Pipetting tip detection equipment

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of pipette tips, in particular to pipette tip detection equipment which comprises a support, a moving mechanism, a detection device and a conveying belt, the support is in an inverted U shape, the two ends of the moving mechanism are connected with the two sides of the support, and the detection device and the conveying belt are arranged below the support; a suction head box is conveyed by the conveying belt, and a plurality of pipetting suction heads are uniformly arranged in the suction head box. The support, the moving mechanism, the detection device, the conveying belt, the suction head moving device and the negative pressure mechanism are used in cooperation, a suction head sensor senses a suction head box, a material blocking air cylinder extends, the suction head box is blocked through a baffle, and then a pipetting suction head is sucked to the suction head moving device through the negative pressure mechanism. According to the pipette tip detection device, the pipette tip moving device which adsorbs the pipette tips is driven by the moving mechanism to move to the detection device for detecting the pipette tips, so that a plurality of pipette tips can be detected at one time, the detection efficiency is high, the detection speed is high, and the detection quality is better than that of manual visual detection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of pipette tip technology, and specifically to a pipette tip testing device. Background Technology

[0002] Pipettes, also known as pipette tips or nozzles, are plastic consumables used in laboratory diagnostics. They are primarily used in conjunction with pipettes or automated workstations to accurately aspirate a specific quantity of reagents and release them into the appropriate testing instrument. Pipettes are typically for single use and are designed to form an airtight seal with the pipette to ensure accurate and contamination-free liquid transfer.

[0003] After pipette tips are manufactured, they need to be tested before use. Current testing methods mostly rely on visual inspection by staff, which is not precise or accurate enough and poses certain quality risks. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention provides a pipette tip testing device to achieve accurate testing of pipette tips and improve the quality of pipette tip use.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this utility model is as follows: a pipette tip detection device is provided, the innovation of which is: it includes a support, a moving mechanism, a detection device and a conveyor belt. The support is in the shape of an inverted U. The moving mechanism is connected to both sides of the support at both ends. The detection device and the conveyor belt are located below the support. The conveyor belt transports a pipette tip box, and several pipette tips are evenly arranged on the pipette tip box.

[0006] It also includes a pipette tip moving device and a negative pressure mechanism. The pipette tip moving device is located above the pipette tip box, and its lower surface has several adsorption holes corresponding to several pipette tips. The adsorption holes are connected to the negative pressure mechanism. The top of the pipette tip moving device is connected to the moving mechanism through a connector.

[0007] The conveyor belt is also equipped with a suction head sensor and a stop. The stop is located in front of the suction head sensor and is equipped with a material blocking cylinder. The telescopic end of the material blocking cylinder is equipped with a baffle. When the baffle extends to block the suction head box through the material blocking cylinder, the suction head box is located directly below the suction head moving device.

[0008] Furthermore, the moving mechanism includes a motor, a lead screw, and a limiting rod. The motor is located on an inner side of the bracket. The lead screw and the limiting rod are arranged parallel to each other inside the bracket. Both ends of the limiting rod are fixed to the two sides of the bracket. One end of the lead screw is connected to the motor for transmission, and the other end is rotatably connected to the side of the bracket. The connecting piece is connected to the limiting rod and the lead screw respectively, and is slidably sleeved with the limiting rod and drivenly sleeved with the lead screw.

[0009] Furthermore, the pipette tip moving device includes a moving plate and a lifting cylinder. The lifting cylinder is located at the bottom of the connector, and its telescopic end is connected downward to the moving plate. The moving plate is evenly provided with several adsorption holes corresponding to several pipette tips on the pipette tip box.

[0010] Furthermore, the negative pressure mechanism includes a negative pressure machine, a main elastic hose, and several branch elastic hoses. The number of branch elastic hoses corresponds to the number of adsorption holes. One end of the main elastic hose is connected to the negative pressure machine, and the other end is connected to one end of several branch elastic hoses. The other ends of the branch elastic hoses are respectively connected to several adsorption holes. Each branch elastic hose is equipped with an air valve.

[0011] Furthermore, the detection device includes a detection seat, a first displacement cylinder, a detection plate, a second displacement cylinder, and a detection sensor. The first displacement cylinder is located on the left or right side of the upper surface of the detection seat. The detection plate is connected to the telescopic end of the first displacement cylinder. The second displacement cylinder is located on the front or rear side of the upper surface of the detection plate. The detection sensor is located at the telescopic end of the second displacement cylinder. The telescopic directions of the first and second displacement cylinders are perpendicular. When the suction head moving device moves above the detection device, the detection device is directly below the suction head moving device.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes a waste bin, which is located below the support and on the side of the detection device away from the conveyor belt. When the suction head moving device moves above the waste bin, the waste bin is directly below the suction head moving device.

