Full-automatic sample storage and check library

Abstract

The utility model relates to a full-automatic sample storing and checking library which comprises a sample disc storage area, sample discs and a sample disc taking and placing device, wherein the sample plate storage area is provided with a middle channel, a plurality of storage racks are arranged on the two sides of the middle channel, a plurality of sample plates are placed on each storage rack in the height direction of the storage rack, and a plurality of sample bottle placing grooves are formed in the sample plates; the sample plate taking and placing device is arranged on the middle channel and comprises a horizontal moving mechanism, a vertical lifting mechanism, a rotating mechanism and a tray rack, and the horizontal moving mechanism, the vertical lifting mechanism and the rotating mechanism are used for driving the tray rack to move in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction and driving the tray rack to rotate and swing respectively; therefore, taking and placing actions of the sample plate are completed. According to the full-automatic sample storing and checking library, the sample plate is provided with the plurality of sample bottle placing grooves, and the sample plate can be moved through the sample plate taking and placing device, so that a plurality of sample bottles can be taken and placed in batches, the space utilization rate and the sample storing and taking efficiency are improved, and the sample taking and placing operation process is simplified.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of sample storage and retrieval equipment technology, and more specifically, to a fully automated sample storage and retrieval system. Background Technology

[0002] Existing automated storage devices for bottled samples are mostly multi-layered structures in the vertical direction and single-layered structures in the horizontal direction. They use racks as the storage medium, and moving modules or other mechanisms are used to move sample bottles between the two rows of racks. Sample bottles are placed on the racks on both sides for storage. The sample storage capacity in the depth direction is relatively limited, and the space utilization rate and the utilization rate of the moving gripping mechanism are both low. The sample distribution density is low. When the storage capacity is large, multiple racks and multiple channels and corresponding movable handling devices are often required, which takes up a lot of space and has a high cost. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a fully automated sample storage and retrieval system, which aims to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0004] According to this utility model, a fully automatic sample storage and retrieval system is provided, comprising: a sample tray storage area, sample trays, and a sample tray retrieval and placement device; wherein...

[0005] The sample tray storage area is provided with a central channel, and multiple storage racks are provided on both sides of the central channel. Multiple sample trays are placed on each storage rack along its height direction, and multiple sample bottle placement slots are provided on the sample trays.

[0006] The sample tray picking and placing device is located on the middle channel. The sample tray picking and placing device includes a horizontal moving mechanism, a vertical lifting mechanism, a rotating mechanism, and a tray frame. The horizontal moving mechanism is used to drive the vertical lifting mechanism to move linearly along the middle channel. The vertical lifting mechanism is used to drive the rotating mechanism to move up and down. The rotating mechanism is used to drive the tray frame to swing horizontally. The tray frame is used to lift the sample tray to move it.

[0007] Preferably, it further includes: a sample bottle conveying device and a sample bottle picking and placing device;

[0008] The sample bottle conveying device is located on one side of the sample tray storage area and is used to feed or send out sample bottles.

[0009] The sample bottle retrieval and placement device is located at the entrance of the sample tray storage area and is used to retrieve and place sample bottles.

[0010] Preferably, it further includes: a barcode scanner;

[0011] The barcode scanner is located on one side of the entrance to the sample storage area and is used to scan the sample bottles and record sample information.

[0012] Preferably, a rotating tray is provided on one side of the barcode scanner. The rotating tray is used to place sample bottles and drive the sample bottles to rotate, so as to facilitate the barcode scanner to scan the sample bottles.

[0013] Preferably, the storage rack includes two uprights and multiple support frames;

[0014] The two columns are spaced apart, and multiple support frames are fixed on the two columns, with the multiple support frames evenly distributed along the height direction of the columns.

[0015] The support frame includes two parallel support rods, and sheet metal brackets are respectively provided on the opposite sides of the two support rods. The sheet metal brackets are used to support the sample tray.

