch screen 12 is installed on the outer wall of the incubator 1 and is used to display environmental parameters inside the incubator 1 and to set culture parameters.

[0120] The controller is electrically connected to the touch screen 12, the flatbed conveyor rail 2, and the flatbed loading mechanism 5.

[0121] Please refer to Figure 1The fully automated plate culture device also includes a control and display module. This module comprises a touchscreen display 12 embedded in the outer wall of the incubator 1 and a controller (such as a PLC or industrial computer). The touchscreen display 12 displays key environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and gas concentration within the incubator 1 in real time. It also provides an interface for users to set the culture temperature, time, gas concentration, and select the culture tank mode. Users can set all parameters and operate functions through the intuitive touchscreen and monitor the equipment's operating status in real time.

[0122] The controller is electrically connected to all electrical components, including the touch screen 12, the conveyor motor 21 and sensors of the flatbed conveyor track 2, the lead screw motor 54 of the flatbed loading mechanism 5, the rotary motor 32 of the flatbed culture tank rack 3, the temperature control module, and the gas circuit module. Based on user settings and feedback signals from various sensors, the controller executes preset control logic to achieve automatic intelligent culture.

[0123] It should be noted that in this specification, relational terms such as first and second are used only to distinguish one entity from several other entities, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities.

[0124] This article uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several improvements and modifications to the present invention without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fully automated plate culture device, characterized in that, include: Incubator (1); A flat plate conveying track (2) has one end extending to the outside of the incubator (1) for receiving a flat plate (6) conveyed from the outside, and the other end extending into the inside of the incubator (1). A plate culture rack (3) is set inside the incubator (1), and the plate culture rack (3) is provided with a plurality of plate culture buckets (4) for supporting the plate (6); The plate loading mechanism (5) is located inside the incubator (1) and below the end of the plate conveying track (2). It is used to receive the plate (6) conveyed from the plate conveying track (2) and lift the plate (6) upward into the plate culture tank (4).

2. The fully automated plate culture device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flatbed conveyor track (2) includes: Rack (25); A conveyor motor (21) is mounted on the frame (25); The driving wheel (22) and the driven wheel (23) are rotatably mounted on the frame (25), and the conveying motor (21) is connected to the driving wheel (22) in a transmission. A belt (24) is fitted onto the driving pulley (22) and the driven pulley (23); A flat plate positioning sensor is installed on the frame (25) to detect whether the flat plate (6) has reached above the flat plate loading mechanism (5).

3. The fully automated plate culture device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tablet loading mechanism (5) includes: A guide rail fixing plate (51) is fixedly disposed at the end of the flat conveying track (2), and a guide rail (52) is fixedly disposed on the guide rail fixing plate (51) along the vertical direction; A motor mounting plate (53) is fixedly mounted on the guide rail fixing plate (51). A lead screw motor (54) is mounted on the motor mounting plate (53). A nut (542) is threaded onto the lead screw (541) of the lead screw motor (54). A lifting block (55) is fixedly connected to the nut (542). The lifting block (55) is slidably connected to the guide rail (52). A support shaft (56) is fixedly mounted on the lifting block (55), and a support plate (57) for supporting the flat plate (6) is fixedly mounted on the top of the support shaft (56). An origin sensor is used to detect whether the tray (57) is in its initial position.

4. The fully automated plate culture device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plate culture tank rack (3) is provided with multiple culture tank mounting positions (31) for mounting plate culture tanks (4) along the circumferential direction. A rotary motor (32) is installed at the bottom of the plate culture tank rack (3). The plate culture tank rack (3) is rotatably mounted in the culture box (1) by means of the rotary motor (32) so that different plate culture tanks (4) can be aligned with the top of the plate loading mechanism (5).

5. The fully automated plate culture device according to claim 4, characterized in that, Each culture tank installation position (31) is equipped with a first sensor to detect whether a plate culture tank (4) is installed on the culture tank installation position (31); each culture tank installation position (31) is also equipped with a second sensor to detect whether the corresponding plate culture tank (4) is fully loaded.

6. The fully automated plate culture device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bottom of the plate culture tank (4) is provided with multiple self-returning buckles (41) along the circumferential direction for supporting the plate (6); the self-returning buckles (41) include: A hinge mounting base is fixedly disposed at the bottom of the plate culture tank (4) for connecting the automatic return buckle (41) to the plate culture tank (4); A hinge shaft (411) is disposed in the hinge shaft mounting base; The support leg (412) is rotatably mounted on the hinge shaft (411) and is constrained by the hinge shaft mounting seat to rotate within a limited range. When the support leg (412) rotates upward to the limit position, the free ends of the support legs (412) of the multiple automatic return buckles (41) form a space for the plate (6) to pass through. When the support leg (412) rotates downward to the limit position, the space formed by the free ends of the support legs (412) of the multiple automatic return buckles (41) is smaller than the outer contour of the plate (6), thereby supporting the plate (6) above. A torsion spring (413), disposed on the hinge (411), is used to apply a torque to the leg (412) to keep it rotating downward to its limit position.

7. The fully automated plate culture apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, It also includes a temperature control module, which includes: A temperature sensor is installed inside the incubator (1); Heating element for heating the interior of the incubator (1); A circulating fan is used to circulate the air inside the incubator (1).

8. The fully automated plate culture device according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a gas path module, which includes: Gas connection interface, used to connect to an external gas source; A gas concentration sensor is installed inside the incubator (1); A solenoid valve is installed on the air circuit interface.

9. The fully automated plate culture device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The bottom of the incubator (1) is provided with a water tray (11).

10. The fully automated plate culture device according to claim 9, characterized in that, It also includes a control and display module, which comprises: A touch screen (12) is provided on the outer wall of the incubator (1) for displaying environmental parameters and setting culture parameters inside the incubator (1); The controller is electrically connected to the touch screen (12), the flatbed conveying track (2), and the flatbed loading mechanism (5).

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