Reversible sample transfer and storage tool and system in vacuum environment

Abstract

The utility model discloses a turnover sample transfer and storage tool and system in a vacuum environment, the turnover sample transfer and storage tool comprises a bottom plate, a sample seat and a sample support, at least one sample seat is arranged on the bottom plate, one end of the sample seat is rotatably connected with the bottom plate, and the sample support is detachably installed on the sample seat; the angle of the sample seat is changed through rotation, so that the sample support on the sample seat can be matched with the grabbing head in the target direction to transfer the sample; the reversible sample transfer and storage tool can be directly applied to a linear transmission system, and can realize flexible and rapid sample transfer between a sample and a plurality of subsystems.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of vacuum environment equipment, in particular to a reversible sample storage tool and system in a vacuum environment. Background Art

[0002] Material preparation and characterization need to be completed in an ultra-high vacuum environment. In particular, the same sample usually needs to be measured by multiple means. Therefore, a linear transmission system is used in the prior art, that is, multiple systems are directly connected. Multiple systems are all in a vacuum environment, which can avoid contamination caused by secondary contact between samples and the atmosphere. The linear transmission system mainly includes structures such as vacuum pipes, slide rails, mobile carts, and vacuum external drive mechanisms. The mobile cart in the vacuum pipe is installed on the slide rail, and the sample to be transferred is fixed on the mobile cart. Each measurement subsystem can transfer samples to each other with the mobile cart through magnetic rods.

[0003] The transfer of samples between different vacuum chambers or equipment parts requires the cooperation of sample transfer and sample storage structures to move samples from one location to another. Currently, commonly used transfer and storage tools include sample holders, sample storage slots or sample storage tables, grabber heads, magnetic rods, etc. However, existing transfer and storage tools have the following problems:

[0004] (1) The slot where the sample is stored can only rotate around the axis of the installed magnetic rod; it cannot rotate about the axis of the sample itself.

[0005] (2) The sample storage tank or sample storage table can only cooperate with the magnetic rod in the vertical direction, and cannot cooperate with other angles to transfer samples. Figure 1 The sample holder 1 is stored in the sample slot of the magnetic rod 6a, and the sample holder 1 can transfer samples with the magnetic rod 6b; through the rotation of the magnetic rod 6a, the sample holder 1 can transfer samples with the magnetic rod 6c. However, the sample holder 1 cannot directly transfer samples with the magnetic rod 6d opposite to the magnetic rod 6a.

[0006] In summary, existing sample transfer tools and systems lack flexibility in the transfer process and require complex methods such as multi-directional and multi-angle combinations to complete the transfer. Utility Model Content

[0007] In order to address the deficiencies in the prior art, the present application proposes a flippable sample transfer tool and system in a vacuum environment, with the aim of enabling independent switching of the sample storage slot around the free rotation axis of the sample, and thereby enabling the sample storage slot to cooperate with sample transfer tools such as magnetic rods at multiple angles to transfer samples, thereby improving the efficiency and flexibility of sample transfer.

[0008] The technical solution adopted by the utility model is as follows:

[0009] A reversible sample storage tool in a vacuum environment, comprising: a base plate, a sample holder and a sample tray;

[0010] At least one sample holder is provided on the bottom plate;

[0011] One end of the sample holder is rotatably connected to the bottom plate;

[0012] The sample holder can be detachably mounted on the sample holder.

[0013] Furthermore, two sides of the sample holder are rotatably connected to the bottom plate via a rotating shaft.

[0014] Furthermore, a limiting plate is provided at the side of the sample holder close to the rotating shaft, and an angle A° is formed between the limiting plate and the plane of the bottom plate. The rotation range of the sample holder is 0-A°.

[0015] Furthermore, it also includes two pressing plates, which are opposite to the side of the sample holder where the rotating shaft is located. When the pressing plates are in contact with the side of the sample holder, the two side edges of the sample holder are pressed and fixed.

