Centrifugal tube filling and cap screwing machine and centrifugal tube filling and cap screwing and code printing equipment

Abstract

This disclosure provides a centrifuge tube filling and capping machine and a centrifuge tube filling and capping inkjet printing device. The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine includes a frame, a feeding mechanism, a gripping mechanism, a conveying mechanism, a filling mechanism, a capping mechanism, a discharging mechanism, and a height detection mechanism. The feeding mechanism, gripping mechanism, conveying mechanism, filling mechanism, capping mechanism, and discharging mechanism are all installed on the frame. The feeding mechanism is used to feed centrifuge tubes, the gripping mechanism is used to grip the centrifuge tubes from the feeding mechanism and transfer them to the conveying mechanism, and the conveying mechanism is used to transport the centrifuge tubes. The filling mechanism, capping mechanism, and discharging mechanism are arranged at intervals along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism. The filling mechanism is used to fill the centrifuge tubes with liquid, the capping mechanism is used to cap the centrifuge tubes, and the discharging mechanism is used to detach the centrifuge tubes from the conveying mechanism. The height detection mechanism is installed on the frame and located between the capping mechanism and the discharging mechanism. The height detection mechanism is used to detect the height of the centrifuge tubes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of centrifuge tube filling, and in particular to a centrifuge tube filling and capping machine and a centrifuge tube filling and capping inkjet printing device. Background Technology

[0002] Centrifuge tubes have been widely used in biological sciences, especially in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology research. They are mainly used for the preparation or storage of various biological reagents. In traditional techniques, reagents are usually poured into centrifuge tubes manually and then capped manually. This method is inefficient and lacks precision in filling the tubes.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, Chinese Patent Application No. CN202320626393.1 discloses a fully automatic filling and fastening device for centrifuge tubes, comprising: a touch screen mounted on an electrical control cabinet; a selector including a vibratory feeder for sorting centrifuge tubes in the same direction; a rotating fixture mounted on the electrical control cabinet; the rotating fixture being a rotatable disc with clamping fixtures evenly arranged circumferentially on it, opening outwards; inner grooves on the periphery of the rotating fixture, with the clamping fixtures positioned within these grooves; a pushing structure, a liquid adding structure, a folding structure, a one-time pressing structure, and an ejection structure sequentially arranged around the rotating fixture on the electrical control cabinet, corresponding one-to-one with the clamping fixtures, for sequential pushing, liquid adding, cap flipping, and one-time pressing; the pushing structure being connected to the vibratory feeder, which arranges the centrifuge tubes in an orderly manner.

[0004] However, the structural design of the above-mentioned device has the following problems during use:

[0005] After filling the centrifuge tubes with liquid, the aforementioned device uses a folding structure and a one-time pressing structure to cap the centrifuge tubes. However, in actual production, due to individual deviations of the centrifuge tubes or displacement during movement, there are cases where the centrifuge tubes are capped crookedly or not securely. The aforementioned device does not perform inspection after capping the centrifuge tubes, which can lead to leakage in subsequent processing steps, resulting in low capping accuracy. Furthermore, it requires manual replenishment of liquid and also results in low production efficiency.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a centrifuge tube filling and capping machine with high precision and a high degree of automation. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this disclosure is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a centrifuge tube filling and capping machine and a centrifuge tube filling and capping inkjet printing device with high capping accuracy and high degree of automation.

[0008] The purpose of this disclosure is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0009] A centrifuge tube filling and capping machine includes a frame, a feeding mechanism, a gripping mechanism, a conveying mechanism, a filling mechanism, a capping mechanism, and a discharging mechanism. The feeding mechanism, gripping mechanism, conveying mechanism, filling mechanism, capping mechanism, and discharging mechanism are all mounted on the frame. The feeding mechanism feeds centrifuge tubes; the gripping mechanism grips the centrifuge tubes from the feeding mechanism and transfers them to the conveying mechanism; the conveying mechanism transports the centrifuge tubes; the filling mechanism, capping mechanism, and discharging mechanism are spaced apart along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism; the filling mechanism fills the centrifuge tubes with liquid; the capping mechanism caps the centrifuge tubes; and the discharging mechanism detaches the centrifuge tubes from the conveying mechanism.

