Double-channel bacterial colony selection equipment

Abstract

The utility model discloses a double-channel bacterial colony selecting device which comprises a bottom plate, a first storage table, a second storage table, a third storage table, a bacterial colony identifying and selecting device and a clamping assembly. The first storage table is used for storing PCR plates, the second storage table is used for storing Tips boxes, and the third storage table is used for storing bacterial colony box culture dishes; the bacterial colony identification and selection equipment is arranged on the bottom plate and is used for detecting, identifying and selecting samples; the clamping assembly is arranged on the bottom plate and can move along a first stroke and a second stroke, the first stroke is opposite to the second stroke, the first stroke and the second stroke sequentially pass through the first storage table, the second storage table, the third storage table and the bacterial colony recognition and selection equipment, the clamping assembly comprises a clamping part, the clamping part is used for clamping the PCR plate stored in the first storage table, and the clamping part is used for clamping the PCR plate stored in the third storage table. Or the clamping part is used for clamping the Tips box stored in the second storage table, or the clamping part is used for clamping the bacterial colony box culture dish stored in the third storage table.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of biological detection equipment technology, and more specifically, relates to a dual-channel colony selection device. Background Technology

[0002] In biological research, it is common to select and analyze bacterial colonies in petri dishes for further investigation. However, manual selection is cumbersome, and the accuracy of results is difficult to guarantee with long-term, repetitive testing. Therefore, the automation of colony selection has become a necessity.

[0003] Currently, colony selection in the industry is done manually. The manual operation steps are as follows: take out the culture dish from the incubator, manually select and aspirate the colonies in the culture dish, mix them with the culture medium in the deep well plate, aspirate a portion of the mixture and put the mixture into the PCR plate, put it into the PCR plate for subsequent testing and make relevant records.

[0004] It is evident that providing fully automated equipment for selecting and detecting colonies in petri dishes is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned defects or improvement needs of the existing technology, in the first aspect, the present invention provides a dual-channel colony selection device, the colony selection device comprising: a base plate, a first storage platform, a second storage platform, a third storage platform, a colony identification and selection working device, and a clamping component;

[0006] The first storage platform is used to store PCR plates, the second storage platform is used to store Tips boxes, and the third storage platform is used to store colony boxes and culture dishes.

[0007] The colony identification and sorting equipment is located on the base plate and is used to detect and identify the selected colonies.

[0008] The gripping component is disposed on the base plate and can be displaced along a first stroke and a second stroke. The first stroke is opposite to the second stroke. The first stroke and the second stroke pass sequentially through the first storage platform, the second storage platform, the third storage platform, and the colony identification and selection device. The gripping component includes a gripping part, which is used to grip the PCR plate stored on the first storage platform, or the gripping part is used to grip the Tips box stored on the second storage platform, or the gripping part is used to grip the colony box culture dish stored on the third storage platform.

[0009] In the first aspect, the colony identification and selection device includes:

[0010] A crossbeam, a first longitudinal beam, and a second longitudinal beam are provided, with the first longitudinal beam and the second longitudinal beam being spaced apart. The two ends of the crossbeam are slidably disposed on the first longitudinal beam and the second longitudinal beam, forming a gantry mechanism.

[0011] A first workbench panel and a second workbench panel are provided. The first workbench panel is located directly below the crossbeam via a first guide rail and a second guide rail, and is used to place the PCR plate and the tip box. The first workbench panel is pushed by a third cylinder. The second workbench panel is located directly below the crossbeam and has an installation groove for placing a culture dish.

[0012] Dual pipettes and a positioning camera are mounted on the crossbeam;

[0013] A proximity switch and a reflective photoelectric sensor are provided, wherein the proximity switch is located on the bottom of the base plate at the bottom of the first worktable panel, and the reflective photoelectric sensor is located on the bottom of the first worktable panel.

[0014] In a first aspect, the gripping assembly includes:

[0015] Long guide rail, Z-axis module, second cylinder;

[0016] The long guide rail is disposed on the base plate, the Z-axis module is disposed on the long guide rail and can slide along the long guide rail, the second cylinder is disposed on the Z-axis module and can slide along the height direction of the Z-axis module, and the extension and retraction direction of the second cylinder is perpendicular to the long guide rail;

[0017] An electric gripper is mounted on the cylinder;

[0018] The barcode reader and light source are mounted on the electric gripper.

[0019] In the first aspect, the first storage platform and the second storage platform constitute a rack group, and the rack group is arranged side by side;

[0020] Both the first storage platform and the second storage platform consist of an upper plate, a middle plate, and a lower plate stacked from top to bottom, and the upper plate, the middle plate, and the lower plate are used to place the PCR plate or the Tips box.

