Pipetting device for sterility detection

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of food detection, in particular to a pipetting device for sterility detection, which comprises a workbench, a pipetting head, a pipetting head and a pipetting head, the mechanical arm is arranged on the workbench, and a pipette mechanism used for pipetting operation is arranged at the tail end of the mechanical arm; the gun head temporary storage frame is arranged on the workbench and located within the operation range of the mechanical arm, and the gun head temporary storage frame is provided with a first positioning structure matched with the gun head lining plate; and the microwell plate temporary storage frame is arranged on the workbench and is adjacent to the gun head temporary storage frame, and the microwell plate temporary storage frame is provided with a second positioning structure matched with the sample injection microwell plate. According to the scheme, the problems of low detection efficiency, limited accuracy, resource waste and the like caused by manual operation in the prior art are solved, and automatic, high-precision and high-efficiency optimization of the detection process is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of food detection, in particular to a liquid transfer device used for sterility detection. Background Art

[0002] In the field of food microbiology testing, especially in the commercial sterility testing process, traditional manual operation methods face multiple challenges. Inspectors need to fully disinfect the testing environment, including spraying all contact tools and packaging surfaces with alcohol to ensure sterile conditions.

[0003] In addition, manual pipetting involves multiple complex steps, such as pipette range setting, sample sampling, microplate spotting, etc. Each step requires extremely high precision and high concentration of the operator. However, even experienced testers can hardly avoid deviations in test results due to problems such as wrong range selection, inaccurate sampling, or microplate spotting errors. These deviations often require repeated testing, which wastes resources and reduces test efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0004] The utility model provides a liquid transfer device for sterility detection, aiming to solve the problems of low detection efficiency, limited accuracy and waste of resources caused by manual operation in the prior art, and realize automation, high precision and high efficiency optimization of the detection process.

[0005] The utility model provides a pipetting device for sterility detection, comprising: a workbench, arranged in a sterile environment; a mechanical arm, arranged on the workbench, the end of the mechanical arm being provided with a pipetting gun mechanism for pipetting operation; a gun tip buffer rack, arranged on the workbench and located within the operating range of the mechanical arm, the gun tip buffer rack being provided with a first positioning structure adapted to a gun tip lining plate; a microplate buffer rack, arranged on the workbench and adjacent to the gun tip buffer rack, the microplate buffer rack being provided with a second positioning structure adapted to a sample injection microplate.

[0006] According to a pipetting device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, the pipetting gun mechanism includes an electric pipette and a fixture; the fixture has a locked state and an unlocked state; in the locked state, at least a portion of the electric pipette is locked by the fixture; in the unlocked state, the fixture releases the lock on the electric pipette, allowing the electric pipette to detach from the robotic arm.

[0007] According to a pipetting device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, the fixture includes a first clamping block and a second clamping block arranged opposite to each other; in the locked state, the first clamping block and the second clamping block are close to each other, and at least a part of the electric pipette gun is clamped between the first clamping block and the second clamping block; in the unlocked state, the first clamping block and the second clamping block are away from each other.

[0008] According to a pipetting device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, a packaging material fixing mechanism is provided at the end of the mechanical arm, and the packaging material fixing mechanism includes a vertical driver and a pressure plate that performs a vertical movement action under the drive of the vertical driver.

[0009] According to a liquid transfer device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, the vertical driver is a cylinder; the pressure plate is L-shaped, and a guide rail structure is arranged between the vertical plate part of the pressure plate and the cylinder body of the vertical driver.

[0010] According to a pipetting device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, the first positioning structure includes a plurality of chamfered positioning blocks, and the plurality of chamfered positioning blocks are respectively stopped around the inner lining plate of the gun head; and / or the second positioning structure includes a plurality of chamfered positioning blocks, and the plurality of chamfered positioning blocks are respectively stopped around the sampling microplate.

[0011] According to a pipetting device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, the first positioning structure includes an inner lining plate fixing assembly; the inner lining plate fixing assembly includes a horizontal driver and a limit block arranged at the driving end of the horizontal driver; the inner lining plate fixing assembly includes a limit state and a release state; in the limit state, the horizontal driver drives the limit block to extend horizontally toward the inner side of the gun tip cache rack to form a limit fit with the gun tip inner lining plate; in the release state, the horizontal driver drives the limit block to be retracted.