[0010] The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine also includes a height detection mechanism, which is installed on the frame and located between the capping mechanism and the feeding mechanism. The height detection mechanism is used to detect the height of the centrifuge tube.

[0011] In one embodiment, the height detection mechanism includes a first bracket and a sensor. The first bracket is mounted on the frame, and the sensor is mounted on the first bracket, with the sensing end of the sensor facing the conveying mechanism.

[0012] In one embodiment, the feeding mechanism includes a vibrating feeding plate and a feeding frame, both of which are mounted on the frame. The feeding channel of the vibrating feeding plate is connected to the feeding channel of the feeding frame, and the feeding frame is arranged adjacent to the conveying mechanism.

[0013] In one embodiment, the material gripping mechanism includes a second bracket, a first horizontal drive member, a first vertical drive member, and a suction cup. The second bracket is mounted on the frame, the first horizontal drive member is mounted on the second bracket, the power output end of the first horizontal drive member is connected to the first vertical drive member, and the power output end of the first vertical drive member is connected to the suction cup, so that the suction cup adsorbs the centrifuge tube of the feeding mechanism to the conveying mechanism.

[0014] In one embodiment, the conveying mechanism includes a rotary drive, a rotating disk, and a fixture. The rotary drive is mounted on the frame, and the rotating disk is connected to the power output end of the rotary drive. The feeding mechanism, the liquid filling mechanism, the capping mechanism, the height detection mechanism, and the unloading mechanism are arranged around the rotating disk. The fixture is mounted on the rotating disk and has a receiving groove for receiving centrifuge tubes.

[0015] In one embodiment, the filling mechanism includes a third support, a second horizontal drive, a second vertical drive, and a liquid injection component. The third support is mounted on the frame, the second vertical drive is mounted on the third support, the power output end of the second vertical drive is connected to the second horizontal drive, and the power output end of the second horizontal drive is connected to the liquid injection component, so that the liquid injection component is close to or away from the centrifuge tube of the delivery mechanism.

[0016] In one embodiment, the capping mechanism includes a fourth bracket, a third horizontal drive member, a third vertical drive member, and a side pressure plate. The fourth bracket is mounted on the frame, the third vertical drive member is mounted on the fourth bracket, the power output end of the third vertical drive member is connected to the third horizontal drive member, and the power output end of the third horizontal drive member is connected to the side pressure plate. The side pressure plate is used to press the cap of the centrifuge tube tightly against the opening of the centrifuge tube when it moves.

[0017] In one embodiment, the capping mechanism further includes a pressing component, which includes a pressing drive and a pressing plate. The pressing drive is mounted on the fourth bracket, and its power output end is connected to the pressing plate. The pressing drive drives the pressing plate to press down so that the pressing plate presses the cap of the centrifuge tube tightly.

[0018] In one embodiment, the unloading mechanism includes a lifting drive, a push rod, an unloading bracket, a pushing drive, and a push plate. The unloading bracket is mounted on the frame, the lifting drive is mounted on the frame, the push rod is connected to the power output end of the lifting drive, and the push rod is correspondingly arranged with the receiving groove so that the centrifuge tube is pushed out when the push rod rises. The pushing drive is mounted on the frame, and the power output end of the pushing drive is connected to the push plate. The pushing drive is used to drive the push plate to move when the push rod pushes out the centrifuge tube, so that the centrifuge tube falls to the unloading bracket.

[0019] A centrifuge tube filling and capping inkjet printing device includes an inkjet printing mechanism and a centrifuge tube filling and capping machine as described in any of the above embodiments. The inkjet printing mechanism includes a fourth vertical drive component, a fourth horizontal drive component, and an inkjet printing component. The fourth horizontal drive component is mounted on the frame. The power output end of the fourth horizontal drive component is connected to the fourth vertical drive component, and the power output end of the fourth vertical drive component is connected to the inkjet printing component, so that the inkjet printing component is correspondingly arranged with the conveying mechanism.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, this disclosure has at least the following advantages:

[0021] The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine described above has a feeding mechanism that feeds centrifuge tubes, a gripping mechanism that transports the centrifuge tubes from the feeding mechanism to the conveying mechanism, and a filling mechanism, a capping mechanism, and a discharging mechanism that are spaced apart along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism. After the filling mechanism fills the centrifuge tubes with liquid, the capping mechanism fastens the caps of the centrifuge tubes to the tube openings. The height detection mechanism is located between the capping mechanism and the discharging mechanism. That is, when the centrifuge tubes are conveyed to the height detection mechanism after being capped, the height detection mechanism detects the height of the centrifuge tubes to determine whether the capping is qualified. Finally, the qualified capped centrifuge tubes are conveyed to the discharging mechanism for unloading. In this way, by detecting the capping of the centrifuge tubes through the height detection mechanism, centrifuge tubes with poor capping can be corrected in time, improving the capping yield of centrifuge tubes and thus improving the capping accuracy. Moreover, the multiple mechanisms cooperate with each other, resulting in a high degree of automation and improving production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this disclosure and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the centrifuge tube filling and capping machine in one embodiment;

[0024] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the height detection mechanism of the centrifuge tube filling and capping machine.

[0025] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the feeding mechanism of the centrifuge tube filling and capping machine;

[0026] Figure 4 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the material gripping mechanism of the centrifuge tube filling and capping machine.

[0027] Figure 5 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structural schematic of the conveying mechanism of the centrifuge tube filling and capping machine;

[0028] Figure 6 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the filling mechanism of the centrifuge tube filling and capping machine.

[0029] Figure 7 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the capping mechanism of the centrifuge tube filling and capping machine.

[0030] Figure 8 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the feeding mechanism of the centrifuge tube filling and capping machine;

[0031] Figure 9 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the inkjet printing mechanism of the centrifuge tube filling and capping machine. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To facilitate understanding of this disclosure, a more complete description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. However, this disclosure can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure.

[0033] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly attached to the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0035] This disclosure provides a centrifuge tube filling and capping machine, including a frame, a feeding mechanism, a gripping mechanism, a conveying mechanism, a filling mechanism, a capping mechanism, a discharging mechanism, and a height detection mechanism. The feeding mechanism, gripping mechanism, conveying mechanism, filling mechanism, capping mechanism, and discharging mechanism are all mounted on the frame. The feeding mechanism is used to feed centrifuge tubes; the gripping mechanism is used to grip the centrifuge tubes from the feeding mechanism and transfer them to the conveying mechanism; the conveying mechanism is used to transport the centrifuge tubes; the filling mechanism, capping mechanism, and discharging mechanism are spaced apart along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism; the filling mechanism is used to fill the centrifuge tubes with liquid; the capping mechanism is used to cap the centrifuge tubes; and the discharging mechanism is used to detach the centrifuge tubes from the conveying mechanism. The height detection mechanism is mounted on the frame and located between the capping mechanism and the discharging mechanism, and is used to detect the height of the centrifuge tubes.

[0036] The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine described above has a feeding mechanism that feeds centrifuge tubes, a gripping mechanism that transports the centrifuge tubes from the feeding mechanism to the conveying mechanism, and a filling mechanism, a capping mechanism, and a discharging mechanism that are spaced apart along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism. After the filling mechanism fills the centrifuge tubes with liquid, the capping mechanism fastens the caps of the centrifuge tubes to the tube openings. The height detection mechanism is located between the capping mechanism and the discharging mechanism. That is, when the centrifuge tubes are conveyed to the height detection mechanism after being capped, the height detection mechanism detects the height of the centrifuge tubes to determine whether the capping is qualified. Finally, the qualified capped centrifuge tubes are conveyed to the discharging mechanism for unloading. In this way, by detecting the capping of the centrifuge tubes through the height detection mechanism, centrifuge tubes with poor capping can be corrected in time, improving the capping yield of centrifuge tubes and thus improving the capping accuracy. Moreover, the multiple mechanisms cooperate with each other, resulting in a high degree of automation and improving production efficiency.