[0021] In the first aspect, the panel frame assembly further includes support columns, which are sequentially inserted through the upper panel, the middle panel, and the lower panel to form the panel frame assembly. Furthermore, there are multiple support columns distributed on the four sides of the upper panel, the middle panel, and the lower panel.

[0022] In the first aspect, the colony selection device further includes a push assembly, which includes a third cylinder and a push part, the push part being directly opposite the clamping position direction of the clamping assembly, and the push part being used to support the plate frame assembly.

[0023] In the first aspect, the third storage platform includes a petri dish storage platform and a lid storage area;

[0024] The culture dish storage platform includes several colony plates that are stacked and spaced apart from top to bottom. Each colony plate has multiple storage positions along the circumferential direction, and the middle parts of the colony plates are connected into a single structure by support columns.

[0025] In the first aspect, the colony selection device further includes a rotating slide, which is disposed at the bottom of the third storage platform.

[0026] In the first aspect, the bottom of the third storage platform is further provided with reinforcing ribs, and the top of the third storage platform is provided with the cover storage area.

[0027] In the first aspect, the colony selection device further includes an electrical cabinet, which is electrically connected to the colony identification and selection working device and the clamping assembly.

[0028] In summary, compared with the prior art, the above-described technical solution conceived by this utility model can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0029] 1. The first storage platform holds PCR plates, the second holds Tips boxes, and the third holds colony trays and culture dishes. A clamping assembly then uses these components to pick up the Tips boxes, culture dishes, and PCR plates and place them in the culture dish placement position on the colony identification and selection device. Simultaneously, the clamps open the culture dishes and place them in their designated positions. After the first culture dish is selected, the clamping assembly repeats the process. Once the culture dish is in the colony identification and selection device, the device detects, identifies, and selects it. This process is repeated using the clamping assembly and the colony identification and selection device, thus achieving a dual-channel function. This solves the problems of low efficiency and errors caused by manual colony selection in existing technologies.

[0030] 2. By rationally arranging the first, second, and third storage platforms, colony identification and selection equipment, and clamping components on the same production line, a fully automated production line is formed, which greatly improves the equipment integration rate, reduces the floor space, and shortens the working time. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the dual-channel colony selection device in this embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first storage platform and the second storage platform in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the third storage platform in this embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the colony identification and selection device in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 1 ;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the colony identification and selection device in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure 2 ;

[0036] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the clamping component in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0037] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the clamping component in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0038] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0039] 1. First storage platform;

[0040] 2. Second storage platform;

[0041] 3. Third storage platform;

[0042] 4. Location for storing the lid;

[0043] 5. Colony identification and sorting equipment; 501. Crossbeam; 502. First longitudinal beam; 503. Second longitudinal beam; 504. First workbench panel; 505. First guide rail; 506. Second guide rail; 507. Dual pipettes; 508. Positioning camera; 509. Second workbench panel; 510. First positioning cylinder; 511. Second positioning cylinder; 512. Third positioning cylinder; 513. Light source mounting plate; 514. Tip head detection camera; 515. Tip head waste box; 516. Proximity switch; 517. Reflective photoelectric sensor;

[0044] 6. Clamping assembly; 601. Long guide rail; 602. Z-axis module; 603. Second cylinder; 604. Electric gripper; 605. Code reader camera; 606. Light source; 607.

[0045] 7. Electrical cabinet.

[0046] 8. Tips box;

[0047] 9. PCR plates and boxes;

[0048] 10. Colony boxes and culture dishes;

[0049] 11. The third cylinder;

[0050] 12. Pillar;

[0051] 13. Lower the board;

[0052] 14. Middle plate;

[0053] 15. On the board;

[0054] 16. Colony midline;

[0055] 17. Rotary slide table;

[0056] 18. Reinforcing ribs;

[0057] 19. Lid placement plate;

[0058] 20. Base plate. Detailed Implementation

[0059] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present utility model described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0060] Example 1:

[0061] like Figure 1-7 As shown, this utility model relates to a dual-channel colony selection device, which includes: a base plate 20, a first storage platform 1, a second storage platform 2, a third storage platform 3, a colony identification and selection device 5, and a clamping component 6.