[0016] Furthermore, a plurality of sample holders are arranged in an array around the edge of the bottom plate.

[0017] Furthermore, the bottom plate is a polygonal flat plate structure.

[0018] Furthermore, a grabbing ear is arranged on the bottom plate, and the grabbing ear cooperates with a grabbing head on the magnetic rod.

[0019] A reversible sample storage system in a vacuum environment comprises a linear transmission system, wherein the linear transmission system comprises a vacuum pipe, a plurality of magnetic rods and the reversible sample storage tool, wherein the magnetic rods and the reversible sample storage tool are located in the vacuum pipe; the sample holder in the reversible sample storage tool is rotated to cooperate with a grabbing head on the magnetic rod in a target position.

[0020] Beneficial effects of the utility model:

[0021] 1. In the reversible sample transfer tool designed in the present application, the sample holder 1 and the angle of the sample on the sample holder can be adjusted by utilizing the rotatability of the sample holder, and can be directly connected with sample transfer mechanisms at different angles, thereby making a good connection between various sample transfer methods and improving the efficiency and flexibility of sample transfer.

[0022] 2. The reversible sample transfer tool designed by the utility model can be directly applied to the existing sample transfer system, thereby realizing direct sample transfer of multiple structures in the system that was originally unable to transfer samples without changing the existing structure. The reversible sample transfer tool designed by the utility model can be perfectly compatible with the existing design and does not require any adjustment, and has good compatibility.

[0023] 3. The linear transmission system of the reversible sample transfer tool of the utility model can realize the flexible and rapid transfer between the sample transfer head, sample transfer slot and tray between the sample and the subsystem. It can also switch between these transfer modes; greatly simplifying the sample transfer considerations between the subsystem and the linear transmission pipeline. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 It is a working schematic diagram of the existing sample storage tool;

[0025] Figure 2 In the figure, a is a top view of the reversible sample storage tool of the present application, b is a side view of the reversible sample storage tool of the present application, and c is a schematic diagram of the reversal of the reversible sample storage tool of the present application;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a working diagram of the reversible sample storage tool of the present application;

[0027] Figure 4 In the figure, d is a top view of a reversible sample storage tool capable of storing multiple samples, and e and f are working schematic diagrams of a reversible sample storage tool capable of storing multiple samples;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a working schematic diagram of a reversible sample storage system in a vacuum environment of the utility model;

[0029] In the figure, 1, sample tray, 2, sample holder, 2a, mounting slot, 2b, fixing slot, 3, rotating shaft, 4, pressing sheet, 5, bottom plate, 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d are magnetic rods in four directions, 7, disc-shaped bottom plate, 8, grabbing head, 9, vacuum pipe, 10, limiting plate, 11, grabbing ear, 12, sample slot, 13, sample tray lifting mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the utility model more clear, the utility model is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described here are only used to explain the utility model and are not used to limit the utility model.

[0031] Example 1

[0032] In order to solve the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention is designed as follows Figure 2 A sample storage tool that can be flipped under a vacuum environment is shown, and the sample storage tool includes: a bottom plate 5, a pressing sheet 4, a sample holder 2 and a sample holder 1; more specifically,

[0033] The bottom plate 5 can be directly fixed in the vacuum pipe 9, or fixedly connected to the magnetic rod.

[0034] A mounting groove 2a is provided on one side surface of the base plate 5, and the sample holder 2 is located in the mounting groove 2a; the end faces on both sides of the sample holder 2 are connected to the end faces corresponding to the mounting groove 2a via a rotating shaft 3, thereby enabling the sample holder 2 to rotate around the rotating shaft 3 relative to the base plate 5.

[0035] A sample holder 1 is mounted on the upper surface of the sample holder 2. In the present embodiment, a fixing groove 2b for fixing the sample holder 1 may be mounted on the upper surface of the sample holder 2. As shown in the figure, the fixing grooves 2b are symmetrically arranged on the upper surface of the sample holder 2. The sample holder 1 may be embedded in the cavity between the fixing grooves 2b and the upper surface of the sample holder 2, thereby fixing the sample holder 1.