[0037] To better understand the technical solutions and beneficial effects of this disclosure, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with specific embodiments:

[0038] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a centrifuge tube filling and capping machine 10 according to one embodiment includes a frame 100, a feeding mechanism 200, a gripping mechanism 300, a conveying mechanism 400, a filling mechanism 500, a capping mechanism 600, a discharging mechanism 700, and a height detection mechanism 800. The feeding mechanism 200, the gripping mechanism 300, the conveying mechanism 400, the filling mechanism 500, the capping mechanism 600, and the discharging mechanism 700 are all mounted on the frame 100. The feeding mechanism 200 is used to feed centrifuge tubes, and the gripping mechanism 300 is used to grip the centrifuge tubes from the feeding mechanism 200 and transfer them to the conveying mechanism 400. The conveying mechanism 400... For conveying centrifuge tubes, the filling mechanism 500, the capping mechanism 600, and the discharging mechanism 700 are arranged at intervals along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism 400. The filling mechanism 500 is used to fill the centrifuge tubes with liquid, the capping mechanism 600 is used to cap the centrifuge tubes, and the discharging mechanism 700 is used to detach the centrifuge tubes from the conveying mechanism 400. The height detection mechanism 800 is installed on the frame 100 and is located between the capping mechanism 600 and the discharging mechanism 700. The height detection mechanism 800 is used to detect the height of the centrifuge tubes to determine whether the capping of the centrifuge tubes is qualified.

[0039] In this embodiment, the centrifuge tube and cap are integrally formed. The feeding mechanism 200 feeds the centrifuge tubes, and the gripping mechanism 300 conveys the centrifuge tubes from the feeding mechanism 200 to the conveying mechanism 400. The conveying mechanism 400 sequentially conveys the centrifuge tubes to the filling mechanism 500, the capping mechanism 600, the height detection mechanism 800, and the unloading mechanism 700. The filling mechanism 500 fills the centrifuge tubes with reagents, and then the centrifuge tubes reach the capping mechanism 600. The capping mechanism 600 bends the cap and fastens it to the opening of the centrifuge tube. However, due to individual differences in centrifuge tubes or centrifugal force, the centrifuge tubes may not be fully sized. If the centrifuge tube deviates during its movement, the cap may not be properly fastened or may be misaligned. When the centrifuge tube passes the height detection mechanism 800, the height detection mechanism 800 detects the height of the centrifuge tube. If the height of the centrifuge tube is within the preset range, it indicates that the centrifuge tube cap is properly fastened. If the height of the centrifuge tube is too high, it indicates that the centrifuge tube is misaligned or not fastened properly. At this time, the equipment alarms to remove the centrifuge tube with a faulty cap, thereby ensuring that the centrifuge tube caps are properly fastened in subsequent processes. Finally, the centrifuge tube is unloaded by the unloading mechanism 700.

[0040] The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine 10 described above has a feeding mechanism 200 that feeds centrifuge tubes, a gripping mechanism 300 that transports the centrifuge tubes from the feeding mechanism 200 to the conveying mechanism 400, and a filling mechanism 500, a capping mechanism 600, and a discharging mechanism 700 that are spaced apart along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism 400. After the filling mechanism 500 fills the centrifuge tubes with liquid, the capping mechanism 600 fastens the caps of the centrifuge tubes to the tube openings. A height detection mechanism 800 is located between the capping mechanism 600 and the discharging mechanism 700. During the process, when the centrifuge tubes are capped and transported to the height detection mechanism 800, the height detection mechanism 800 detects the height of the centrifuge tubes to determine whether the capping is qualified. Finally, the qualified capped centrifuge tubes are transported to the unloading mechanism 700 for unloading. In this way, by detecting the capping of the centrifuge tubes through the height detection mechanism 800, centrifuge tubes with poor capping are corrected in time, which improves the capping yield of centrifuge tubes and thus improves the capping accuracy. Moreover, the cooperation of multiple mechanisms results in a high degree of automation and improves production efficiency.