[0013] Furthermore, it also includes a feeding device, which is located below the support and on the side of the conveyor belt away from the detection device. The feeding device includes a feeding base and a feeding box. The feeding box is located on the feeding base. The feeding box is the same as the pipette tip box, and several pipette tips are also provided in the feeding box. When the pipette tip moving device moves above the feeding box, the feeding box is directly below the pipette tip moving device.

[0014] Furthermore, a gravity sensor is installed at the bottom of the suction head box.

[0015] Furthermore, it also includes a controller, which is mounted on a bracket. The motor, lifting cylinder, first displacement cylinder, second displacement cylinder, baffle cylinder, air valve, negative pressure machine, detection sensor, gravity sensor, and suction head sensor are all connected to the controller for communication.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0017] This utility model discloses a pipette tip testing device that utilizes a support, a moving mechanism, a testing device, a conveyor belt, a pipette tip moving device, and a negative pressure mechanism. The device uses a pipette tip sensor to detect the pipette tip box, then extends a baffle cylinder to block the box, and a negative pressure mechanism to adsorb the pipette tip onto the moving device. The moving mechanism then moves the device to the testing device for pipette tip testing. This device can test multiple pipette tips simultaneously, offering high efficiency, speed, and better quality testing compared to manual visual inspection. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a pipette tip detection device according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 For the present utility model Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the image.

[0021] Figure 3 For the present utility model Figure 1 Enlarged view of point B in the image.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a bottom structural diagram of the movable plate in this utility model.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a detection travel diagram of the detection sensor in Embodiment 4 of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the movable plate of this utility model.

[0025] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the suction head box of this utility model.

[0026] Among them, 1-support, 2-moving mechanism, 21-motor, 22-lead screw, 23-limiting rod, 3-detection device, 31-detection seat, 32-first displacement cylinder, 33-detection plate, 34-second displacement cylinder, 35-detection sensor, 4-conveyor belt, 5-pipette box, 6-pipette tip, 7-moving device, 71-adsorption hole, 72-moving plate, 73-lifting cylinder, 8-negative pressure mechanism, 81-negative pressure machine, 82-elastic main hose, 83-elastic branch hose, 84-air valve, 9-connector, 10-pipette sensor, 20-stop seat, 30-stop cylinder, 40-baffle, 50-waste bin, 60-feeding device, 601-feeding seat, 602-feeding box, 70-gravity sensor, 80-controller. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0028] Example 1

[0029] This embodiment provides a pipette tip detection device, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes a support 1, a moving mechanism 2, a detection device 3, and a conveyor belt 4. The support 1 is in the shape of an inverted U. The moving mechanism 2 is connected to both sides of the support 1 at both ends. The detection device 3 and the conveyor belt 4 are located below the support 1. The conveyor belt 4 transports a pipette tip box 5, and several pipette tips 6 are evenly arranged on the pipette tip box 5.

[0030] It also includes a pipette tip moving device 7 and a negative pressure mechanism 8. The pipette tip moving device 7 is located above the pipette tip box 5, and its lower surface is provided with several adsorption holes 71 corresponding to several pipette tips 6. The several adsorption holes 71 are connected to the negative pressure mechanism 8. The top of the pipette tip moving device 7 is connected to the moving mechanism 2 through a connector 9.

[0031] The conveyor belt 4 is also equipped with a suction head sensor 10 and a stop 20 on its side, such as Figure 2 As shown, the stop 20 is located in front of the suction head sensor 10. "In front of the conveyor" refers to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt 4, meaning the stop 20 is in front of the suction head sensor 10. The stop is equipped with a blocking cylinder 30, and the telescopic end of the blocking cylinder 30 is equipped with a baffle 40. When the baffle 40 extends and blocks the suction head box 5 via the blocking cylinder 30, the suction head box 5 is located directly below the suction head moving device 7.