[0012] According to a pipetting device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, a first sensor is provided on at least one side of the gun tip cache rack, and the detection direction of the first sensor is toward the gun tip cache rack, so as to monitor the gun tip lining plate; and / or a second sensor is provided on at least one side of the microplate cache rack, and the detection direction of the second sensor is toward the microplate cache rack, so as to monitor the sampling microplate.

[0013] According to a liquid transfer device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, a waste recovery cylinder is arranged on the workbench, and the waste recovery cylinder has a bottom opening directly connected to the bottom of the workbench.

[0014] According to a liquid transfer device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, a positioning sensor for positioning the liquid transfer gun mechanism and the waste discharge and recovery cylinder is arranged on one side of the waste discharge and recovery cylinder.

[0015] The liquid transfer device for sterility testing provided by the utility model realizes seamless connection from sample pretreatment to automatic sampling and transfer by integrating a liquid transfer gun mechanism carried by a robotic arm, as well as a gun tip buffer rack and a microplate buffer rack on a workbench. The liquid transfer device not only simplifies the complex operation process that previously relied on manual work, but also ensures the standardization and consistency of sample processing through the precise positioning of the physical structure, thereby improving the accuracy and work efficiency of the test. The optimized layout of the device enables the robotic arm to smoothly perform the entire process from sample extraction to the test platform, effectively solving the problems of low efficiency and result variability caused by human factors in traditional technologies, and providing a more automated and efficient solution for commercial sterility testing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present invention or the prior art, a brief introduction will be given below to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0017] Figure 1 The utility model is a schematic diagram of the top view of the liquid transfer device for sterility detection provided by the utility model.

[0018] Figure 2 The utility model is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid transfer gun mechanism and a packaging material fixing mechanism of a liquid transfer device for sterility testing provided by the utility model.

[0019] Reference numerals:

[0020] 10. Workbench; 11. Waste recovery bin; 12. Positioning sensor; 20. Robotic arm; 21. Electric pipette; 22. First clamp; 23. Second clamp; 24. Vertical drive; 25. Press plate; 26. Guide rail structure; 30. Gun tip cache rack; 31. Gun tip lining plate; 32. Horizontal drive; 33. Limit block; 34. First sensor; 40. Microplate cache rack; 41. Sample injection microplate; 42. Chamfered positioning block; 43. Second sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the utility model clearer, the technical solution of the utility model will be described clearly and completely in conjunction with the drawings in the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0022] In the description of the embodiments of the present utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate the orientation or position relationship based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, which is only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present utility model and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present utility model. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. It should also be noted that in the description of the present utility model, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "set", "install", and "connect" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0023] Combine the following Figure 1 , Figure 2 The specific implementation of the liquid transfer device for sterility detection of the utility model is described.

[0024] The utility model provides a pipetting device for sterility testing designed to improve the automation level and testing quality of commercial sterility testing. The device includes: a workbench 10, which is arranged in a sterile environment; a mechanical arm 20, which is arranged on the workbench 10, and a pipetting gun mechanism for pipetting operation is arranged at the end of the mechanical arm 20; a gun head buffer rack 30, which is arranged on the workbench 10 and is located within the operating range of the mechanical arm 20, and the gun head buffer rack 30 is provided with a first positioning structure adapted to the gun head lining plate 31; a microplate buffer rack 40, which is arranged on the workbench 10 and is adjacent to the position of the gun head buffer rack 30, and the microplate buffer rack 40 is provided with a second positioning structure adapted to the injection microplate 41. By integrating the pipetting gun mechanism carried by the mechanical arm 20 on the workbench 10, and the gun head buffer rack 30 and the microplate buffer rack 40, seamless docking from sample pretreatment to automatic sampling and transfer is achieved.

[0025] Preferably, the tip cache rack 30 is designed with a 200 μL pipette tip suspension height and the actual size of the tip liner 31 to cache the pipette tips for sampling by the pipette mechanism. The microplate cache rack 40 is used to accurately cache the sample injection microplate 41 so that the sample can be sequentially applied to the microplate for higher-level detection after the pipette mechanism samples.

[0026] Specifically, the workbench 10 constructed and arranged in a sterile environment is a basic platform for the automated testing process, wherein the sterile environment may include a sterile laboratory, or a sterile isolation environment created by a workstation cover, etc.

[0027] The robotic arm 20 in the device is a key component of automated operation and is installed on the workbench 10. A pipette mechanism is installed at the end of the robotic arm 20 to automatically extract and transfer samples, replacing the traditional manually operated pipette, reducing the direct involvement of the operator and the risk of human error.

