An automated cuvette washing and drying device

Abstract

An automated colorimetric tube cleaning and drying device relates to the field of chemical testing auxiliary equipment technology. The device includes a horizontally positioned frustum. The upper surface of the frustum is divided into a water receiving area, a testing area, a water emptying area, a cleaning area, and a drying area by a partition groove. The lower surface is equipped with a warm air pipe, a cleaning pipe, and a water collection tank. An L-shaped rod is inserted through the center of the frustum, with a clamping device connected to its end. A flipping mechanism consisting of a conical toothed plate and a bevel gear is provided between the L-shaped rod and the frustum. A servo motor inside a support cylinder drives the L-shaped rod to rotate. The clamping device securely holds the colorimetric tube using an arc-shaped clamping plate and a compression spring, and works in conjunction with the various functional areas to complete the water receiving, testing, water emptying, cleaning, and drying operations. This device automates the processing of colorimetric tubes, shortens drying time, and improves testing efficiency, making it suitable for color and turbidity testing of chemical liquids.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of auxiliary detection devices for the color and turbidity of chemical liquids, and in particular to an automated cleaning and drying device for colorimetric tubes. Background Technology

[0002] When using colorimetry for testing, the colorimetric tube is an indispensable container, and its cleanliness and dryness directly affect the accuracy of the test results. Currently, after completing a test, the handling of the colorimetric tube mainly relies on manual operation: first, the liquid to be tested must be poured out of the colorimetric tube manually, then it must be cleaned, and after cleaning, the colorimetric tube is inverted to drain the water. It can only be used for the next test after it is completely dry.

[0003] This traditional manual processing method has many drawbacks: Firstly, the steps of pouring water, washing, and draining are performed separately, making the operation cumbersome, consuming a lot of manpower and time, and seriously affecting the detection efficiency, especially when continuous testing of large batches of samples is required. Secondly, relying solely on natural inversion to drain the colorimetric tubes takes a long time, and the drying process is even slower in high humidity conditions, further extending the detection cycle and making it difficult to meet the needs of rapid testing. In addition, improper operation during manual operation may damage the colorimetric tubes, or incomplete cleaning may affect the accuracy of subsequent test results. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a device that can realize the automated cleaning and drying of colorimetric tubes, so as to solve the problems of low efficiency and long drying time in the prior art, thereby improving the overall efficiency of color and turbidity detection of chemical liquids.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows:

[0006] An automated cleaning and drying device for colorimetric tubes includes a frustum, a warm air duct, a cleaning duct, and a clamping device. A radially spaced dividing groove is formed on the upper surface of the frustum, dividing it into five areas: a water receiving area, a detection area, a water emptying area, a cleaning area, and a drying area. A support cylinder is vertically connected to the axis of the lower surface of the frustum. An L-shaped rod is installed inside the support cylinder, with its end passing through the axis of the frustum and connecting to the clamping device. A flipping mechanism is provided between the L-shaped rod and the frustum. The warm air duct and the cleaning duct are located on the lower surface of the frustum.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the flipping mechanism includes a conical toothed plate and a conical gear; the conical gear is rotatably connected to the end of the L-shaped rod, the conical toothed plate is fixedly connected to the side surface of the frustum, there are two conical toothed plates and they are arranged on the side of the water receiving area and the water pouring area of ​​the frustum, and the conical gear engages with the conical toothed plate for transmission when it moves to the conical toothed plate.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment, the warm air duct is installed at the bottom surface of the truncated cone, with one end connected to an external warm air system and the other end outlet facing the drying area of ​​the truncated cone.

[0009] In the preferred embodiment, the cleaning pipe is installed at the bottom surface of the truncated cone, with one end connected to an external water supply system and the other end having a spray nozzle facing the cleaning area of ​​the truncated cone.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, a water collection pool is provided at the lower end face of the frustum, and the upper opening of the water collection pool is located below the water pouring area and the cleaning area of ​​the frustum.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the top of the support cylinder is vertically connected to the base, and a servo motor is installed inside the support cylinder. The drive shaft of the servo motor is connected to an L-shaped rod and drives the L-shaped rod to rotate.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the clamping device includes a ring, the side of which is fixedly connected to a bevel gear via a rotating shaft, and the ring and the bevel gear rotate synchronously; a support plate is provided on the inner side of the ring, the support plate is provided with a sliding groove and engages with a sliding plate, and the sliding plate slides radially along the ring on the support plate.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, one end of the skateboard is elastically connected to the inner wall of the ring via a compression spring, and the other end of the skateboard is connected to an arc-shaped plate, the inner side of which is covered with an anti-slip pad.

