Emulsifying device

Abstract

The application provides an emulsifying device, which is mainly used for preparing giant phospholipid bilayer vesicles, and the process of forming water-in-oil droplets by mixing a phospholipid oil phase and a phospholipid water phase in an emulsifying tube. The emulsifying device comprises a control panel, a mounting rack for mounting the emulsifying tube, and a power mechanism electrically connected to the control panel and arranged outside the emulsifying tube. The power mechanism is used for outputting periodic mechanical force to the emulsifying tube, so that the emulsifying tube and the liquid inside the emulsifying tube are periodically vibrated to realize uniform emulsification. The emulsifying tube and the liquid inside the emulsifying tube can be periodically vibrated by the power mechanism, and the frequency and duration of the mechanical force output by the power mechanism can be controlled by the control panel. The manual operation of the experimenter can be replaced, and the experimental time is greatly saved. The water-oil emulsification effect in the emulsifying tube is better, the emulsification efficiency is high, the water-oil emulsification effect in different emulsifying tubes can be repeatedly high, and batch production is suitable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of emulsification technology, and more specifically, relates to an emulsification device. Background Technology

[0002] Synthetic cells are simplified systems constructed artificially that resemble the structure or function of natural cells. Research in this field aims to reveal life functions and the essence of life, and to develop novel biotechnologies. Synthetic cells employ a bottom-up construction strategy, specifically by polymerizing small molecules into biomacromolecules such as DNA, proteins, and phospholipids, and then assembling these macromolecules into complex cellular structures. The ultimate goal is to construct a self-replicating synthetic cell.

[0003] Phospholipid molecules are major components of cell membranes. Phospholipid vesicle encapsulation technology is a core technology for artificial cell synthesis, ensuring that life processes take place inside phospholipid vesicles and mimicking the physiological functions of living cells. This technology encapsulates small molecules, biomolecules, or other substances within giant phospholipid bilayer vesicles (approximately 5-20 micrometers). Phospholipid molecules consist of hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails. When phospholipid molecules are placed in an aqueous solution, they spontaneously form bilayer vesicles with the hydrophilic heads facing outwards and the hydrophobic tails facing inwards. Phospholipid molecules form a bilayer membrane structure with the hydrophobic tails connected and the hydrophilic heads facing opposite directions.

[0004] The most basic method for preparing phospholipid encapsulation is the hydration method, which involves dissolving phospholipids in an organic solvent, drying them to form a thin film, and then mixing the film with an aqueous solution containing the substance to be encapsulated. The mixture is then ultrasonically treated or vortexed to form small monolayer vesicles (SUVs, approximately 40-200 nm) or large monolayer vesicles (LUVs, approximately 1 μm). Phospholipid vesicles prepared by this method tend to be small in diameter and are usually multilayered, making them more suitable as carriers for drug delivery systems than as artificial cell membranes for fluorescence-based mechanism studies.