[0028] The tip cache rack 30 is located within the operating range of the robot arm 20 and is provided with a first positioning structure that matches the tip liner plate 31, ensuring that the pipette tip can be accurately placed and taken, ensuring the sterility and accuracy of the sampling process. The microplate cache rack 40 is arranged adjacent to it and has a second positioning structure that is compatible with the sample microplate 41. After the pipetting is completed, the sample can be accurately added to the microplate, preparing for subsequent automated testing.

[0029] According to a pipetting device for sterility detection provided by the utility model, the pipetting gun mechanism includes an electric pipetting gun 21 and a fixture. The fixture has a locked state and an unlocked state; in the locked state, at least a portion of the electric pipetting gun 21 is locked by the fixture to ensure stability during the pipetting operation. In the unlocked state, the fixture releases the lock on the electric pipetting gun 21, so that the electric pipetting gun 21 can be separated from the mechanical arm 20, allowing the pipetting gun to be replaced or maintained as needed, which is conducive to the flexible replacement and maintenance operation of the pipetting gun. Preferably, the liquid volume of the electric pipetting gun 21 is accurately controlled by an electrical signal, and the principle of sucking two and hitting one can be adopted to effectively prevent sample splashing or bubble formation, thereby improving the accuracy of sampling. The fixture is preferably made of a lightweight and compact aluminum alloy. Through the fixture, not only can the flexibility and convenience of the use of the pipetting gun be improved, but also the accuracy and stability of the pipetting operation are ensured, and the sampling error caused by the change of the position of the pipetting gun is reduced.

[0030] According to a pipetting device for sterility detection provided by the utility model, the fixture includes a first clamping block 22 and a second clamping block 23 arranged opposite to each other; in the locked state, the first clamping block 22 and the second clamping block 23 are close to each other, and at least a part of the electric pipette gun 21 is clamped between the first clamping block 22 and the second clamping block 23; in the unlocked state, the first clamping block 22 and the second clamping block 23 are away from each other. Specifically, in this embodiment, the fixture is locked and unlocked by a pair of first clamping blocks 22 and second clamping blocks 23 arranged opposite to each other, and the state of the electric pipette gun 21 is controlled by adjusting the distance between the two clamping blocks. The first clamping block 22 and the second clamping block 23 can be matched with a driver by at least one of them to achieve relative movement, and can also be adjusted manually, such as a screw pair structure, to adjust the distance between the first clamping block 22 and the second clamping block 23. The inner sides of the first clamping block 22 and the second clamping block 23 are preferably respectively provided with groove structures adapted to the electric pipette gun 21, and the two groups of groove modules are mutually clamped to fix the electric pipette gun 21.

[0031] According to a liquid transfer device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, a packaging material fixing mechanism is provided at the end of a mechanical arm 20, and the packaging material fixing mechanism includes a vertical driver 24 and a pressing plate 25 that performs a vertical movement action under the drive of the vertical driver 24. By integrating the vertical driver 24 and the pressing plate 25, intelligent fixing and operation of sample packaging materials are realized, and the sampling process is optimized.

[0032] In actual application, the vertical driver 24 is started to drive the pressing plate 25 to move downward, and fix the packaging material by applying pressure to ensure that the packaging material remains stable when the electric pipette 21 is sampling, avoiding inaccurate sampling caused by the movement of the packaging material. After the sampling is completed, the vertical driver 24 moves the pressing plate 25 upward. At this time, the sealing mechanism module in the device receives the signal and seals the sampling hole. The sealed packaging material can be safely transferred or discarded.

[0033] According to a pipetting device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, the vertical drive 24 is a cylinder. As a common linear drive element, the cylinder can provide a stable and powerful linear thrust. The pressure plate 25 is L-shaped, and a guide rail structure 26 is arranged between the vertical plate part of the pressure plate 25 and the cylinder body of the vertical drive 24, and the horizontal part is connected to the driving end. The introduction of the guide rail structure 26 provides a precise guide path for the up and down movement of the pressure plate 25, which can effectively prevent the lateral force generated during the cylinder driving process and reduce the possibility of the driving rod tilting or being damaged due to uneven force, thereby extending the service life of the equipment and improving the stability and accuracy of the overall system. Combined with the use of the Z-axis inlet and outlet cylinders (vertical drive 24), the up and down movement control of the packaging material fixing mechanism is more flexible and accurate.