[0062] The first storage platform 1 is used to store PCR plates, the second storage platform 2 is used to store Tips boxes, and the third storage platform 3 is used to store colony box culture dishes 10. A colony identification and selection device 5 is located on the base plate 20 and is used to detect and identify the selected colony plates. A clamping component 6 is located on the base plate 20 and can be displaced along a first stroke and a second stroke, the first stroke being opposite to the second stroke. The first stroke and the second stroke sequentially pass through the first storage platform 1, the second storage platform 2, the third storage platform 3, and the colony identification and selection device. The clamping component 6 includes a clamping part, which is used to clamp the PCR plates stored on the first storage platform 1, or the Tips boxes 8 stored on the second storage platform 2, or the colony box culture dishes 10 stored on the third storage platform 3.

[0063] Specifically, the first storage platform 1 holds the PCR plate cassette 9, the second storage platform 2 holds the Tips box, and the third storage platform 3 holds the colony box culture dish 10. Then, the clamping component 6 clamps the Tips box, culture dish 10, and PCR plate to the culture dish 10 placement position on the colony identification and selection device 5, respectively. Simultaneously, the clamps open the culture dish 10 and place the lid in its designated position. After the first culture dish 10 is selected, the clamping component 6 repeats the clamping action. Once the clamping component 6 has clamped the culture dish 10 to the colony identification and selection device 5, the device detects, identifies, and selects the culture dish 10. This process is repeated using the clamping component 6 and the colony identification and selection device 5, thus achieving a dual-channel function. This solves the problems of low efficiency and errors caused by relying on manual colony selection in existing technologies. By rationally arranging the first storage platform 1, the second storage platform 2, the third storage platform 3, the colony identification and sorting device 5, and the clamping component 6 on the same production line, a fully automated production line is formed, which greatly improves the integration rate of the equipment, reduces the floor space, and shortens the working time.

[0064] In the first aspect, the colony identification and selection device 5 includes: a crossbeam 501, a first longitudinal beam 502, a second longitudinal beam 503, a first workbench panel 504, a second workbench panel 509, a dual pipette 507, and a positioning camera 508.

[0065] The first longitudinal beam 502 and the second longitudinal beam 503 are spaced apart, and the two ends of the crossbeam 501 are slidably disposed on the first longitudinal beam 502 and the second longitudinal beam 503, forming a gantry mechanism.

[0066] The first workbench panel 504 is positioned directly below the crossbeam 501 via a first guide rail 505 and a second guide rail 506, and is used to place the PCR plate and the tip box 8. The first workbench panel 504 is pushed by a third cylinder 11. The second workbench panel 509 is positioned directly below the crossbeam 501 and has a mounting groove for placing the culture dish 10. A dual pipette 507 and a positioning camera 508 are located on the crossbeam 501. A proximity switch 516 and a reflective photoelectric sensor 517 are also present. The proximity switch 516 is located on the base plate 20 at the bottom of the first workbench panel 504, and the reflective photoelectric sensor 517 is located at the bottom of the first workbench panel 504.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the colony identification and selection device 5 is mainly composed of a crossbeam 501 fixed to the first longitudinal beam 502 and the second longitudinal beam 503 for movement. These three modules form a gantry mechanism. After the PCR plate and tip box 8 are placed on the first workbench panel 504, the workbench panel is pushed back to its original position by the first guide rail 505, the second guide rail 506 and the first positioning cylinder 510, avoiding the position of the culture dish 10. Then, the colony positioning camera 508 of the culture dish 10 is fixed on the mounting plate of the dual pipette 507. The colony boxes of the culture dish 10 are placed on the two slots of the second workbench panel 509. Then, the second positioning cylinder 603 and the third positioning cylinder 512 below position the two culture dishes 10 on the two slots of the second workbench panel 509 respectively. The positioning camera 508 is illuminated directly below the culture dish 10 placement box by the light source mounting plate 513. The dual pipette 507 is fixed on the crossbeam 501 and the dual pipette 507 tip is fixed to the crossbeam 501. Simultaneously, the two tips of Tip Box 8 are lowered and aspirated. Then, with the assistance of the gantry module, the tip is moved to the Tip Head Detection Camera 514 below the workbench panel to take pictures and locate the tip position. The coordinates are then corrected. Afterward, the colony positioning camera 508 on the right side of the dual pipette 507 takes pictures of the colonies in the culture dish 10 on the left side to locate the colonies. The dual pipette 507 simultaneously selects and aspirates colonies based on their positions, then moves them to the PCR plate. The needle below the pipette is placed into the deep-well plate, and the colonies are mixed with the culture medium in the deep-well plate. Then, the motorized dual pipette 507 aspirates a portion of the mixed liquid and immediately places it into the PCR plate for subsequent detection. After completion, it moves to the top of the waste tip box, so that the tip is dropped into the waste tip box below. This process is repeated. After the culture dish 10 is selected, the same steps are repeated for the culture dish 10. The two processes repeat back and forth, thus achieving dual-channel functionality. After all operations are completed and the consumables need to be repositioned, a pair of proximity switches 516 check whether the tip head and PCR plate box 9 on the first workbench panel 504 are still on it and have not been removed, and a pair of reflective photoelectric sensors 517 detect whether the colony culture dish 10 on the second workbench panel 509 has been removed, in order to prevent the clamps from hitting the device during reset and startup.