[0005] Emulsification-transfer, also known as dual emulsification, is a more efficient and stable method for encapsulating phospholipid vesicles. Based on the hydrophilic and lipophilic properties of phospholipids, such as... Figure 11The method includes the following steps: Step 1, dissolving phospholipids in an oil phase solvent (such as mineral oil) and then adding an aqueous phase; Step 2, allowing the mixture to stand for a period of time, allowing the oil and aqueous phases to separate in an emulsion tube, with phospholipid molecules spreading evenly at the oil-water interface to form a complete and dense phospholipid monolayer; Step 3, adding a small amount of aqueous phase to the oil phase; Step 4, emulsifying the oil phase and the added aqueous phase to form a water-in-oil droplet, at which point a phospholipid monolayer forms on the surface of the water-in-oil droplet; Step 5, transferring the water-in-oil droplet to another emulsion tube where the oil and water are separated; Step 6, centrifuging the emulsion tube, causing the water-in-oil droplet, due to its higher density than oil, to enter the aqueous phase from the oil phase, during which the two phospholipid monolayers meet and form complete phospholipid bilayer-encapsulated phospholipid vesicles in the aqueous phase. However, this vesicle encapsulation technique involves numerous steps and relies on manual operation, resulting in vesicles of varying sizes and unclear encapsulation efficiency. The fourth step, the uniform and controllable emulsification of oil and water, is a key technical bottleneck in this method. This step determines vesicle size, the amount of phospholipid aggregates, and the encapsulation efficiency. Traditional manual emulsification typically involves placing the phospholipid oil phase solution and the phospholipid aqueous phase solution into separate emulsification tubes. The operator then holds the tubes and vigorously rubs them on an emulsification rack to fully emulsify the oil and aqueous phase solutions into a water-in-oil emulsion, usually requiring about 50 rubs. However, this process is fraught with uncontrollable factors, such as varying force from different operators, the need to manually count the number of rubs, inconsistencies in speed, and overheating from hand-held friction. Furthermore, when conducting multiple experiments simultaneously, multiple emulsification tubes need to be emulsified, posing a significant challenge to the operator's manual operation. This results in poor emulsification effects and a lack of reproducibility, becoming a critical bottleneck restricting the construction of synthetic cells. Utility Model Content

[0006] The purpose of this application is to provide an emulsification device to solve the technical problem in the prior art where the emulsification effect is poor when the operator holds the emulsification tube and rubs it violently on the emulsification rack.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is: to provide an emulsifying device, comprising:

[0008] Control panel;

[0009] Mounting bracket for mounting emulsification tubing;

[0010] A power mechanism, electrically connected to the control board, is located outside the emulsification tube. The power mechanism is used to output periodic mechanical force or mechanical motion to the emulsification tube so that the emulsification tube and its internal liquid vibrate periodically to achieve uniform emulsification.

[0011] In some embodiments, the power mechanism is used to output periodic striking forces to periodically strike the emulsification tube;

[0012] Alternatively, the power mechanism is used to output periodic vibrations to be transmitted to the emulsification tube;

[0013] Alternatively, the power mechanism is used to output periodic mechanical waves to the emulsion tube.

[0014] In some embodiments, the power mechanism includes a driving member and a striking member. The driving member is electrically connected to the control board, and the striking member is connected to the motion output end of the driving member. The striking member is capable of periodically striking the emulsifying tube under the drive of the driving member.

[0015] In some embodiments, the striking member includes a connecting portion and a plurality of striking portions. The connecting portion is connected to the motion output end of the driving member. Each of the striking portions is distributed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion. The driving member is used to drive the connecting portion and the striking portions to rotate so that each of the striking portions strikes the emulsifying tube in sequence.

[0016] In some embodiments, two adjacent striking portions have an insertion gap along the circumferential direction, the insertion gap being set to be greater than the outer diameter of the insertion portion into which the emulsion tube is inserted between the two striking portions.

[0017] In some embodiments, the rotational speed of the striking element is in the range of 45 r / min to 60 r / min, and the duration of the striking element striking the emulsion tube is in the range of 2 s to 5 s.

[0018] In some embodiments, the mounting bracket has a plurality of spaced mounting positions, each mounting position being used to mount one of the emulsifying tubes; the power mechanism includes a plurality of actuators, each actuator being used to drive each of the emulsifying tubes to vibrate.

[0019] In some embodiments, the mounting bracket has a mounting hole, an elastic pad is mounted in the mounting hole, the elastic pad has a through hole, the emulsifying tube passes through the through hole, and the outer diameter of the emulsifying tube is adapted to the inner diameter of the through hole.

[0020] In some embodiments, the emulsifying device further includes a housing and an elastic element, the mounting bracket being mounted on the housing, and the elastic element abutting between the top end of the emulsifying tube and the housing; the emulsifying tube has a stepped surface, and the top end surface of the elastic pad is used to abut against the stepped surface.