[0034] According to a liquid transfer device for sterility detection provided by the utility model, the first positioning structure includes a plurality of chamfered positioning blocks 42, which are respectively stopped around the inner lining plate 31 of the gun head; and / or the second positioning structure includes a plurality of chamfered positioning blocks 42, which are respectively stopped around the injection micro-well plate 41. The chamfered positioning blocks 42 are arranged around the edge of the inner lining plate 31 of the gun head and / or the injection micro-well plate 41, forming a clear physical boundary (horizontal limit), providing an accurate reference point for the operation of the consumables transfer robot.

[0035] According to a pipetting device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, the first positioning structure includes an inner lining plate fixing assembly; the inner lining plate fixing assembly includes a horizontal driver 32 and a limit block 33 arranged at the driving end of the horizontal driver 32. The inner lining plate fixing assembly includes a limit state and a release state; in the limit state, the horizontal driver 32 drives the limit block 33 to extend horizontally toward the inner side of the gun tip cache rack 30 to form a limit fit with the gun tip inner lining plate 31; in the release state, the horizontal driver 32 drives the limit block 33 to be retracted. Specifically, the horizontal driver 32, as a power source, can control the telescopic action of the limit block 33 according to instructions, thereby realizing dynamic positioning and fixation of the gun tip inner lining plate 31. When it is necessary to fix the gun tip inner lining plate 31, the horizontal driver 32 is activated to push the limit block 33 to extend horizontally inward and cooperate with the gun tip inner lining plate 31 to be fixed. When the pipetting operation is completed or the inner lining plate 31 of the gun tip needs to be replaced, the horizontal driver 32 reverses the operation to retract the limit block 33 to the initial position, thereby releasing the restriction on the inner lining plate 31 of the gun tip.

[0036] According to a pipetting device for sterility detection provided by the utility model, a first sensor 34 is provided on at least one side of the gun tip cache rack 30, and the detection direction of the first sensor 34 is toward the gun tip cache rack 30, so as to monitor the gun tip lining plate 31; and / or, a second sensor 43 is provided on at least one side of the microplate cache rack 40, and the detection direction of the second sensor 43 is toward the microplate cache rack 40, so as to monitor the injection microplate 41. The above-mentioned sensor is preferably a diffuse reflection type photoelectric sensor, so as to be able to work stably under various lighting conditions, and to judge whether there is a consumable and its position by emitting a light beam and detecting the intensity of the light reflected back from the surface of the object.

[0037] Specifically, the first sensor 34 equipped on one side of the gun tip cache rack 30 faces the gun tip lining plate 31, ensuring real-time monitoring of the gun tip storage status. The system can accurately determine whether the gun tip lining plate 31 is in place, ensuring that the pipette can accurately obtain the gun tip. The second sensor 43 on the microplate cache rack 40 is aligned with the sample microplate 41, accurately monitoring the position of the microplate, and ensuring accurate spotting of the sample during transfer to the microplate.

[0038] According to a liquid transfer device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, a waste recovery cylinder 11 is provided on a workbench 10, and the waste recovery cylinder 11 has a bottom opening directly connected to the bottom of the workbench 10. Through the waste recovery cylinder 11, the waste treatment process in the sterility testing process can be optimized, and the sanitation management level and resource recycling efficiency of the laboratory can be improved. Preferably, the waste recovery cylinder 11 is made of stainless steel.

[0039] Specifically, the waste recovery cylinder 11 is fixed on the workstation table in a barrel-shaped structure. The straight-through channel opened at the bottom allows the used pipette tips or other disposable consumables to fall directly into the recovery container located below the workbench 10 through this hole, realizing the immediate and automatic separation and collection of waste, effectively avoiding the retention of waste in the operation area, and reducing the risk of secondary pollution. According to this embodiment, not only the waste treatment steps of the operator in the pipetting process are simplified and the operating burden is reduced, but also the continuity and smoothness of the entire detection process are improved. At the same time, the centrally collected waste is convenient for unified treatment or recycling, which meets the requirements of laboratory environmental protection and sustainable development.

[0040] According to a pipetting device for sterility testing provided by the utility model, a positioning sensor 12 for positioning the pipetting gun mechanism and the waste recovery cylinder 11 is provided on one side of the waste recovery cylinder 11. The positioning sensor 12 is preferably a diffuse reflection type photoelectric sensor. Combined with the precise positioning function of the positioning sensor 12, the waste recovery cylinder 11 can efficiently cooperate with the automated process. When the pipetting gun mechanism or the discarded gun head approaches the waste recovery cylinder 11, the sensor can accurately identify and send a signal to achieve effective monitoring of the terminal steps of the pipetting operation. By integrating the positioning sensor 12, especially using a diffuse reflection type photoelectric sensor, the accuracy and automation of the waste discharge process are ensured.