[0036] In practical applications, the sample can be fixed on the surface of the sample holder 1, or the sample holder 1 itself is the sample.

[0037] In this embodiment, in order to fix the sample holder 2 in the installation groove, retractable pressing plates 4 are installed on the two side walls of the installation groove; when the sample holder 2 falls into the installation groove, the side walls of the sample holder 2 compress the pressing plates 4 on both sides, and the pressing plates 4 are compressed and can fix the sample holder 2 at the same time; when the sample holder 2 rotates out of the installation groove under the action of external force (external manipulator or magnetic rod), the pressing plates 4 recover their deformation.

[0038] Combination Figure 3 In the working process shown, the bottom plate 5 is fixed on the magnetic rod 6a, and magnetic rods 6b and 6c are arranged in the circumferential direction of the magnetic rod 6a, and a magnetic rod 6d is arranged in the coaxial direction of the magnetic rod 6a. Assuming that in the initial stage, the sample holder 2 and the sample holder 1 on the sample holder 2 are parallel to the magnetic rod 6a, then under the action of the matching motion mechanism of the magnetic rod 6a or 6d, the two can move towards or in the opposite direction, and the sample holder 1 is directly grasped and transferred by the grasping head 8 on the magnetic rod.

[0039] When the sample holder 1 on the magnetic rod 6a needs to be transferred to the magnetic rod 6b, it is only necessary to use external force to push the sample holder 2 in the initial stage toward the position of the magnetic rod 6b. The sample holder 2 can be rotated 90° to correspond to the grabbing head 8 on the magnetic rod 6b, and the sample holder 1 can be directly grabbed and transferred using the grabbing head 8 on the magnetic rod.

[0040] When the sample holder 1 on the magnetic rod 6a needs to be transferred to 6c, on the one hand, the sample holder 2 can be rotated 90° in the opposite direction to face the magnetic rod 6c, that is, the rotation range of the sample holder 2 can be 180°; or it can be rotated only 90° and then rotated 180° using the motion mechanism matching the magnetic rod 6a.

[0041] The above process is introduced by taking the rotation angle of 0, 90° or 180° as an example. The present application can adjust the rotation angle of the sample holder 2 according to actual needs, and can be applicable to multi-directional transmission needs.

[0042] In this embodiment, the retractable pressing piece 4 includes a spring and a contact head. A mounting hole is provided in two opposite side walls of the mounting groove. The spring and the contact head are installed in the mounting hole from the inside to the outside. The side wall of the contact head is provided with a protrusion that is slidably connected to the track on the mounting hole. Therefore, when the contact head is subjected to an external force, it will partially retract into the mounting hole and restore its deformation when the external force disappears. Therefore, when the sample holder 2 falls into the mounting groove, a certain pressure can be applied to both sides of the sample holder 2 to fix it and prevent the sample holder 2 from rotating during rotation or transfer. In addition to the above-mentioned design of the spring and the contact head, the retractable pressing piece 4 can also adopt a spring sheet design embedded in the two opposite side walls of the mounting groove, or other designs that can achieve the same function.

[0043] In this embodiment, a mounting groove is provided on the bottom plate 5, and the sample holder 2 and the pressing plate 4 are installed in the mounting groove. In addition, a convex portion can be directly provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate 5, and the sample holder 2 is rotatably connected to the convex portion through the rotating shaft 3, and pressing plates 4 are provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate 5 on both sides of the sample holder 2. In this design, there is no need to provide grooves on the surface of the bottom plate 5.

[0044] In this embodiment, in order to limit the rotation angle range of the sample holder 2, see Figure 2 As shown in b and c, a limiting plate 10 is provided on the bottom plate 5, one side edge of the limiting plate 10 is connected to one side edge of the bottom plate 5, and the angle between the limiting plate 10 and the bottom plate 5 is A; therefore, when the sample holder 2 rotates under the push of an external force, when its rotation angle reaches A, it will contact the limiting plate 10 and stop rotating.