[0016] Preferably, the horizontal moving mechanism includes: a horizontal slide rail, a horizontal slider, a gear, a rack and pinion, and a translation drive motor;

[0017] The horizontal slide rail extends along the middle channel, the horizontal slider is slidably connected to the horizontal slide rail, and the vertical lifting mechanism is disposed on the horizontal slider;

[0018] The rack is fixedly connected to the side of the horizontal slide rail, the translation drive motor is fixedly connected to the horizontal slider, the gear is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the translation drive motor, and the gear meshes with the rack.

[0019] Preferably, the vertical lifting mechanism includes: a vertical slide rail, a vertical slider, a lead screw and nut transmission mechanism, and a lifting drive motor;

[0020] The vertical slide rail is vertically disposed on the top of the horizontal slider, the vertical slider is slidably connected to the vertical slide rail, and the rotating mechanism is disposed on the vertical slider;

[0021] The lead screw and nut transmission mechanism includes a lead screw and a transmission nut. Bearing seats are provided at both ends of the vertical slide rail. The two ends of the lead screw are rotatably mounted on the bearing seats. The transmission nut is connected to the lead screw. The vertical slider is connected to the transmission nut. A mounting plate is provided at the top of the vertical slide rail. The lifting drive motor is fixedly connected to the mounting plate. The output shaft of the lifting drive motor is connected to the lead screw.

[0022] Preferably, the rotating mechanism includes a mounting base, a rotating shaft, and a rotating drive motor;

[0023] The rotating shaft is vertically mounted on the mounting base, the rotating drive motor is fixedly connected to the top of the mounting base, and the output shaft of the rotating drive motor is connected to the rotating shaft. The tray frame is horizontally fixed on the rotating shaft.

[0024] Preferably, the bottom of the sample tray is provided with a plurality of positioning holes, and the top of the tray frame is provided with a plurality of positioning pins that match the positioning holes on the sample tray.

[0025] Preferably, it also includes a housing, which is disposed outside the sample tray storage area, and the housing is provided with a sample bottle inlet / outlet and an opening / closing door.

[0026] The fully automatic sample storage and retrieval system provided by this utility model has multiple sample bottle placement slots on its sample tray, which can hold a large number of sample bottles. The sample tray can be moved by the sample tray picking and placing device, thereby realizing batch picking and placing of multiple sample bottles, improving space utilization and sample storage and retrieval efficiency, and simplifying the sample picking and placing operation process. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a fully automated sample retrieval system with a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0029] Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a fully automated sample retrieval system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0030] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of point A in the middle.

[0031] Figure 4 A top view of the fully automated sample retrieval system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0032] Figure 5 and Figure 6 These are three-dimensional structural diagrams of the storage rack in the fully automated sample storage warehouse according to embodiments of the present invention, when viewed from different directions.

[0033] Figure 7 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a sample tray retrieval device in a fully automated sample storage warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0034] Figure 8 Another three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a fully automated sample retrieval system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0035] Figure 9 It shows Figure 8 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the three-axis slide module in the fully automated sample storage and retrieval system.

[0036] In the diagram: 1. Storage rack; 11. Column; 12. Support frame; 121. Support rod; 122. Sheet metal bracket; 2. Sample tray; 21. Sample bottle placement slot; 22. Positioning hole; 3. Sample tray loading and unloading device; 31. Horizontal moving mechanism; 311. Horizontal slide rail; 312. Horizontal slider; 313. Rack; 314. Translation drive motor; 32. Vertical lifting mechanism; 321. Vertical slide rail; 322. Vertical slider; 323. Lifting drive motor; 324. Vertical bracket; 33. Rotation mechanism; 331. Mounting base; 332. Rotation shaft; 333. 34. Rotary drive motor; 341. Pallet rack; 4. Positioning pin; 51. Sample bottle conveying device; 52. Four-axis robotic arm; 53. Three-axis slide module; 541. Longitudinal slide rail; 542. Longitudinal slide block; 543. Longitudinal drive motor; 544. Transverse slide rail; 555. Transverse slide block; 56. Transverse drive motor; 57. Vertical slide rail; 58. Vertical slide block; 529. Vertical drive motor; 530. Sample bottle gripper; 6. Barcode scanner; 7. Rotary pallet; 8. Sample bottle; 9. Outer shell; 91. Sample bottle inlet / outlet; 92. Opening / closing door; 93. Touch screen. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the various drawings, the same elements are indicated by the same or similar reference numerals. For clarity, the various parts in the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0038] This utility model provides a fully automated sample storage and retrieval system, see [link / reference]. Figure 2 and Figure 4 The fully automated sample storage facility includes: a sample tray storage area, sample trays 2, and a sample tray retrieval device 3. The sample tray storage area has a central channel B, with multiple storage racks 1 on both sides of the central channel B. Multiple sample trays 2 are placed on each storage rack 1 along its height direction, and each sample tray 2 has multiple sample bottle placement slots 21. The sample tray retrieval device 3 is located on the central channel and includes a horizontal moving mechanism 31, a vertical lifting mechanism 32, a rotating mechanism 33, and a tray frame 34. The horizontal moving mechanism 31 drives the vertical lifting mechanism 32 to move linearly along the central channel. The vertical lifting mechanism 32 drives the rotating mechanism 33 to move up and down. The rotating mechanism 33 drives the tray frame 34 to swing horizontally. The tray frame 34 supports the sample trays 2 for movement.