[0032] In this embodiment, the pipette tip sensor 10 senses the pipette tip box 5, and then the baffle cylinder 30 extends to block the pipette tip box 5 through the baffle 40. Then, the negative pressure mechanism 8 adsorbs the pipette tip 6 on the pipette tip box 5 onto the pipette tip moving device 7. The moving mechanism 2 drives the pipette tip moving device 7, which adsorbs the pipette tip 6, to the detection device 3 for detection of the pipette tip 6. This allows for the detection of multiple pipette tips 6 at once, resulting in high detection efficiency, fast speed, and better detection quality compared to manual visual inspection.

[0033] Example 2

[0034] The moving mechanism 2 in this embodiment includes a motor 21, a lead screw 22, and a limiting rod 23. The motor 21 is located on an inner side of the bracket 1. The lead screw 22 and the limiting rod 23 are arranged in parallel inside the bracket. Both ends of the limiting rod 23 are fixed to the two sides of the bracket 1. One end of the lead screw 22 is connected to the motor 21 for transmission, and the other end is rotatably connected to the side of the bracket 1. The connecting piece 9 is connected to the limiting rod 23 and the lead screw 22 respectively, and is slidably sleeved with the limiting rod 23 and for transmission sleeved with the lead screw 22.

[0035] The rest is the same as in Example 1.

[0036] In this embodiment, the motor 21 rotates to drive the lead screw 22 to rotate. Since the connector 9 is slidably sleeved on the limiting rod 23, the connector 9 is limited. The rotation of the lead screw 22 causes the connector 9 to move horizontally on the lead screw 22, thereby driving the pipette tip moving device 7 to move the pipette tip 6 for detection and then reset.

[0037] Example 3

[0038] The pipette tip moving device 7 in this embodiment includes a moving plate 72 and a lifting cylinder 73. The lifting cylinder 73 is located at the bottom of the connecting member 9, and its telescopic end is connected downward to the moving plate 72. The moving plate 72 is evenly provided with a plurality of adsorption holes 71 corresponding to the plurality of pipette tips 6 on the pipette tip box 5, such as... Figure 4 and 6 As shown.

[0039] The negative pressure mechanism 8 in this embodiment includes a negative pressure unit 81, a main elastic hose 82, and several individual elastic branch hoses 83, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the number of elastic sub-tubes 82 and several suction holes 71 correspond. One end of the elastic main tube 82 is connected to the negative pressure machine 81, and the other end is connected to one end of several elastic sub-tubes 83. The other ends of the several elastic sub-tubes 83 are respectively connected to several suction holes 71. Each elastic sub-tube 83 is equipped with an air valve 84.

[0040] The rest is the same as in Example 1.

[0041] In this embodiment, when the pipette tip box 5 is blocked by the baffle 40 and located below the pipette tip moving device 7, the lifting cylinder 73 is activated to extend, driving the moving plate 72 to move down, and the negative pressure machine 81 is activated to open the air valve 84 corresponding to each elastic branch hose 83, so that a negative pressure is formed in the adsorption hole 71 to suck the corresponding pipette tip 6 into each adsorption hole 71. Then the lifting cylinder 73 is retracted, and the motor 21 is activated, driving the moving plate 72 to move towards the detection device 3 for detection through the moving mechanism 2.

[0042] Example 4

[0043] The detection device 3 in this embodiment includes a detection seat 31, a first displacement cylinder 32, a detection plate 33, a second displacement cylinder 34, and a detection sensor 35. The first displacement cylinder 32 is located on the left or right side of the upper surface of the detection seat 31. The detection plate 33 is connected to the telescopic end of the first displacement cylinder 32. The second displacement cylinder 34 is located on the front or rear side of the upper surface of the detection plate. The detection sensor 35 is located at the telescopic end of the second displacement cylinder 34. The telescopic directions of the first displacement cylinder 32 and the second displacement cylinder 34 are perpendicular. When the suction head moving device 7 moves above the detection device 3, the detection device 3 is directly below the suction head moving device 7.

[0044] The rest is the same as in Example 3.

[0045] When the pipette tip 6 is adsorbed onto the moving plate 72 and moves above the detection device 3, the lifting cylinder 73 extends again, bringing the pipette tip 6 closer to the detection sensor 35 for detection. Specifically, the detection involves setting the scanning start point, scanning end point, and scanning stroke of the pipette tip 6, enabling the first displacement cylinder 32 and the second displacement cylinder 34 to sequentially detect each pipette tip 6 according to the scanning stroke. Figure 5 Taking the example shown, the line connecting each adsorption orifice 71 is the scanning stroke, with one end of the line set as the scanning start point and the other end as the scanning end point. The first displacement cylinder 32 and the second displacement cylinder 34 are controlled to drive the detection sensor 35 to scan and detect sequentially according to the scanning stroke, ensuring that each pipette tip 6 can be detected until the scanning end point is detected, at which point the lifting cylinder 73 is retracted again.