[0021] In some embodiments, the emulsifying device further includes a housing and a cover plate, the housing having a window, the power mechanism and the control panel being mounted inside the housing, the mounting bracket being mounted inside the housing and facing the window, the emulsifying tube being mounted to the mounting bracket via the window, and the cover plate being openable and lockable over the window.

[0022] In some embodiments, the emulsifying device further includes a display screen and an information input structure. The information input structure is electrically connected to the control board and is used to input parameter information to the control board. The control board is used to output control commands to the power mechanism according to the parameter information. The display screen is electrically connected to the control board and is used to display the execution information of the power mechanism.

[0023] The beneficial effects of the emulsification device provided in this application are as follows: an emulsification tube is installed by a mounting bracket, and a power mechanism outputs periodic mechanical force or mechanical motion to the emulsification tube from the outside, so that the liquid inside the emulsification tube vibrates periodically to achieve uniform emulsification. Since the power mechanism outputs periodic mechanical force or mechanical motion, the emulsification tube and the liquid inside it can vibrate periodically. The frequency and duration of the mechanical force or mechanical motion output by the power mechanism can be controlled by a control board, resulting in high repeatability. This not only improves the water-oil emulsification effect and emulsification efficiency in the emulsification tube, but also ensures that the water-oil emulsification effect in different emulsification tubes is highly consistent, making it suitable for mass production. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the emulsifying apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0026] Figure 2 A perspective view of the emulsifying device provided in the embodiments of this application after the cover is opened;

[0027] Figure 3 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the emulsifying device provided in the embodiments of this application, parallel to the axis of the connecting shaft;

[0028] Figure 4 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the emulsifying device provided in the embodiments of this application, perpendicular to the axis of the connecting shaft;

[0029] Figure 5 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the power mechanism in the emulsification device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0030] Figure 6 An enlarged structural schematic diagram of the emulsification tube, elastic element, elastic pad, and mounting bracket in the emulsification device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0031] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the information input structure in the emulsification apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0032] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shell in the emulsification device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0033] Figure 9 The size distribution of phospholipid vesicles obtained by manually holding the emulsification tube and rubbing it against the emulsification rack (three repeated experiments);

[0034] Figure 10 The size distribution of phospholipid vesicles obtained by automatically driving the emulsification tube in the embodiments of this application (three repeated experiments);

[0035] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the preparation of phospholipid vesicles via emulsification transfer.

[0036] The following are the labeling elements in the figure:

[0037] 100. Outer shell; 110. Housing; 111. Window; 112. Display port; 113. Through slot; 120. Cover plate; 130. Hinge; 140. Locking structure; 200. Control panel; 300. Mounting bracket; 310. Mounting hole; 320. Mating hole; 400. Power mechanism; 410. Drive component; 420. Striking component; 421. Connecting part; 422. Striking part; 423. Insertion gap; 430. Connecting shaft; 500. Mounting base; 600. Elastic pad; 610. Through hole; 700. Elastic component; 800. Connecting component; 900. Display screen; 1000. Information input structure; 1001. Middle key; 1002. Left key; 1003. Right key; 1004. Up key; 1005. Down key; 2. Emulsifying tube; 21. Insertion part; 22. Stepped surface. Detailed Implementation

[0038] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0039] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.