[0039] Specifically, the sample tray storage area is a rectangular region. A central aisle is located in the center of the sample tray storage area along its length. Storage shelves 1 are located on both sides of the central aisle, and these shelves 1 are evenly distributed along the length of the sample tray storage area. A sample tray retrieval device 3 is installed in the central aisle, allowing for the retrieval and placement of sample trays 2 placed on the storage shelves 1 on both sides of the central aisle. See also... Figure 5 and Figure 6 The sample tray 2 has a rectangular structure and multiple sample bottle placement slots 21 arranged in a rectangular array on it. This allows each sample tray 2 to hold a large number of sample bottles, and multiple rows of sample trays 2 can also be placed in the depth direction of the storage rack 1, improving space utilization. This invention achieves batch storage and retrieval of sample bottles by moving the sample tray 2 using the sample tray picking and placing device 3. Compared to the existing technology that uses a moving gripping mechanism to pick up and place sample bottles, this improves the utilization rate of the moving gripping mechanism and increases the efficiency of sample bottle picking and placing.

[0040] See Figure 5 and Figure 6 The storage rack 1 includes two uprights 11 and multiple support frames 12. The two uprights 11 are spaced apart, and the multiple support frames 12 are fixed to the two uprights 11 and evenly distributed along the height direction of the uprights 11. Each support frame 12 includes two parallel support rods 121, and a sheet metal bracket 122 is provided on one side of each of the two support rods 121 facing each other. The sheet metal bracket 122 is used to support the sample tray 2. The sheet metal bracket 122 includes a vertically arranged fixed plate and a horizontal support plate. The fixed plate is fixedly connected to the support rod 121 by bolts, and the horizontal support plate is flush with the upper surface of the support rod 121. See also Figure 2 and Figure 4 Two adjacent storage racks 1 share a single upright column 11, thereby saving costs and improving space utilization. Two adjacent support frames 12 have a preset distance between them. After the tray frame 34 of the sample tray taking and placing device 3 lifts the sample tray 2 to a certain height, it can be rotated and moved onto the central channel through the gap between the two support frames 12. In this embodiment, the upright column 11 is made of 80×80 four-slot square aluminum alloy profile, the support rod 121 is made of 40×40 four-slot square aluminum alloy profile, and the sheet metal bracket 122 is made of thin steel plate bent into angle steel shape. In this embodiment, multiple transverse connecting rods are also provided between the two upright columns 11. The height positions of the multiple transverse connecting rods on the upright column 11 correspond to the height positions of the support rods 121 of the multiple support frames 12 on the upright column 11, and the tops of the two upright columns 11 are also connected by a transverse connecting rod to enhance the stability of the connection between the upright columns 11. Preferably, the top of the sheet metal bracket 122 can be equipped with an anti-slip rubber pad to improve the stability of the sample tray 2 when it is placed.