[0046] In this embodiment, the directional terms "front side", "rear side", "left side" and "right side" are based on the accompanying drawings of this utility model. They do not restrict the specific orientation in actual use. It is only necessary to ensure that the extension and retraction directions of the first displacement cylinder 32 and the second displacement cylinder 34 are perpendicular, and to ensure that the detection sensor 35 performs detection according to the specific scanning stroke.

[0047] In this embodiment, the first displacement cylinder 32 and the second displacement cylinder 34 can be replaced by two stepper motors.

[0048] Example 5

[0049] This embodiment also includes a waste bin 50, which is located below the support 1 and on the side of the detection device 3 away from the conveyor belt 4. When the suction head moving device 7 moves above the waste bin 50, the waste bin 50 is directly below the suction head moving device 7.

[0050] The rest is the same as in Example 4.

[0051] Based on Example 4, in this example, after all pipette tips 6 have been tested and the lifting cylinder 73 has retracted, the motor 21 is restarted. The moving mechanism 2 drives the moving plate 72 towards the waste bin 50 until it is above the waste bin 50. Based on the results detected by the detection sensor 35, if any pipette tip(s) 6 are found to be defective, the air valve 84 on the corresponding spring-loaded tubing 83 of the adsorption hole 71 is closed. This prevents the defective pipette tip 6 adsorbed by that adsorption hole 71 from being under negative pressure and causes it to fall into the waste bin 50. Then, the moving plate 72 is moved above the pipette tip box 5 via the moving mechanism 2, and the remaining qualified pipette tips 6 are placed into the pipette tip box 5.

[0052] The detection sensor 35 in this embodiment is a 3D laser sensor.

[0053] Example 6

[0054] This embodiment also includes a feeding device 60, which is located below the support 1 and on the side of the conveyor belt 4 away from the detection device 3. The feeding device 60 includes a feeding base 601 and a feeding box 602. The feeding box 602 is located on the feeding base 601 and is also provided with several pipette tips. When the pipette tip moving device 7 moves above the feeding box 602, the feeding box 602 is directly below the pipette tip moving device 7.

[0055] Preferred, such as Figure 7 As shown, a gravity sensor 70 is provided at the bottom of the suction head box 5 in this embodiment.

[0056] The rest is the same as in Example 5.

[0057] Based on Example 5, when a defective pipette tip 6 is rejected, the moving mechanism 2 moves the moving plate 72 above the replenishment box 602. According to the position of the rejected defective pipette tip 6, only the corresponding air valve 84 is opened, and the pipette tip 6 at that position is adsorbed from the replenishment box 602 onto the moving plate 72. The moving plate 72 is then moved above the pipette tip box 5 again, and the lifting cylinder 73 replenishes the pipette tip 6 into the position of the rejected pipette tip 6, ensuring that the pipette tip box 5 is fully filled with pipette tips 6.

[0058] In this embodiment, all pipette tips 6 in the replenishment box 602 are qualified pipette tips 6. After a pipette tip 6 at a certain position is removed and replaced, it is manually or by other means placed back into the replenishment box 602. Because the equipment is constantly in operation, if a person directly replenishes the tip box 5, they would need to visually locate the position to be replenished, which may not be possible to complete the replenishment in a short time. However, actions such as picking up, detecting, and rejecting materials can extend the time for manual replenishment of the replenishment box 602, and the positions that need to be replenished two times may not be the same. Therefore, replenishing the replenishment box 602 is more convenient than replenishing the tip box 5.

[0059] The gravity sensor 70 in this embodiment can only retract the baffle cylinder 30 when the pipette tip box 5 is filled with qualified pipette tips 6 (the weight reaches the set weight sensed by the gravity sensor 70), so that the qualified pipette tip box 5 can continue to be conveyed on the conveyor belt 4.

[0060] Example 7

[0061] This embodiment also includes a controller 80, which is mounted on the bracket 1. The motor 21, lifting cylinder 73, first displacement cylinder 32, second displacement cylinder 34, material blocking cylinder 30, air valve 84, negative pressure machine 81, detection sensor 35, gravity sensor 70, and suction head sensor 10 are all connected to the controller 80.