[0040] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0041] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0042] As described in the background section, the emulsification-transfer method, also known as the dual-emulsification method, is a more efficient and stable method for encapsulating phospholipid vesicles. Based on the hydrophilic and lipophilic properties of phospholipids, such as... Figure 11 The method includes the following steps: Step 1, dissolving phospholipids in an oil phase solvent (such as mineral oil) and then adding an aqueous phase; Step 2, allowing the mixture to stand for a period of time, allowing the oil and aqueous phases to separate in an emulsion tube, with phospholipid molecules spreading evenly at the oil-water interface to form a complete and dense phospholipid monolayer; Step 3, adding a small amount of aqueous phase to the oil phase; Step 4, emulsifying the oil phase and the added aqueous phase to form a water-in-oil droplet, at which point a phospholipid monolayer forms on the surface of the water-in-oil droplet; Step 5, transferring the water-in-oil droplet to another emulsion tube where the oil and water are separated; Step 6, centrifuging the emulsion tube, causing the water-in-oil droplet, due to its higher density than oil, to enter the aqueous phase from the oil phase, during which the two phospholipid monolayers meet and form complete phospholipid bilayer-encapsulated phospholipid vesicles in the aqueous phase. However, this vesicle encapsulation technique involves numerous steps and relies on manual operation, resulting in vesicles of varying sizes and unclear encapsulation efficiency. The fourth step, the uniform and controllable emulsification of oil and water, is a key technical bottleneck in this method, as it determines vesicle size and encapsulation efficiency. Traditional manual emulsification typically involves placing the phospholipid oil phase solution and the phospholipid aqueous phase solution separately into emulsification tubes. The operator then holds the tubes and vigorously rubs them on an emulsification rack to fully emulsify the oil and aqueous phase solutions into a water-in-oil emulsion, usually requiring about 50 rubs. However, this process is fraught with uncontrollable factors, such as varying force from different operators, requiring manual counting of the number of rubs, inconsistent speeds, and overheating from hand-held friction. Furthermore, conducting multiple experiments simultaneously requires emulsifying multiple tubes, posing a significant challenge to the operator's manual skills. This results in poor emulsification effects and a lack of reproducibility, becoming a critical bottleneck restricting the construction of synthetic cells.

[0043] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides an emulsification device. A control panel controls a power mechanism to periodically output mechanical force or motion to an emulsification tube, causing periodic vibration of the emulsification tube and its internal liquid to achieve uniform emulsification. Because the periodic mechanical force or motion output by the power mechanism has good repeatability, the water-oil emulsification effect within the emulsification tube is excellent, and the consistency of the water-in-oil emulsions after emulsification in different emulsification tubes is ensured.

[0044] Please see Figures 1 to 4 The emulsification apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application will now be described. This emulsification apparatus is used in the emulsification process of preparing giant phospholipid bilayer vesicles, where the phospholipid oil phase and the phospholipid aqueous phase are emulsified in an emulsification tube to form water-in-oil droplets. Specifically, phospholipids are dissolved in an oil phase solvent (such as mineral oil), and then an aqueous phase is added. When the oil and aqueous phases separate in the emulsification tube, phospholipid molecules spread out at the oil-water interface to form a complete and dense phospholipid monolayer. Then, a small amount of aqueous phase is added to the oil phase. The emulsification apparatus is used to apply mechanical force or mechanical movement to the emulsification tube 2, so that the phospholipid oil phase solution and the phospholipid aqueous phase solution within the emulsification tube 2 vibrate periodically and emulsify uniformly. It is understood that in other embodiments of this application, this emulsification apparatus can also be applied to other biological or chemical emulsification processes, such as emulsification processes for cosmetics, food, or pharmaceuticals; this is not a unique limitation.

[0045] The emulsification device includes a control panel 200, a mounting bracket 300, and a power mechanism 400. The mounting bracket 300 is used to mount the emulsification tube 2, which contains an oil phase solution and an aqueous phase solution. The power mechanism 400 is electrically connected to the control panel 200 and is located outside the emulsification tube 2. The power mechanism 400 is used to output periodic mechanical force or mechanical motion to the emulsification tube 2 to cause the emulsification tube 2 and its internal liquid to vibrate periodically to achieve uniform emulsification.

[0046] The power mechanism 400 is used to output periodic mechanical force or mechanical motion to the emulsifying tube 2, for example, by periodically striking the emulsifying tube 2 to make the liquid inside the emulsifying tube 2 vibrate periodically to achieve uniform emulsification; or it can be mechanical motion transmitted in the form of vibration or mechanical waves, for example, transmitting ultrasonic waves to the emulsifying tube 2, and transmitting the ultrasonic waves to the internal liquid through the emulsifying tube 2 to make the internal liquid vibrate periodically to achieve uniform emulsification; or it can also transmit vibration to the emulsifying tube 2 to make the liquid inside the emulsifying tube 2 vibrate.