[0041] See Figure 4 In the sample tray retrieval device 3, the length of the horizontal moving mechanism 31 can be adapted to the length of the sample tray storage area, and the height of the vertical lifting mechanism can be adapted to the height of the support frame 12 at the highest position on the storage rack 1, so that all sample trays 2 on the storage racks 1 on both sides of the middle channel can be retrieved and placed through the sample tray retrieval device 3.

[0042] See Figure 7 The horizontal moving mechanism 31 includes: a horizontal slide rail 311, a horizontal slider 312, a gear, a rack 313, and a translation drive motor 314; the horizontal slide rail 311 extends along the middle channel, the horizontal slider 312 is slidably connected to the horizontal slide rail 311, and the vertical lifting mechanism 32 is disposed on the horizontal slider 312; the rack 313 is fixedly connected to the side of the horizontal slide rail 311, the translation drive motor 314 is fixedly connected to the horizontal slider 312, the gear is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the translation drive motor 314, and the gear meshes with the rack 313.

[0043] Specifically, there are two horizontal slide rails 311, which are parallel and spaced at a preset distance. The bottom of the horizontal slider 312 is slidably connected to the two horizontal slide rails 311. A rack 313 is provided on the inner side of one of the horizontal slide rails 311, and the rack 313 can be fixedly connected to the inner side of the horizontal slide rail 311 by screws. The body of the translation drive motor 314 is fixedly connected to the horizontal slider 312 by screws. The output shaft of the translation drive motor 314 extends through a through hole on the horizontal slider 312 to the bottom of the horizontal slider 312. A gear is provided on the output shaft of the translation drive motor 314, and the gear meshes with the rack 313. By controlling the rotation direction of the translation drive motor 314, the forward and backward movement of the horizontal slider 312 can be controlled. Preferably, the translation drive motor 314 is a stepper motor to precisely control the movement distance of the horizontal slider 312 on the horizontal slide rail 311. In this embodiment, a fixed mounting plate is provided at the bottom of the horizontal slide rail 311, and the fixed mounting plate is fixedly connected to the ground of the middle channel by anchor bolts; a retractable dust cover is provided at the top of the horizontal slide rail 311. The retractable dust cover is divided into two sections. The opposite ends of the two retractable dust covers are fixedly connected to the two ends of the horizontal slide rail 311, and the opposite ends of the two retractable dust covers are fixedly connected to the two ends of the horizontal slider 312. The retractable dust cover can protect the gear and rack 313 meshing transmission part inside the horizontal slide rail 311 and prevent foreign objects from entering.

[0044] The vertical lifting mechanism 32 includes: a vertical slide rail 321, a vertical slider 322, a lead screw and nut transmission mechanism, and a lifting drive motor 323; the vertical slide rail 321 is vertically disposed on the top of the horizontal slider 312, the vertical slider 322 is slidably connected to the vertical slide rail 321, and the rotating mechanism 33 is disposed on the vertical slider 322; the lead screw and nut transmission mechanism includes a lead screw and a transmission nut, bearing seats are disposed at both ends of the vertical slide rail 321, the two ends of the lead screw are rotatably disposed on the bearing seats, the transmission nut is fitted and connected to the lead screw, and the vertical slider 322 is connected to the transmission nut; a mounting plate is disposed at the top of the vertical slide rail 321, the lifting drive motor 323 is fixedly connected to the mounting plate, and the output shaft of the lifting drive motor 323 is connected to the lead screw.

[0045] Specifically, there are two vertical slide rails 321, which are parallel and spaced at a preset distance. A vertical slider 322 is slidably connected to the two vertical slide rails 321. The lead screw and nut transmission mechanism is located between the two vertical slide rails 321. A lifting drive motor 323 drives the lead screw to rotate, causing the transmission nut on the lead screw to move up and down. The vertical slider 322 connected to the transmission nut also moves up and down accordingly, thereby driving the rotating mechanism 33 to perform lifting and lowering actions. In this embodiment, a vertical support 324 is provided on the horizontal slider 312. The vertical support 324 includes a vertical plate and two ribs perpendicularly connected to the vertical plate. The two vertical slide rails 321 are fixedly connected to the vertical plate of the vertical support 324, thereby improving the ease of fixing the vertical slide rails 321 and enhancing their stability. Preferably, the lifting drive motor 323 is also a stepper motor to precisely control the lifting height of the vertical slider 322 on the vertical slide rails 321.