[0014] An automated cleaning and drying device for colorimetric tubes, which provides the following benefits during use:

[0015] 1. This utility model achieves active heating and drying by installing a warm air pipe in the drying section and blowing hot air into the colorimetric tubes after they have been drained upside down using a warm air system. This dual drying method of "draining + hot air" significantly shortens the drying time of the colorimetric tubes and solves the problem of excessively long drying time in traditional natural draining. It is especially suitable for high humidity environments or batch testing scenarios, and effectively improves the continuity and efficiency of the testing process.

[0016] 2. The device uses a servo motor to drive an L-shaped rod to rotate, which, in conjunction with the meshing transmission between a bevel gear and a drive bevel gear, enables the automatic transfer of the colorimetric tube between the water receiving section, the detection section, the water pouring section, the cleaning section, and the drying section, while simultaneously completing operations such as tilting and pouring water, cleaning, and drying. The entire process eliminates the need for manual handling or tilting of the colorimetric tube, reducing manual operation steps, lowering labor costs, and avoiding the risk of damage or contamination to the colorimetric tube that may result from manual operation.

[0017] 3. Two bevel gears are distributed at a specific angle around the circumference of the frustum. When the bevel gears mesh with the frustum, they can precisely complete a 180° rotation, driving the colorimetric tube to accurately switch the opening direction. This mechanical transmission-type flipping control ensures the stability and accuracy of actions such as pouring and receiving water, avoiding problems such as liquid residue or incomplete pouring.

[0018] 4. The device is based on a truncated cone, integrating water receiving, testing, water pouring, cleaning, and drying functions into the same circumferential area. Combined with the bottom water collection tank, spray pipes, and warm air pipes, it forms a compact structure of "operation above, auxiliary below." The functional areas are clearly defined and rationally laid out, saving space while ensuring coordinated operation of each stage. For example, the water collection tank can centrally collect wastewater from the water pouring and cleaning processes, avoiding environmental pollution.

[0019] 5. The clamping unit, through the cooperation of a sliding plate, a clamping spring, and an arc-shaped elastic plate, can adapt to different sizes of colorimetric tubes, achieving a stable clamping effect. The anti-slip protrusions on the inner side of the arc-shaped elastic plate further enhance the clamping friction, preventing the colorimetric tubes from slipping during flipping or movement. This design improves the adaptability of the device to different testing scenarios and expands its application range. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model (Figure 2).

[0023] Figure 3 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of the clamping device structure of this utility model.

[0024] In the diagram: 1. Frustum; 2. Conical toothed plate; 3. Conical gear; 4. Heating duct; 5. Water receiving area; 6. Detection area; 7. Water pouring area; 8. Cleaning area; 9. Drying area; 10. L-shaped rod; 11. Water collection tank; 12. Water spray pipe; 13. Rotating shaft; 14. Ring; 15. Support plate; 16. Slide plate; 17. Compression spring; 18. Arc-shaped clamping plate; 19. Servo motor; 20. Anti-slip rubber pad; 21. Support cylinder; 22. Base. Detailed Implementation

[0025] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, an automated cleaning and drying device for colorimetric tubes includes a frustum 1, a warm air pipe 4, a cleaning pipe 12, and a clamping device. The frustum 1 is horizontally positioned, and its upper surface has five radially spaced grooves. These grooves extend radially along the frustum 1 and evenly divide the upper surface into five fan-shaped areas: a water receiving area 5, a detection area 6, a water emptying area 7, a cleaning area 8, and a drying area 9. The central angle of each area is 72°. A support cylinder 21 is vertically fixed at the axis of the lower surface of the frustum 1. The support cylinder 21 has a hollow columnar structure, and an L-shaped rod 10 passes through its interior. The horizontal end of the L-shaped rod 10 passes through the axis of the frustum 1 and is connected to the clamping device. A flipping mechanism is provided between the L-shaped rod 10 and the frustum 1 to drive the clamping device to flip. The warm air pipe 4 and the cleaning pipe 12 are also installed on the lower surface of the frustum 1, and they are spaced apart along the circumference of the frustum 1.