[0041] like Figure 2 As shown, in one embodiment, the height detection mechanism 800 includes a first bracket 810 and a sensor 820. The first bracket 810 is mounted on the frame 100, and the sensor 820 is mounted on the first bracket 810, with the sensing end of the sensor 820 facing the conveying mechanism 400. In this embodiment, the sensor 820 is a distance sensor 820, with its sensing end facing the conveying mechanism 400. When the conveying mechanism 400 conveys the centrifuge tube to a preset position, the sensor 820 detects the height of the centrifuge tube to determine whether the centrifuge tube cap is qualified.

[0042] like Figure 3 As shown, in one embodiment, the feeding mechanism 200 includes a vibrating feeding plate 210 and a feeding rack 220. Both the vibrating feeding plate 210 and the feeding rack 220 are mounted on the frame 100. The feeding channel of the vibrating feeding plate 210 is connected to the feeding channel of the feeding rack 220. The feeding rack 220 is arranged adjacent to the conveying mechanism 400. In this embodiment, feeding is performed by the vibrating feeding plate 210 so that when the centrifuge tubes vibrate, the caps on the centrifuge tubes face a preset direction for easy capping later. After vibrating through the vibrating feeding plate 210, the centrifuge tubes enter the feeding rack 220. The feeding rack 220 is equipped with a positioning sensor 820. When the positioning sensor 820 senses that the centrifuge tubes have reached their designated positions, the gripping mechanism 300 conveys the centrifuge tubes from the feeding rack 220 to the conveying mechanism 400 for subsequent processes.

[0043] like Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment, the material gripping mechanism 300 includes a second support 310, a first horizontal drive member 320, a first vertical drive member 330, and a suction cup 340. The second support 310 is mounted on the frame 100, and the first horizontal drive member 320 is mounted on the second support 310. The power output end of the first horizontal drive member 320 is connected to the first vertical drive member 330, and the power output end of the first vertical drive member 330 is connected to the suction cup 340, so that the suction cup 340 can suction the centrifuge tube of the feeding mechanism to the conveying mechanism 400. In this embodiment, the first horizontal drive member 320 and the first vertical drive member 330 are motors. The first horizontal drive member 320 drives the suction cup 340 to move horizontally, and the first vertical drive member 330 drives the suction cup 340 to move vertically, so that the suction cup 340 can suck the centrifuge tube in the feeding mechanism 200 to the conveying mechanism 400. Furthermore, there can be two first horizontal driving members 320, and the two first horizontal driving members 320 are perpendicular to each other. That is, they drive the suction cup 340 to move along the X-axis and Z-axis directions respectively in the horizontal plane, and the first vertical driving member 330 drives the suction cup to move along the Y-axis direction, so that the movement path of the suction cup 340 is more complex and varied, thereby enabling the suction cup 340 to more accurately pick up the centrifuge tube to the conveying mechanism 400.

[0044] like Figure 5As shown, in one embodiment, the conveying mechanism 400 includes a rotary drive 410, a rotary disk 420, and a fixture 430. The rotary drive 410 is mounted on the frame 100. The rotary disk 420 is connected to the power output end of the rotary drive 410. The feeding mechanism 200, the liquid filling mechanism 500, the capping mechanism 600, the height detection mechanism 800, and the unloading mechanism 700 are arranged around the rotary disk 420. The fixture 430 is mounted on the rotary disk 420 and has a receiving groove for receiving centrifuge tubes. In this embodiment, the rotary drive 410 is a rotary motor that drives the rotary disk 420 to rotate. A fixture 430 is installed on the rotary disk 420, and the fixture 430 has a receiving groove. The material grabbing mechanism 300 grabs the centrifuge tubes in the feeding mechanism 200 and places them in the receiving groove, so that the rotary disk 420 passes through the liquid filling mechanism 500, the capping mechanism 600, the height detection mechanism 800 and the unloading mechanism 700 in sequence when rotating, thereby making the equipment more compact and improving the space utilization of the equipment.