[0046] The rotating mechanism 33 includes a mounting base 331, a rotating shaft 332, and a rotating drive motor 333. The rotating shaft 332 is vertically mounted on the mounting base 331. The rotating drive motor 333 is fixedly connected to the top of the mounting base 331, and its output shaft is connected to the rotating shaft 332. The tray frame 34 is horizontally fixed on the rotating shaft 332. In this embodiment, the mounting base 331 includes a fixed plate fixedly connected to the vertical slider 322, and an upper support plate and a lower support plate vertically mounted at the upper and lower ends of the fixed plate. The lower end of the rotating shaft 332 is rotatably connected to the lower support plate via a bearing. The rotating drive motor 333 is fixedly connected to the upper support plate, and its output shaft is drively connected to the upper end of the rotating shaft 332. The rotating drive motor 333 drives the rotating shaft 332 to rotate, which in turn drives the tray frame 34 connected to the rotating shaft 332 to swing horizontally. See also... Figure 7The end of the tray frame 34 connected to the rotating shaft 332 has a smaller width, while the end of the tray frame 34 used to support the sample tray 2 has a larger width, so as to support and move the sample tray 2 more stably.

[0047] To ensure accurate positioning and stable and reliable movement of the sample tray 2 when the tray frame 34 supports it, multiple positioning holes 22 are provided at the bottom of the sample tray 2, and multiple positioning pins 341 matching the positioning holes 22 on the top of the tray frame 34 are provided. By engaging the positioning pins 341 on the tray frame 34 into the positioning holes 22 at the bottom of the sample tray 2, the sample tray 2 can be stably placed and removed, preventing it from moving on the rotating tray frame 34 during movement. In this embodiment, the bottom of the sample tray 2 has four positioning holes 22 arranged in a rectangular pattern, and correspondingly, the tray frame 34 has four positioning pins 341. The positioning pins 341 have a frustoconical structure, making it easier for them to engage with the positioning holes 22 on the sample tray 2.