[0062] The rest is the same as in Example 6.

[0063] In this embodiment, the controller 80 controls the motor 21, lifting cylinder 73, first displacement cylinder 32, second displacement cylinder 34, material blocking cylinder 30, air valve 84, negative pressure machine 81, detection sensor 35, gravity sensor 70, suction head sensor 10, etc. Preferably, the controller 80 of this utility model is model SIMAT I CS7-200.

[0064] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the concept and scope of the present utility model. Without departing from the design concept of the present utility model, all modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions of the present utility model should fall within the protection scope of the present utility model. The technical content for which protection is sought in the present utility model has been fully recorded in the technical requirements.

Claims

1. A pipette tip detection device, characterized in that: The device includes a support frame, a moving mechanism, a detection device, and a conveyor belt. The support frame is inverted U-shaped. The moving mechanism is connected to both sides of the support frame. The detection device and the conveyor belt are located below the support frame. The conveyor belt transports a pipette tip box, on which several pipette tips are evenly distributed. It also includes a pipette tip moving device and a negative pressure mechanism. The pipette tip moving device is located above the pipette tip box, and its lower surface has several adsorption holes corresponding to several pipette tips. The adsorption holes are connected to the negative pressure mechanism. The top of the pipette tip moving device is connected to the moving mechanism through a connector. The conveyor belt is also equipped with a suction head sensor and a stop. The stop is located in front of the suction head sensor and is equipped with a material blocking cylinder. The telescopic end of the material blocking cylinder is equipped with a baffle. When the baffle extends to block the suction head box through the material blocking cylinder, the suction head box is located directly below the suction head moving device.

2. The pipette tip detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The moving mechanism includes a motor, a lead screw, and a limiting rod. The motor is located on an inner side of the bracket. The lead screw and the limiting rod are arranged parallel to each other inside the bracket. Both ends of the limiting rod are fixed to the two sides of the bracket. One end of the lead screw is connected to the motor for transmission, and the other end is rotatably connected to the side of the bracket. The connecting piece is connected to the limiting rod and the lead screw respectively, and is slidably sleeved with the limiting rod and drivenly sleeved with the lead screw.

3. The pipette tip detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pipette tip moving device includes a moving plate and a lifting cylinder. The lifting cylinder is located at the bottom of the connector and its telescopic end is connected downward to the moving plate. The moving plate is evenly provided with several adsorption holes corresponding to several pipette tips on the pipette tip box.

4. The pipette tip detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The negative pressure mechanism includes a negative pressure machine, a main elastic hose and several branch elastic hoses. The number of branch elastic hoses corresponds to the number of adsorption holes. One end of the main elastic hose is connected to the negative pressure machine, and the other end is connected to one end of several branch elastic hoses. The other ends of the branch elastic hoses are respectively connected to several adsorption holes. Each branch elastic hose is equipped with an air valve.

5. A pipette tip detection device according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that: The detection device includes a detection seat, a first displacement cylinder, a detection plate, a second displacement cylinder, and a detection sensor. The first displacement cylinder is located on the left or right side of the upper surface of the detection seat. The detection plate is connected to the telescopic end of the first displacement cylinder. The second displacement cylinder is located on the front or rear side of the upper surface of the detection plate. The detection sensor is located at the telescopic end of the second displacement cylinder. The telescopic directions of the first and second displacement cylinders are perpendicular. When the suction head moving device moves above the detection device, the detection device is directly below the suction head moving device.

6. The pipette tip detection device according to claim 5, characterized in that: It also includes a waste bin, which is located below the support and on the side of the detection device away from the conveyor belt. When the suction head moving device moves above the waste bin, the waste bin is directly below the suction head moving device.

7. The pipette tip detection device according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a feeding device, which is located below the support and on the side of the conveyor belt away from the detection device. The feeding device includes a feeding base and a feeding box. The feeding box is located on the feeding base and is also equipped with several pipette tips. When the pipette tip moving device moves above the feeding box, the feeding box is directly below the pipette tip moving device.

8. The pipette tip detection device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A gravity sensor is installed at the bottom of the suction head box.

9. A pipette tip detection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: It also includes a controller, which is mounted on a bracket. The motor, lifting cylinder, first displacement cylinder, second displacement cylinder, material blocking cylinder, air valve, negative pressure machine, detection sensor, gravity sensor, and suction head sensor are all connected to the controller for communication.

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