[0045] Furthermore, the limiting plate 10 and the bottom plate 5 are also rotatably connected, so that the angle A between the limiting plate 10 and the bottom plate 5 can be adjusted; in order to fix the limiting plate 10 when it is adjusted to a specific angle A, a telescopic device and a positioning hole can be provided at the connection between the limiting plate 10 and the bottom plate 5, similar to the design of the spring and the contact head mentioned above. At a specific angle, the contact head falls into the positioning hole at the corresponding position to achieve fixation at a specific angle. The present invention is not limited to this positioning method, and other achievable methods are also possible.

[0046] Example 2

[0047] Based on the design of the above embodiment 1, in order to improve the efficiency of sample transfer, the present application also designs the following Figure 4 Sample transfer tool shown. Combined Figure 4As shown in d, the sample storage tool adopts a disc-shaped bottom plate 7a, on which a plurality of sample holders 2 are mounted, that is, a plurality of mounting grooves are arranged in an array around the edge of the disc-shaped bottom plate 7a on the surface of the disc-shaped bottom plate 7a, and a sample holder 2 can be rotatably connected in each mounting groove, and a sample holder 1 is mounted on the upper surface of the sample holder 2. Thus, the disc-shaped bottom plate 7a can be equipped with a plurality of sample holders 2 and sample holders 1 with adjustable angles at the same time.

[0048] In this embodiment, the disc-shaped bottom plate 7a adopts a polygonal structure, and it may also adopt a disc-shaped structure, or other shapes that can achieve the same function.

[0049] Likewise, each installation slot may be provided with a pressing sheet 4 and a limiting plate 10 and the like.

[0050] Combination Figure 4 As shown in e and f, the head of the magnetic rod 6a in e is a sample grabbing head 8, which can directly transfer samples with the sample holder 1 in the disc-shaped bottom plate 7a. However, the head of the magnetic rod 6b is perpendicular to the sample slot 12, and cannot directly cooperate with the disc-shaped bottom plate 7a. Flip the sample holder 1 to 90° with the bottom plate 7a. At this time, the magnetic rod 6c at the top is equipped with a grabbing head 8, which can grab the sample holder 1 to the head of the magnetic rod 6c. This is to remove the sample tray 7 and send the magnetic rod 6b to the center of the vacuum pipe 9. The sample holder 1 at the head of the magnetic rod 6c can be transferred to the sample slot 12 of the magnetic rod 6b, and the sample slot 12 can store one or multiple sample holders 1 at the same time.

[0051] Example 3

[0052] Based on the sample storage tool designed in the above-mentioned embodiment 1 or 2, the present application also designs a reversible sample storage system in a vacuum environment, and applies the sample storage tool designed in the embodiment 1 or 2 to a linear transmission system. The system specifically includes: a vacuum pipe 9, a sample storage tool, and a plurality of magnetic rods; the magnetic rods are located in the vacuum pipe 9, and the heads of the magnetic rods are grabbing heads 8. The sample grabbing heads 8 can cooperate with the grabbing ears 11 on the bottom plate 5 or the disc-shaped bottom plate 7 to grab the bottom plate 5 or the disc-shaped bottom plate 7 as a whole; they can also cooperate with the sample holder 1 to grab the sample holder 1 from the bottom plate 5 or the disc-shaped bottom plate 7.

[0053] The sample storage tool adopts the structure described in the above-mentioned embodiment 1 or embodiment 2. The sample storage tool can be directly placed in the vacuum pipe 9 or connected to a magnetic rod.

[0054] The following combination Figure 5 The working process of sample storage in a reversible sample storage system under vacuum environment is introduced accordingly:

[0055] By changing the angle of the sample holder 2 on the bottom plate 5 or the disc-shaped bottom plate 7, the sample holder 1 on the sample holder 2 can be directly transferred to the magnetic rod with the grab head 8 in multiple directions.