[0047] The emulsification device in this embodiment uses a mounting bracket 300 to mount the emulsification tube 2, and a power mechanism 400 outputs periodic mechanical force or mechanical motion to the emulsification tube 2 from the outside, so that the liquid inside the emulsification tube 2 vibrates periodically to achieve uniform emulsification. Since the power mechanism 400 outputs periodic mechanical force or mechanical motion, the emulsification tube 2 and the liquid inside it can vibrate periodically. The frequency and duration of the mechanical force or mechanical motion output by the power mechanism 400 can be controlled by the control plate 200, resulting in high repeatability. This not only improves the water-oil emulsification effect and emulsification efficiency in the emulsification tube 2, but also ensures that the water-oil emulsification effect in different emulsification tubes 2 is highly consistent, making it suitable for mass production.

[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the emulsification tube 2 is acted upon from the outside without needing to be inserted into it, allowing the emulsification tube 2 to be sealed and emulsified. After emulsification, the emulsification tube 2 can be transferred to the next process, ensuring cleanliness and preventing contamination of the power mechanism 400.

[0049] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 2 to 4 The power mechanism 400 is used to output periodic impact force to the emulsification tube 2 to periodically impact the emulsification tube 2. Specifically, the power mechanism 400 periodically impacts the emulsification tube 2 so that the emulsification tube 2 and the liquid inside it vibrate periodically, thereby achieving uniform emulsification in preparation for the preparation of giant phospholipid bilayer vesicles.

[0050] In some embodiments, the volume of the emulsifying tube 2 is less than 2 mL, so that the power mechanism 400 can drive the emulsifying tube 2 to vibrate periodically to achieve a uniform emulsification effect. Preferably, the volume of the emulsifying tube 2 is 0.3 mL. It can be understood that in practical applications, the volume of the emulsifying tube 2 can be adjusted according to the driving force of the power mechanism 400, or the driving force of the power mechanism 400 can be adjusted according to the volume of the emulsifying tube 2.

[0051] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 2 to 5 The power mechanism 400 includes a drive component 410 and a striking component 420. The drive component 410 is electrically connected to the control board 200, and the striking component 420 is connected to the motion output end of the drive component 410. The striking component 420 can periodically strike the emulsification tube 2 under the drive of the drive component 410.

[0052] The striking element 420 periodically strikes the emulsifying tube 2. This can be achieved by the striking element 420 reciprocating linearly on one side of the emulsifying tube 2 to periodically strike it; or by the striking element 420 performing reciprocating linear motion and striking the emulsifying tube 2 sequentially on opposite sides; or by the striking element 420 performing circular motion to periodically strike one side of the emulsifying tube 2. In this embodiment, the striking element 420 is driven by the driving element 410 to periodically strike the emulsifying tube 2, which not only has a simple structure but also high repeatability.

[0053] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 The striking element 420 includes a connecting portion 421 and a plurality of striking portions 422. A driving element 410 outputs rotational motion. The connecting portion 421 is connected to the motion output end of the driving element 410. Each striking portion 422 is circumferentially and evenly distributed on the outer circumferential surface of the connecting portion 421. The driving element 410 drives the connecting portion 421 and the striking portions 422 to rotate, so that each striking portion 422 strikes the emulsifying tube 2 sequentially. In this embodiment, by providing a plurality of circumferentially and evenly distributed striking portions 422, when the driving element 410 drives the connecting portion 421 to rotate, each striking portion 422 can strike the emulsifying tube 2 sequentially. This increases the frequency at which the emulsifying tube 2 is struck while the driving element 410 rotates at the same speed. In other words, while striking the emulsifying tube 2 at the same frequency, the rotational speed and power of the driving element 410 can be reduced, thereby reducing the operating cost of the driving element 410. Understandably, in other embodiments of this application, the striking member 420 may not be provided with multiple striking parts 422. In this case, the frequency of the emulsifying tube 2 being struck can be increased by increasing the rotation speed of the driving member 410. This is not the only limitation.