[0045] like Figure 6 As shown, in one embodiment, the filling mechanism 500 includes a third support 510, a second horizontal drive 520, a second vertical drive 530, and a liquid injection component 540. The third support 510 is mounted on the frame 100, the second vertical drive 530 is mounted on the third support 510, the power output end of the second vertical drive 530 is connected to the second horizontal drive 520, and the power output end of the second horizontal drive 520 is connected to the liquid injection component 540, so that the liquid injection component 540 is close to or away from the centrifuge tube of the delivery mechanism 400. In this embodiment, the second horizontal drive 520 and the second vertical drive 530 are motors, and the liquid injection component 540 includes a liquid injection pump and a liquid injection dropper. The liquid injection pump is mounted on the third bracket 510. The second horizontal drive 520 drives the liquid injection dropper to move horizontally, and the second vertical drive 530 drives the liquid injection dropper to move vertically, so that the liquid injection dropper can be accurately moved above the centrifuge tube, thereby injecting the reagent into the centrifuge tube.

[0046] like Figure 7As shown, in one embodiment, the capping mechanism 600 includes a fourth bracket 610, a third horizontal drive member 620, a third vertical drive member 630, and a side pressure plate 640. The fourth bracket 610 is mounted on the frame 100, the third vertical drive member 630 is mounted on the fourth bracket 610, the power output end of the third vertical drive member 630 is connected to the third horizontal drive member 620, and the power output end of the third horizontal drive member 620 is connected to the side pressure plate 640. The side pressure plate 640 is used to press the cap of the centrifuge tube against the opening of the centrifuge tube when it moves. In this embodiment, the cap is initially attached to the outside of the centrifuge tube. The third horizontal drive 620 drives the side pressure plate 640 to move horizontally, and the third vertical drive 630 drives the side pressure plate 640 to move vertically. When the centrifuge tube is delivered to the capping mechanism 600, the side pressure plate 640 moves upward to bend the cap towards the centrifuge tube opening, at which point the cap forms a 90° angle with the centrifuge tube. Then, the side pressure plate 640 moves horizontally to further bend the cap towards the tube opening. Finally, the side pressure plate 640 moves downward to bend the cap downward and fasten it to the tube opening, completing the capping operation. The third horizontal drive 620 and the third vertical drive 630 drive the side pressure plate 640 to reset, repeating the above steps for the next centrifuge tube. Further, the third vertical drive 630 and the third horizontal drive 620 are motors.

[0047] like Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment, the capping mechanism 600 further includes a pressing component 650. The pressing component 650 includes a pressing drive 651 and a pressing plate 652. The pressing drive 651 is mounted on the fourth bracket 610, and its power output end is connected to the pressing plate 652. The pressing drive 651 drives the pressing plate 652 to press down, thereby pressing the cap of the centrifuge tube tightly. In this embodiment, after the side pressing plate 640 fastens the cap, to further ensure the capping quality, the pressing drive 651 drives the pressing plate 652 to move vertically. The pressing plate 652 is located above the centrifuge tube. When the pressing plate 652 abuts against the cap, it presses the cap and the opening of the centrifuge tube tightly, further improving the capping yield of the centrifuge tube and cap. It is understood that the pressing drive 651 is a motor.

[0048] like Figure 8As shown, in one embodiment, the unloading mechanism 700 includes a lifting drive 710, a push rod 720, an unloading bracket 730, a pushing drive 740, and a push plate 750. The unloading bracket 730 is mounted on the frame 100, the lifting drive 710 is mounted on the frame 100, the push rod 720 is connected to the power output end of the lifting drive 710, and the push rod 720 is correspondingly arranged with the receiving groove so that the centrifuge tube is pushed out when the push rod 720 rises. The pushing drive 740 is mounted on the frame 100, and the power output end of the pushing drive 740 is connected to the push plate 750. The pushing drive 740 is used to drive the push plate 750 to move when the push rod 720 pushes out the centrifuge tube, so that the centrifuge tube falls to the unloading bracket 730. In this embodiment, the feeding bracket 730 is inclinedly disposed on the frame 100. When the centrifuge tube is conveyed to the feeding mechanism 700, the pushing drive 740 pushes the push plate 750 to move along the feeding bracket 730, so that the push plate 750 and the feeding bracket 730 form a feeding area. At this time, the lifting drive 710 drives the push rod 720 to move upward. The push rod 720 passes through the clearance hole at the bottom of the fixture 430 to push the centrifuge tube out of the fixture 430. Then, the pushing drive 740 drives the push plate 750 to continue moving along the feeding bracket 730, thereby pushing the centrifuge tube to the feeding bracket 730, completing the feeding operation. Further, both the pushing drive 740 and the lifting drive 710 are motors.