[0056] After the sample holder 2 on the bottom plate 5 or the disc-shaped bottom plate 7 turns the sample holder 1 90 degrees, the fixing ear of the sample holder 1 faces upward, and the grab head 8 at the head of the magnetic rod 6b removes the sample holder 1 from the sample holder 2. The magnetic rod 6c is moved to send the sample slot 12 to the center of the vacuum pipe 9, and the sample holder 1 on the grab head 8 at the head of the magnetic rod 6b is transferred to the magnetic rod 6c; thus, the transfer between the sample and the sample storage slot of the subsystem is completed.

[0057] The grab head 8 at the head of the magnetic rod 6b can directly grab the entire bottom plate 5 or the disc-shaped bottom plate 7. At this time, the sample tray lifting mechanism 13 is sent to the center of the vacuum pipe 9 by moving the magnetic rod 6a. The bottom plate 5 or the disc-shaped bottom plate 7 is then lowered by the magnetic rod 6b, and the bottom plate 5 or the disc-shaped bottom plate 7 can be transferred to the magnetic rod 6a, thereby completing the cooperation between the sample tray and the tray transfer tool of the subsystem.

[0058] In summary, the flippable sample transfer and storage system designed in a vacuum environment by the utility model can realize the transfer between the sample and the subsystem through the sample transfer head, the sample transfer slot, and the tray; the same sample can also be switched between these transfer modes; it greatly simplifies the sample transfer considerations between the subsystem and the linear transmission pipeline, can solve the shortcomings in the background technology, and provide a richer sample transfer combination.

[0059] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the design ideas and features of the utility model, and their purpose is to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of the utility model and implement it accordingly. The protection scope of the utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. Therefore, any equivalent changes or modifications made based on the principles and design ideas disclosed by the utility model are within the protection scope of the utility model.

Claims

1. A reversible sample storage tool in a vacuum environment, characterized in that: include: A base plate (5), a sample holder (2) and a sample holder (1); At least one sample holder (2) is provided on the bottom plate (5); One end of the sample holder (2) is rotatably connected to the bottom plate (5); The sample holder (1) is detachably mounted on the sample holder (2).

2. The reversible sample storage tool in a vacuum environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two sides of the sample holder (2) are rotatably connected to the bottom plate (5) via a rotating shaft (3).

3. The reversible sample storage tool in a vacuum environment according to claim 2, characterized in that: A limiting plate (10) is arranged at the side of the sample holder (2) close to the rotating shaft (3), and an angle A° is formed between the limiting plate (10) and the plane of the bottom plate (5), and the rotation range of the sample holder (2) is 0-A°.

4. The reversible sample storage tool in a vacuum environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also comprises two pressing sheets (4), wherein the pressing sheets (4) are opposite to the side of the sample holder (2) where the rotating shaft (3) is located, and when the pressing sheets (4) are in contact with the side of the sample holder (2), the two side edges of the sample holder (2) are pressed and fixed.

5. A reversible sample storage tool in a vacuum environment according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that: A plurality of sample holders (2) are arranged in an array around the edge of the base plate (5).

6. The reversible sample storage tool in a vacuum environment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The bottom plate (5) is a polygonal flat plate structure.

7. The reversible sample storage tool in a vacuum environment according to claim 5, characterized in that: A grabbing ear (11) is provided on the bottom plate (5), and the grabbing ear (11) cooperates with a grabbing head (8) on the magnetic rod.

8. A reversible sample storage system in a vacuum environment, characterized in that: It comprises a linear transmission system, which comprises a vacuum pipe (9), a plurality of magnetic rods and a reversible sample storage tool in a vacuum environment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic rods and the reversible sample storage tool are located in the vacuum pipe (9); the sample holder (2) in the reversible sample storage tool is rotated to cooperate with the grabbing head (8) on the magnetic rod in the target position.

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