[0026] Preferred solutions include Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the flipping mechanism includes a conical toothed plate 2 and a conical gear 3. The conical gear 3 is sleeved on the end of the L-shaped rod 10 and rotates in engagement with the L-shaped rod 10. The conical toothed plate 2 is arc-shaped and fixedly connected to the side surface of the frustum 1, with the tooth surface of the conical toothed plate 2 facing the outer side of the frustum 1. There are two conical toothed plates 2, respectively located on the sides of the water receiving area 5 and the water pouring area 7 of the frustum 1. The tooth profile parameters of the two conical toothed plates 2 are consistent and they are distributed at 144° intervals along the circumference of the frustum 1. When the L-shaped rod 10 drives the conical gear 3 to rotate to the conical toothed plate 2, the teeth of the conical gear 3 mesh with the conical toothed plate 2 and rotate through transmission, completing a 180° flipping action.

[0027] Preferred solutions include Figure 2 As shown, the warm air pipe 4 is bent and fixed to the bottom surface of the truncated cone 1. The input end of the warm air pipe 4 is connected to an external warm air system through a pipe. The warm air system can provide clean airflow at a temperature of 50-70℃. The outlet of the output end of the warm air pipe 4 is bent upward and precisely faces the drying area 9 of the truncated cone 1 to ensure that the warm air can be directly blown into the colorimetric tube located in the drying area 9.

[0028] Preferred solutions include Figure 1 As shown, the cleaning pipe 12 is also fixed to the bottom surface of the truncated cone 1. Its input end is connected to the external water supply system through a pipe. The water supply system can provide clean water or cleaning liquid with a certain pressure. The water nozzle at the output end of the cleaning pipe 12 is bent upward and faces the cleaning area 8 of the truncated cone 1. The nozzle is equipped with an atomizing nozzle, which can disperse the water flow into a fine water curtain to enhance the cleaning effect.

[0029] Preferred solutions include Figure 2As shown, a water collection tank 11 is provided at the lower end face of the truncated cone 1. The water collection tank 11 has a box-shaped structure with an opening at the top. The edge of its opening extends upward to directly below the water pouring area 7 and the cleaning area 8 of the truncated cone 1, which can completely cover the liquid dripping range of the two areas. The bottom of the water collection tank 11 is also provided with a drain outlet for discharging the collected wastewater.

[0030] Preferred solutions include Figure 2 As shown, the top of the support cylinder 21 is vertically fixed to the base 22, which is a horizontally placed plate structure that enhances the overall stability of the device. A servo motor 19 is fixedly installed inside the support cylinder 21. The output shaft of the servo motor 19 is fixedly connected to the vertical section of the L-shaped rod 10 through a coupling. By rotating the servo motor 19 forward and backward, the L-shaped rod 10 can be driven to rotate precisely, realizing the switching of the clamping device between different areas.

[0031] Preferred solutions include Figure 3 As shown, the clamping device includes a ring 14. The side of the ring 14 is fixedly connected to a bevel gear 3 via a horizontal rotating shaft 13, so that the ring 14 can rotate synchronously with the bevel gear 3. Three support plates 15 are evenly arranged along the circumference of the inner surface of the ring 14. The support plates 15 extend radially along the ring 14. Each support plate 15 has a groove, and a sliding plate 16 is engaged in the groove. The sliding plate 16 can slide along the groove on the support plate 15 radially along the ring 14 without disengaging from the support plate 15 during the sliding process.

[0032] Preferred solutions include Figure 3 As shown, one end of the slide plate 16 is elastically connected to the inner wall of the ring 14 via a compression spring 17. The compression spring 17 is always in a compressed state, which can apply a spring force to the slide plate 16 toward the center of the ring 14. The other end of the slide plate 16 is fixedly connected to an arc-shaped clamping plate 18. The three arc-shaped clamping plates 18 enclose a circular clamping space that fits the shape of the colorimetric tube. An anti-slip pad 20 is pasted on the inner side of the arc-shaped clamping plate 18. The anti-slip pad 20 is made of water-resistant rubber, which can increase the friction with the outer wall of the colorimetric tube and prevent slippage during clamping.

[0033] The working process of this device is as follows:

[0034] S1. In the initial state, the clamping device is located in the water receiving area 5. The operator places the colorimetric tube between the three arc-shaped clamping plates 18. The compression spring 17 pushes the sliding plate 16 to make the arc-shaped clamping plates 18 clamp the colorimetric tube, thus completing the clamping.