[0048] The fully automated sample storage facility also includes a sample bottle conveying device 4 and a sample bottle picking and placing device. The sample bottle conveying device 4 is located on one side of the sample tray storage area and is used to input or output sample bottles 8. The sample bottle picking and placing device is located at the entrance of the sample tray storage area and is used to pick up and place sample bottles 8. In this embodiment, the sample bottle conveying device 4 is a belt conveyor, with one end extending to the entrance of the sample tray storage area. In other alternative embodiments, the sample bottle conveying device 4 can also adopt AGV cart sample delivery, module sample delivery, cylinder sample delivery, etc., and this utility model does not limit it in any way. The sample bottle picking and placing device is a four-axis robotic arm 51 or a three-axis sliding table module 52. See also Figure 2 and Figure 4 The sample bottle handling device is a four-axis robotic arm 51. The front end of the four-axis robotic arm 51 is equipped with a pneumatic gripper for grasping sample bottles. The four-axis robotic arm 51 can use the pneumatic gripper to pick up sample bottles 8 from the sample bottle conveying device 4 and move them to the sample bottle placement slot 21 of the sample tray 2, or pick up sample bottles 8 from the sample tray 2 and move them to the sample bottle conveying device 4. See also... Figure 8 Another fully automated sample storage system shown here uses a three-axis slide module 52 as its sample bottle loading and unloading device. (See attached image) Figure 9The three-axis slide module 52 includes a longitudinal moving mechanism, a transverse moving mechanism, a vertical moving mechanism, and a sample bottle gripper 530. The longitudinal moving mechanism drives the transverse moving mechanism to move longitudinally along the length direction of the sample tray storage area, the transverse moving mechanism drives the vertical moving mechanism to move laterally along the width direction of the sample tray storage area, and the vertical moving mechanism drives the sample bottle gripper 530 to move vertically in the vertical direction. The sample tray gripper is used to grip and move sample bottles. The longitudinal moving mechanism includes a longitudinal slide rail 521, a longitudinal slide block 522 slidably disposed on the longitudinal slide rail 521, and a longitudinal drive motor 523 for driving the longitudinal slide block 522 to move. The transverse moving mechanism includes a transverse slide rail 524, a transverse slide block 525 slidably disposed on the transverse slide rail 524, and a transverse drive motor 526 for driving the transverse slide block 525 to move. The vertical moving mechanism includes a vertical slide rail 527, a vertical slide block 528 slidably disposed on the vertical slide rail 527, and a vertical drive motor 529 for driving the vertical slide block 528 to move. The sample bottle gripper 530 is disposed on the vertical slide block 528. The system includes two longitudinal slide rails 521, both of which are fixedly mounted on the column and extend along the length of the sample tray storage area. A longitudinal slide block 522 is slidably mounted on each of the two longitudinal slide rails 521. The longitudinal drive motor 523 drives the longitudinal slide block 522 to move along the longitudinal slide rail 521. The transverse slide rail 524 of the transverse moving mechanism is fixedly connected to the two longitudinal slide blocks 522 and extends along the width of the sample tray storage area. The vertical slide rail 527 of the vertical moving mechanism is fixedly connected to the transverse slide block 525 and extends vertically. The sample bottle gripper 530 can be a pneumatic gripper, used to pick up sample bottles 8 from the sample bottle conveying device 4 and move them to the sample bottle placement slot 21 of the sample tray 2, or to pick up sample bottles 8 from the sample tray 2 and move them to the sample bottle conveying device 4. In this embodiment, the longitudinal moving mechanism, the lateral moving mechanism, and the vertical moving mechanism are all synchronous belt modules. Taking the longitudinal moving mechanism as an example, synchronous belt pulleys are rotatably provided at both ends of the longitudinal slide rail 521, and a synchronous belt is wound around the two synchronous belt pulleys. The longitudinal slide block 522 is connected to the synchronous belt. The synchronous belt pulleys are driven to rotate by the longitudinal drive motor 523, which in turn drives the synchronous belt to rotate, thereby causing the longitudinal slider connected to the synchronous belt to move along the longitudinal slide rail 521.

[0049] Further, see Figure 2 and Figure 3The fully automated sample storage system also includes a barcode scanner 6, which is located on one side of the entrance to the sample tray storage area. The scanner 6 is used to scan the barcodes on the sample bottles 8 and record sample information. A rotating tray 7 is also located on one side of the scanner 6. The rotating tray 7 is used to place the sample bottles and drive the sample bottles 8 to rotate, facilitating scanning by the scanner 6. Specifically, both the scanner 6 and the rotating tray 7 are located on the side opposite the robotic arm 5 at the entrance to the sample tray storage area. Before the robotic arm 5 picks up the sample bottles 8 from the sample bottle conveying device 4 and transfers them to the sample tray 2, the sample bottles 8 are first picked up and placed on the rotating tray 7. The rotating tray 7 is driven to rotate by a drive motor. As the rotating tray 7 rotates the sample bottles 8, the scanner 6 scans the barcode or QR code label on the sample bottle 8. If the scan is successful, the sample information is recorded in the background. Then, the robotic arm 5 picks up the scanned sample bottle 8 and moves it to the sample tray 2.

[0050] The sample tray picking and placing device 3 picks and places sample tray 2 as follows: The tray frame 34 is kept parallel to the middle channel. The horizontal moving mechanism 31 of the sample tray picking and placing device 3 moves the vertical lifting mechanism 32 to the corresponding pick and place point of the sample tray 2. The vertical lifting mechanism 32 moves the rotating mechanism 33 to an appropriate position below the sample tray 2. The rotating mechanism 33 drives the tray frame 34 to rotate and swing 90° towards the sample tray 2. The vertical lifting mechanism 32 drives the rotating mechanism 33 to rise, so that the positioning pin 341 on the tray frame 34 is inserted into the positioning hole 22 of the sample tray 2 and continues to move upward. After the sample tray 2 reaches a certain height, the rotating mechanism 33 drives the tray frame 34 to rotate and swing 90° in the opposite direction, so that the tray frame 34 swings back to the position parallel to the middle channel. The horizontal moving mechanism 31 drives the vertical lifting mechanism 32 to move to the sample receiving station at the entrance of the sample tray storage area. The vertical lifting mechanism 32 drives the rotating mechanism 33 to descend, placing the sample tray 2 on the tray frame 34 onto the buffer rack set at the sample receiving station.