[0041] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "mode", "specific mode", or "some modes" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or mode are included in at least one embodiment or mode of the utility model embodiment. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or mode. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or modes in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and combine the different embodiments or modes described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or modes, without contradiction.

[0042] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the utility model, rather than to limit it. Although the utility model has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the utility model.

Claims

1. A liquid transfer device for sterility testing, characterized in that: include: A workbench (10) is arranged in a sterile environment; A mechanical arm (20) is arranged on the workbench (10), and a pipette gun mechanism for pipetting operations is arranged at the end of the mechanical arm (20); A gun tip cache rack (30) is arranged on the workbench (10) and is located within the operating range of the mechanical arm (20); the gun tip cache rack (30) is provided with a first positioning structure adapted to the gun tip inner lining plate (31); The microplate buffer rack (40) is arranged on the workbench (10) and is adjacent to the gun tip buffer rack (30). The microplate buffer rack (40) is provided with a second positioning structure adapted to the sample injection microplate (41).

2. The liquid transfer device for sterility testing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pipette mechanism comprises an electric pipette (21) and a holder; The fastener has a locked state and an unlocked state; In the locked state, at least a portion of the electric pipette (21) is locked by the holder; In the unlocked state, the fixer releases the lock on the electric pipette (21), allowing the electric pipette (21) to be detached from the mechanical arm (20).

3. The liquid transfer device for sterility testing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fixer comprises a first clamping block (22) and a second clamping block (23) which are arranged opposite to each other; In the locked state, the first clamping block (22) and the second clamping block (23) are close to each other, and at least a portion of the electric liquid transfer gun (21) is clamped between the first clamping block (22) and the second clamping block (23); In the unlocked state, the first clamping block (22) and the second clamping block (23) are away from each other.

4. The liquid transfer device for sterility testing according to claim 1, characterized in that: A packaging material fixing mechanism is provided at the end of the mechanical arm (20), and the packaging material fixing mechanism comprises a vertical driver (24) and a pressing plate (25) that performs a vertical movement action under the drive of the vertical driver (24).

5. The liquid transfer device for sterility testing according to claim 4, characterized in that: The vertical drive (24) is a cylinder; The pressing plate (25) is L-shaped, and a guide rail structure (26) is provided between the vertical plate portion of the pressing plate (25) and the cylinder body of the vertical driver (24).

6. The liquid transfer device for sterility testing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first positioning structure comprises a plurality of chamfered positioning blocks (42), wherein the plurality of chamfered positioning blocks (42) are respectively stopped around the inner lining plate (31) of the gun head; And / or, the second positioning structure comprises a plurality of chamfered positioning blocks (42), and the plurality of chamfered positioning blocks (42) are respectively stopped at the periphery of the injection microporous plate (41).

7. The liquid transfer device for sterility testing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first positioning structure includes an inner lining plate fixing assembly; The inner lining plate fixing assembly comprises a horizontal driver (32) and a limit block (33) arranged at a driving end of the horizontal driver (32); The inner lining plate fixing assembly includes a limiting state and a releasing state; In the limiting state, the horizontal driver (32) drives the limiting block (33) to extend horizontally toward the inner side of the gun head buffer rack (30) to form a limiting fit with the gun head inner lining plate (31); In the released state, the horizontal driver (32) drives the limit block (33) to be retracted.

8. The liquid transfer device for sterility testing according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first sensor (34) is disposed on at least one side of the gun tip cache rack (30), and a detection direction of the first sensor (34) faces the gun tip cache rack (30) so as to monitor the gun tip inner lining plate (31); And / or, a second sensor (43) is provided on at least one side of the microplate cache rack (40), and the detection direction of the second sensor (43) is toward the microplate cache rack (40) for monitoring the sample injection microplate (41).

9. The liquid transfer device for sterility testing according to claim 1, characterized in that: A waste recovery barrel (11) is arranged on the workbench (10), and the waste recovery barrel (11) has a bottom opening that directly passes through the bottom of the workbench (10).

10. The liquid transfer device for sterility testing according to claim 9, characterized in that: A positioning sensor (12) for positioning the liquid transfer gun mechanism and the waste discharge recovery cylinder (11) is provided on one side of the waste discharge recovery cylinder (11).

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