[0068] In the first aspect, the gripping assembly 6 includes:

[0069] Long guide rail 601, Z-axis module 602, second cylinder 603, electric gripper 604, barcode reader camera 605, and light source 606;

[0070] The long guide rail 601 is disposed on the base plate 20, the Z-axis module 602 is disposed on the long guide rail 601 and can slide along the long guide rail 601, the second cylinder 603 is disposed on the Z-axis module 602 and can slide along the height direction of the Z-axis module 602, and the extension and retraction direction of the second cylinder 603 is perpendicular to the long guide rail 601; the electric gripper 604 is disposed on the cylinder; the barcode reader camera 605 and the light source 606 are disposed on the electric gripper 604.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the gripping component 6 is mainly fixed to the base plate 20 by a long module and a long guide rail 601. The purpose of the long guide rail 601 is to prevent the long module from deforming during movement and to enhance the verticality of the Z-axis module 602 installed on the long module, thereby ensuring that the electric gripper 604 is more accurate when gripping the PCR plate, the tip box 8, and the colony culture dish 10. The second cylinder 603 is fixed to the Z-axis module 602, and then the electric gripper 604 is fixed to the cylinder so that the electric gripper 604 can extend and retract to avoid interference with the colony rack. By adjusting the extension and retraction of the electric gripper 604, it can be positioned more accurately to grip the consumables such as the culture dish 10. The barcode reader 605 and the light source 606 are fixed to the electric gripper 604. After the electric gripper 604 grips the colony culture dish 10, the barcode reader 605 performs barcode reading and identification to import the data into the system.

[0072] In the first aspect, the first storage platform 1 and the second storage platform 2 constitute a plate rack assembly, which is arranged side by side. Both the first and second storage platforms include an upper plate 15, a middle plate 14, and a lower plate 13 stacked from top to bottom. The upper plate 15, middle plate 14, and lower plate 13 are used to place the PCR plate or the Tips box. Specifically, the entire plate rack is moved back and forth mainly by a third cylinder 11. The tip box and the PCR plate box 9 are placed together on the upper plate 15, middle plate 14, and lower plate 13. They are connected vertically by a support column 12 and finally fixed with long bolts. People manually place the Tip box 8 and the PCR plate box 9 onto the plate rack assembly. Then, when the gripper grabs, the cylinder retracts to the gripping position and extends back to its original position after the gripper has finished.

[0073] Furthermore, the panel frame assembly also includes support columns 12, which are sequentially inserted through the upper panel 15, the middle panel 14, and the lower panel 13 to form the panel frame assembly. In addition, there are multiple support columns 12, which are distributed on the four sides of the upper panel 15, the middle panel 14, and the lower panel 13.

[0074] In some preferred embodiments, the colony selection device further includes a push assembly, which includes a third cylinder 11 and a push part, the push part being directly opposite the clamping position direction of the clamping assembly 6, and the push part being used to support the plate frame assembly.

[0075] In some preferred embodiments, the third storage platform 3 includes a petri dish storage platform and a lid storage area 4; the petri dish 10 storage platform includes a plurality of colony plates 16 arranged in an overlapping and spaced manner from top to bottom, each colony plate 16 having multiple storage positions along the circumferential direction, and the middle parts of the plurality of colony plates 16 are connected into an integral structure by support columns. It also includes a colony rack lid placement plate 19, which is connected to six support columns in the middle of each layer, two of which are of high precision for positioning, and the other four are of low precision for support. The petri dish colony boxes are manually placed on the colony storage plate rack, and after each colony box is removed, the gripper places the petri dish colony lid on the topmost plate rack. After one row is completed, the electric slide rotates to move to the next row.

[0076] In some preferred embodiments, the colony selection device further includes a rotating slide 17, which is disposed at the bottom of the third storage platform 3.