[0051] Furthermore, this fully automated sample storage and retrieval system also includes a housing 9, see [link to housing 9]. Figure 1The outer casing 9 is located outside the sample tray storage area, and is equipped with a sample bottle inlet / outlet 91 and an opening / closing door 92. The outer casing 9 protects the storage rack 1, sample tray 2, sample tray retrieval device 3, robotic arm 5, barcode scanner 6, and rotating tray 7 within the sample tray storage area. The end of the sample bottle conveying device 4 extends into the outer casing 9 through the sample bottle inlet / outlet 91. An opening / closing door 92 is located at the front and rear of the side of the outer casing 9, and each door 92 is equipped with a smart lock, allowing personnel to enter the sample tray storage area inside the outer casing 9 to inspect or repair the equipment. The outer casing 9 is also equipped with a touchscreen 93, which is electrically connected to the sample tray retrieval device 3, robotic arm 5, and sample bottle conveying device 4, allowing personnel to perform tasks such as storing or retrieving sample bottles. In this embodiment, the outer shell 9 is a spliced ​​structure composed of several protective plates. The protective plates are fixedly connected to the outside and top of the storage rack 1 column 11 by screws. Multiple columns 11 are also provided in the areas at the front and rear ends of the sample storage area where the storage rack 1 is not provided, for fixing and connecting the protective plates of the outer shell 9.

[0052] The fully automated sample storage system operates as follows: The sample tray retrieval device 3 retrieves an empty sample tray 2 from the storage rack 1 in the sample tray storage area and places it at the sample receiving station at the entrance of the sample tray storage area. A buffer rack for placing the sample tray 2 is provided at the sample receiving station. The sample bottle conveying device 4 delivers the sample bottle 8 into the sample tray storage area. The sample bottle 8 has a label with a barcode or QR code. The sample bottle retrieval device picks up the sample bottle 8 from the sample bottle conveying device 4 and places it onto the rotating tray 7 in front of the barcode scanner 6. The motor is started to rotate the sample bottle 8 until the barcode is successfully scanned, and the sample information is recorded in the background. The sample bottle retrieval device picks up the scanned sample bottle 8 and places it into an empty space on the sample tray 2 until the sample tray 2 is full of sample bottles 8. The sample tray retrieval device 3 returns the full sample tray 2 to its original position and then retrieves another empty sample tray 2 to the sample receiving station in the sample tray storage area. This cycle is repeated to complete the sample bottle storage. The storage period for the samples is set in advance. Every day, there are samples that have reached the set period. After the set period is reached, the sample tray picking and placing device 3 takes out the sample tray 2 containing the sample bottle 8 that needs to be cleaned and puts it into the sample receiving station at the entrance of the sample tray storage area. The sample bottle picking and placing device grabs the sample bottle 8 one by one and puts it into the sample bottle conveying device 4 or the waste chute for waste disposal. Then the sample tray 2 is put back into its original position.

[0053] This fully automated sample storage and retrieval system features a modular design, making it highly adaptable to various non-standard customized workstations. When it is necessary to increase or decrease the number of workstations, it is only necessary to increase or decrease the number of storage racks in the sample tray storage area and correspondingly lengthen or shorten the horizontal moving mechanism of the sample tray retrieval and placement device, thereby reducing the cost of designing non-standard customized solutions.

[0054] This fully automated sample storage and retrieval system can simultaneously grab multiple sample bottles onto a sample tray. Once the tray is full, a tray-loading device transfers the entire tray to a storage rack. Simultaneously, samples can be discarded in batches, tray by tray, after their storage period. This fully automated sample storage and retrieval system improves space utilization, simplifies the operation process, increases sample storage and retrieval efficiency, ensures stable system operation, and features fully automated storage, retrieval, and discard functions.