[0049] like Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment, the centrifuge tube filling and capping machine 10 further includes a defective product receiving mechanism 700a. The defective product receiving mechanism 700a is located on one side of the feeding mechanism 700 and is used to collect centrifuge tubes with defective caps. Furthermore, the structural design of the defective product receiving mechanism is the same as the design principle of the feeding mechanism; similarly, the centrifuge tubes are pushed out by a push rod, and then a push plate pushes the centrifuge tubes into the collection box. Further details will not be elaborated here.

[0050] like Figure 1 and Figure 9As shown, this application also provides a centrifuge tube filling and capping inkjet printing device, including an inkjet printing mechanism 900 and the centrifuge tube filling and capping machine described in any of the above embodiments. The inkjet printing mechanism 900 includes a fourth vertical drive member 910, a fourth horizontal drive member 920, and an inkjet printing member 930. The fourth horizontal drive member 920 is mounted on the frame 100. The power output end of the fourth horizontal drive member 920 is connected to the fourth vertical drive member 910, and the power output end of the fourth vertical drive member 910 is connected to the inkjet printing member 930, so that the inkjet printing member 930 is correspondingly arranged with the conveying mechanism. In this embodiment, after the centrifuge tube is capped, it needs to be sprayed with inkjet code on its periphery to facilitate subsequent identification of the reagent model. The fixture 430 has a clearance groove on its periphery that communicates with the receiving groove. When the centrifuge tube is conveyed to the inkjet coding mechanism 900, the fourth vertical drive 910 drives the inkjet coding component 930 to move vertically, and the fourth horizontal drive 920 drives the inkjet coding component 930 to move horizontally, so that the inkjet coding component 930 moves to align with the clearance groove on the fixture 430, thereby allowing the inkjet coding component 930 to spray code onto the centrifuge tube. Further, the inkjet coding component 930 can be an inkjet gun, and the fourth vertical drive 910 and the fourth horizontal drive 920 can be motors.

[0051] Compared with the prior art, this disclosure has at least the following advantages:

[0052] The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine 10 described above has a feeding mechanism 200 that feeds centrifuge tubes, a gripping mechanism 300 that transports the centrifuge tubes from the feeding mechanism 200 to the conveying mechanism 400, and a filling mechanism 500, a capping mechanism 600, and a discharging mechanism 700 that are spaced apart along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism 400. After the filling mechanism 500 fills the centrifuge tubes with liquid, the capping mechanism 600 fastens the caps of the centrifuge tubes to the tube openings. A height detection mechanism 800 is located between the capping mechanism 600 and the discharging mechanism 700. During the process, when the centrifuge tubes are capped and transported to the height detection mechanism 800, the height detection mechanism 800 detects the height of the centrifuge tubes to determine whether the capping is qualified. Finally, the qualified capped centrifuge tubes are transported to the unloading mechanism 700 for unloading. In this way, by detecting the capping of the centrifuge tubes through the height detection mechanism 800, centrifuge tubes with poor capping are corrected in time, which improves the capping yield of centrifuge tubes and thus improves the capping accuracy. Moreover, the cooperation of multiple mechanisms results in a high degree of automation and improves production efficiency.

[0053] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of this disclosure, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this patent disclosure. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this disclosure, and these all fall within the protection scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent disclosure should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A centrifuge tube filling and capping machine, comprising a frame, a feeding mechanism, a gripping mechanism, a conveying mechanism, a filling mechanism, a capping mechanism, and a discharging mechanism, wherein the feeding mechanism, the gripping mechanism, the conveying mechanism, the filling mechanism, the capping mechanism, and the discharging mechanism are all mounted on the frame; the feeding mechanism is used to feed centrifuge tubes; the gripping mechanism is used to grip the centrifuge tubes from the feeding mechanism and transfer them to the conveying mechanism; the conveying mechanism is used to convey the centrifuge tubes; the filling mechanism, the capping mechanism, and the discharging mechanism are spaced apart along the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism; the filling mechanism is used to fill the centrifuge tubes with liquid; the capping mechanism is used to cap the centrifuge tubes; and the discharging mechanism is used to detach the centrifuge tubes from the conveying mechanism, characterized in that... The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine also includes a height detection mechanism, which is installed on the frame and located between the capping mechanism and the feeding mechanism. The height detection mechanism is used to detect the height of the centrifuge tube.