[0035] S2. Servo motor 19 starts, driving L-shaped rod 10 to rotate, moving the clamping device to the detection area 6, where the operator can perform the detection operation of the colorimetric tube;

[0036] S3. After the test is completed, the servo motor 19 continues to drive the L-shaped rod 10 to move the clamping device to the water pouring area 7. At this time, the bevel gear 3 meshes with the bevel tooth plate 2 on the side of the water pouring area 7, causing the ring 14 to rotate 180° so that the colorimetric tube opening faces down and the internal liquid is poured into the water collection tank 11.

[0037] S4. Next, the clamping device is moved to the cleaning area 8, and the cleaning pipe 12 sprays water into the colorimetric tube for cleaning. The wastewater flows into the collection tank 11.

[0038] S5. After cleaning, the clamping device is moved to the drying area 9, and the warm air pipe 4 blows warm air into the colorimetric tube to achieve rapid drying.

[0039] S6. Finally, the clamping device is moved to the water receiving area 5. The bevel gear 3 meshes with the bevel tooth plate 2 on the side of the water receiving area 5, causing the ring 14 to rotate 180° in the opposite direction, so that the opening of the colorimetric tube faces upward, completing one cycle.

Claims

1. An automated cleaning and drying device for colorimetric tubes, comprising a frustum (1), a warm air duct (4), a cleaning duct (12), and a clamping device, characterized in that: The upper end face of the truncated cone (1) is provided with a partition groove along the radial direction. The partition groove divides the truncated cone (1) into five areas: water receiving area (5), detection area (6), water pouring area (7), cleaning area (8) and drying area (9). A support cylinder (21) is vertically connected to the axis of the lower end face of the truncated cone (1). An L-shaped rod (10) is provided inside the support cylinder (21). The end of the L-shaped rod (10) passes through the axis of the truncated cone (1) and is connected to a clamping device. A flipping mechanism is provided between the L-shaped rod (10) and the truncated cone (1). A warm air pipe (4) and a cleaning pipe (12) are provided at the lower end face of the truncated cone (1).

2. The automated cleaning and drying device for colorimetric tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flipping mechanism includes a conical toothed plate (2) and a conical gear (3); the conical gear (3) is rotatably connected to the end of the L-shaped rod (10), the conical toothed plate (2) is fixedly connected to the side surface of the frustum (1), there are two conical toothed plates (2) and they are set on the side of the water receiving area (5) and the water pouring area (7) of the frustum (1), and the conical gear (3) meshes with the conical toothed plate (2) when it moves to the conical toothed plate (2).

3. The automated cleaning and drying device for colorimetric tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating pipe (4) is installed at the bottom surface of the truncated cone (1). One end of the heating pipe (4) is connected to the external heating system, and the other end of the air outlet faces the drying area (9) of the truncated cone (1).

4. The automated cleaning and drying device for colorimetric tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cleaning pipe (12) is installed on the bottom surface of the truncated cone (1). One end of the cleaning pipe (12) is connected to the external water supply system, and the other end of the water nozzle faces the cleaning area (8) of the truncated cone (1).

5. The automated cleaning and drying device for colorimetric tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: A water collection pool (11) is provided at the lower end face of the truncated cone (1), and the upper opening of the water collection pool (11) is located below the water pouring area (7) and the cleaning area (8) of the truncated cone (1).

6. The automated cleaning and drying device for colorimetric tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the support cylinder (21) is vertically connected to the base (22). A servo motor (19) is installed inside the support cylinder (21). The drive shaft of the servo motor (19) is connected to the L-shaped rod (10) and drives the L-shaped rod (10) to rotate.

7. The automated cleaning and drying device for colorimetric tubes according to claim 2, characterized in that: The clamping device includes a ring (14), the side of which is fixedly connected to a bevel gear (3) via a rotating shaft (13), and the ring (14) and the bevel gear (3) rotate synchronously; a support plate (15) is provided on the inner side of the ring (14), and a sliding groove is provided on the support plate (15) and engages with a sliding plate (16), and the sliding plate (16) slides radially on the support plate (15) along the ring (14).

8. The automated cleaning and drying device for colorimetric tubes according to claim 7, characterized in that: One end of the slide plate (16) is elastically connected to the inner wall of the ring (14) via a compression spring (17), and the other end of the slide plate (16) is connected to an arc-shaped card plate (18). An anti-slip pad (20) is pasted on the inner side of the arc-shaped card plate (18).

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