[0077] In some preferred embodiments, the bottom of the third storage platform 3 is further provided with reinforcing ribs 18, and the top of the third storage platform 3 is provided with the cover storage area 4.

[0078] In some preferred embodiments, the colony selection device further includes an electrical cabinet 7, which is electrically connected to the colony identification and selection device 5 and the clamping assembly 6.

[0079] Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A dual-channel colony selection device, characterized in that, The colony selection device includes: Base plate (20); The first storage platform (1), the second storage platform (2), and the third storage platform (3) are used to store PCR plate boxes (9), the second storage platform (2) is used to store Tips boxes (8), and the third storage platform (3) is used to store colony boxes and culture dishes (10). A colony identification and selection device (5) is installed on the base plate (20) and is used to detect, identify and select samples; The clamping component (6) is disposed on the base plate (20) and can be displaced along the first stroke and the second stroke. The first stroke is opposite to the second stroke. The first stroke and the second stroke pass through the first storage platform (1), the second storage platform (2), the third storage platform (3) and the colony identification and selection device (5) in sequence. The clamping component (6) includes a clamping part, which is used to clamp the PCR plate stored in the first storage platform (1), or the clamping part is used to clamp the Tips box stored in the second storage platform (2), or the clamping part is used to clamp the colony box culture dish (10) stored in the third storage platform (3).

2. The dual-channel colony selection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The colony identification and selection device (5) includes: A crossbeam (501), a first longitudinal beam (502), and a second longitudinal beam (503) are provided, with the first longitudinal beam (502) and the second longitudinal beam (503) spaced apart. The two ends of the crossbeam (501) are slidably disposed on the first longitudinal beam (502) and the second longitudinal beam (503), forming a gantry mechanism. The first workbench panel (504) and the second workbench panel (509) are arranged below the crossbeam (501) at intervals via the first guide rail (505) and the second guide rail (506) for placing the PCR plate and the Tips box (8). The first workbench panel (504) is pushed by the first cylinder. The second workbench panel (509) is located below the crossbeam (501) and has an installation groove for placing the culture dish (10). A dual pipette (507) and a positioning camera (508) are mounted on the crossbeam (501); The proximity switch (516) and the reflective photoelectric sensor (517) are located at the bottom of the first worktable panel (504) on the base plate (20).

3. The dual-channel colony selection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping component (6) includes: Long guide rail (601), Z-axis module (602), second cylinder (603); The long guide rail (601) is disposed on the base plate (20), the Z-axis module (602) is disposed on the long guide rail (601) and can slide along the long guide rail (601), the second cylinder (603) is disposed on the Z-axis module (602) and can slide along the height direction of the Z-axis module (602), and the extension and retraction direction of the second cylinder (603) is perpendicular to the long guide rail (601); An electric gripper (604) is provided in the cylinder; The barcode reader (605) and the light source (606) are mounted on the electric gripper (604).

4. The dual-channel colony selection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first storage platform (1) and the second storage platform (2) constitute a rack group, and the rack group is arranged side by side; Both the first storage platform and the second storage platform consist of an upper plate (15), a middle plate (14) and a lower plate (13) stacked from top to bottom. The upper plate (15), the middle plate (14) and the lower plate (13) are used to place the PCR plate or the Tips box.

5. The dual-channel colony selection device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The panel frame assembly also includes support columns (12), which are sequentially inserted through the upper panel (15), the middle panel (14), and the lower panel (13) to form the panel frame assembly. Furthermore, there are multiple support columns (12), which are distributed on the four sides of the upper panel (15), the middle panel (14), and the lower panel (13).

6. The dual-channel colony selection device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The colony selection device also includes a push assembly, which includes a third cylinder (11) and a push part. The push part is directly opposite the clamping position of the clamping assembly (6) and is used to support the plate frame assembly.

7. The dual-channel colony selection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The third storage platform (3) includes a petri dish storage platform and a lid storage area (4); The culture dish storage platform includes several colony plates (16) arranged in an overlapping manner from top to bottom. Each colony plate (16) has multiple storage positions along the circumferential direction. The middle parts of several colony plates (16) are connected into an integral structure by support columns.

8. The dual-channel colony selection device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The colony selection device also includes a rotating slide (17), which is located at the bottom of the third storage platform (3).

9. The dual-channel colony selection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The bottom of the third storage platform (3) is also provided with reinforcing ribs (18), and the top of the third storage platform (3) is provided with the lid storage area (4).

10. The dual-channel colony selection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The colony selection device also includes an electrical cabinet (7), which is electrically connected to the colony identification and selection device (5) and the clamping component (6).

Images