2. The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The height detection mechanism includes a first bracket and a sensor. The first bracket is mounted on the frame, and the sensor is mounted on the first bracket. The sensing end of the sensor is positioned facing the conveying mechanism.

3. The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding mechanism includes a vibrating feeding plate and a feeding frame. Both the vibrating feeding plate and the feeding frame are installed on the machine frame. The feeding channel of the vibrating feeding plate is connected to the feeding channel of the feeding frame. The feeding frame is arranged adjacent to the conveying mechanism.

4. The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material gripping mechanism includes a second bracket, a first horizontal drive component, a first vertical drive component, and a suction cup. The second bracket is mounted on the frame, the first horizontal drive component is mounted on the second bracket, the power output end of the first horizontal drive component is connected to the first vertical drive component, and the power output end of the first vertical drive component is connected to the suction cup, so that the suction cup adsorbs the centrifuge tube of the feeding mechanism to the conveying mechanism.

5. The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conveying mechanism includes a rotary drive, a rotary disk, and a fixture. The rotary drive is mounted on the frame, and the rotary disk is connected to the power output end of the rotary drive. The feeding mechanism, the liquid filling mechanism, the capping mechanism, the height detection mechanism, and the unloading mechanism are arranged around the rotary disk. The fixture is mounted on the rotary disk and has a receiving groove for receiving centrifuge tubes.

6. The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid filling mechanism includes a third support, a second horizontal drive, a second vertical drive, and a liquid injection component. The third support is mounted on the frame, the second vertical drive is mounted on the third support, the power output end of the second vertical drive is connected to the second horizontal drive, and the power output end of the second horizontal drive is connected to the liquid injection component, so that the liquid injection component is close to or away from the centrifuge tube of the delivery mechanism.

7. The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The capping mechanism includes a fourth bracket, a third horizontal drive component, a third vertical drive component, and a side pressure plate. The fourth bracket is mounted on the frame, the third vertical drive component is mounted on the fourth bracket, the power output end of the third vertical drive component is connected to the third horizontal drive component, and the power output end of the third horizontal drive component is connected to the side pressure plate. The side pressure plate is used to press the cap of the centrifuge tube tightly against the opening of the centrifuge tube when it moves.

8. The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, The capping mechanism further includes a pressing component, which includes a pressing drive and a pressing plate. The pressing drive is mounted on the fourth bracket, and its power output end is connected to the pressing plate. The pressing drive drives the pressing plate to press down, so that the pressing plate presses the cap of the centrifuge tube tightly.

9. The centrifuge tube filling and capping machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The unloading mechanism includes a lifting drive, a push rod, an unloading bracket, a pushing drive, and a push plate. The unloading bracket is mounted on the frame, the lifting drive is mounted on the frame, the push rod is connected to the power output end of the lifting drive, and the push rod is correspondingly arranged with the receiving groove so that the centrifuge tube is pushed out when the push rod rises. The pushing drive is mounted on the frame, and the power output end of the pushing drive is connected to the push plate. The pushing drive is used to drive the push plate to move when the push rod pushes out the centrifuge tube, so that the centrifuge tube falls to the unloading bracket.

10. A centrifuge tube filling and capping inkjet printing device, characterized in that, The invention includes a coding mechanism and a centrifuge tube filling and capping machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9. The coding mechanism includes a fourth vertical drive member, a fourth horizontal drive member, and a coding component. The fourth horizontal drive member is mounted on the frame. The power output end of the fourth horizontal drive member is connected to the fourth vertical drive member. The power output end of the fourth vertical drive member is connected to the coding component, so that the coding component is correspondingly arranged with the conveying mechanism.

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