[0055] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0056] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A fully automated sample storage and retrieval system, characterized in that, include: Sample tray storage area, sample trays, and sample tray loading and unloading device; wherein... The sample tray storage area is provided with a central channel, and multiple storage racks are provided on both sides of the central channel. Multiple sample trays are placed on each storage rack along its height direction, and multiple sample bottle placement slots are provided on the sample trays. The sample tray picking and placing device is located on the middle channel. The sample tray picking and placing device includes a horizontal moving mechanism, a vertical lifting mechanism, a rotating mechanism, and a tray frame. The horizontal moving mechanism is used to drive the vertical lifting mechanism to move linearly along the middle channel. The vertical lifting mechanism is used to drive the rotating mechanism to move up and down. The rotating mechanism is used to drive the tray frame to swing horizontally. The tray frame is used to lift the sample tray to move it.

2. The fully automated sample storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Sample bottle conveying device and sample bottle picking and placing device; The sample bottle conveying device is located on one side of the sample tray storage area and is used to feed or send out sample bottles. The sample bottle retrieval and placement device is located at the entrance of the sample tray storage area and is used to retrieve and place sample bottles.

3. The fully automated sample storage and retrieval system according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: barcode scanner; The barcode scanner is located on one side of the entrance to the sample storage area and is used to scan the sample bottles and record sample information.

4. The fully automated sample storage and retrieval system according to claim 3, characterized in that, A rotating tray is also provided on one side of the barcode scanner. The rotating tray is used to place sample bottles and drive the sample bottles to rotate, so as to facilitate the barcode scanner to scan the sample bottles.

5. The fully automated sample storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The storage rack includes two uprights and multiple support frames; The two columns are spaced apart, and multiple support frames are fixed on the two columns, with the multiple support frames evenly distributed along the height direction of the columns. The support frame includes two parallel support rods, and sheet metal brackets are respectively provided on the opposite sides of the two support rods. The sheet metal brackets are used to support the sample tray.

6. The fully automated sample storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The horizontal movement mechanism includes: a horizontal slide rail, a horizontal slider, a gear, a rack and pinion, and a translation drive motor; The horizontal slide rail extends along the middle channel, the horizontal slider is slidably connected to the horizontal slide rail, and the vertical lifting mechanism is disposed on the horizontal slider; The rack is fixedly connected to the side of the horizontal slide rail, the translation drive motor is fixedly connected to the horizontal slider, the gear is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the translation drive motor, and the gear meshes with the rack.

7. The fully automated sample storage and retrieval system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The vertical lifting mechanism includes: a vertical slide rail, a vertical slider, a lead screw and nut transmission mechanism, and a lifting drive motor; The vertical slide rail is vertically disposed on the top of the horizontal slider, the vertical slider is slidably connected to the vertical slide rail, and the rotating mechanism is disposed on the vertical slider; The lead screw and nut transmission mechanism includes a lead screw and a transmission nut. Bearing seats are provided at both ends of the vertical slide rail. The two ends of the lead screw are rotatably mounted on the bearing seats. The transmission nut is connected to the lead screw. The vertical slider is connected to the transmission nut. A mounting plate is provided at the top of the vertical slide rail. The lifting drive motor is fixedly connected to the mounting plate. The output shaft of the lifting drive motor is connected to the lead screw.

8. The fully automated sample storage and retrieval system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The rotating mechanism includes a mounting base, a rotating shaft, and a rotating drive motor; The rotating shaft is vertically mounted on the mounting base, the rotating drive motor is fixedly connected to the top of the mounting base, and the output shaft of the rotating drive motor is connected to the rotating shaft. The tray frame is horizontally fixed on the rotating shaft.

9. The fully automated sample storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the sample tray is provided with multiple positioning holes, and the top of the tray frame is provided with multiple positioning pins that match the positioning holes on the sample tray.

10. The fully automated sample storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an outer shell, which is located outside the sample tray storage area and has sample bottle inlet / outlet and an opening / closing door.

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