[0054] Optionally, the connecting portion 421 is cylindrical, and the striking member 420 includes 10 striking portions 422. Each striking portion 422 is evenly distributed circumferentially on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 421. Then, when the driving member 410 drives the connecting portion 421 to rotate one revolution, the emulsifying tube 2 can be struck 10 times. It is understood that in other embodiments of this application, the number of striking portions 422 can be set according to actual needs, for example, it can be 2, 3, 4 or more, and is not limited here.

[0055] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 The emulsifying tube 2 has an insertion portion 21 for insertion between two adjacent striking portions 422; the two adjacent striking portions 422 have an insertion gap 423 in the circumferential direction, and the insertion gap 423 is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the insertion portion 21 between the two striking portions 422. This arrangement ensures that when the insertion portion 21 is inserted between two adjacent striking portions 422, the two adjacent striking portions 422 still have circumferential movement space, so that the striking portions 422 can acquire an initial rotational speed to strike the insertion portion 21.

[0056] In the application, the first depth to which the insertion part 21 is inserted into the two adjacent striking parts 422 can be determined according to the actual situation. It is necessary to insert to a reasonable depth to avoid excessive frictional resistance and obstruction of the rotation of the striking part 422 if it is too deep, and insufficient striking force if it is too shallow, so as to avoid the need for excessive striking time.

[0057] Optionally, the striking element 420 is a gear, the connecting portion 421 is cylindrical, and each striking portion 422 is a tooth distributed on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 421. It is understood that in other embodiments of this application, the striking element 420 can also be a windmill, as long as the striking portions 422 are evenly distributed around the circumference of the striking element 420, and the shape of the striking portions 422 can be set according to actual needs.

[0058] In this application, the emulsification device also includes a housing 100, a control board 200, a mounting bracket 300, a drive component 410, and an impact component 420, all of which are disposed within the inner cavity of the housing 100. The diameter and number of teeth of the impact component 420 are selected mainly based on the diameter of the emulsification tube 2, the insertion gap 423, and the size of the inner cavity of the housing 100. When the size of the inner cavity of the housing 100 is appropriate, it is ensured that the insertion part 21 of the emulsification tube 2 can be placed exactly between the two impact parts 422, while leaving an insertion gap 423 to facilitate the placement of the emulsification tube 2 and to obtain the initial rotation speed, thereby achieving the impact effect.

[0059] Optionally, the emulsifying tube 2 is generally cylindrical, and the insertion part 21 of the emulsifying tube 2 is conical, so that the insertion part 21 can be inserted between two adjacent striking parts 422, and the outer surface of the emulsifying tube 2 can be in contact with the first contact surface 4221 / second contact surface 4222 for guided engagement.

[0060] In some embodiments, the mounting bracket 300 has multiple spaced mounting positions, each for mounting one emulsifying tube 2; the power mechanism 400 includes multiple actuators, each actuator driving the vibration of each emulsifying tube 2. In this embodiment, it is necessary to ensure that each actuator and each mounting position are configured in a one-to-one correspondence. Before starting the power mechanism 400, the multiple emulsifying tubes 2 are first installed in the mounting positions of the mounting bracket 300; then the power mechanism 400 is started, and the power mechanism 400 drives each actuator to move synchronously, so that each emulsifying tube 2 can be driven simultaneously and at the same frequency, and the frequency and duration of each emulsifying tube 2 being driven are the same, thereby ensuring that the emulsification effect of each emulsifying tube 2 is the same, which is beneficial for batch emulsification production.

[0061] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5The mounting frame 300 has multiple spaced mounting positions, each for mounting one emulsifying tube 2. The power mechanism 400 includes multiple striking elements 420, each connected to a drive element 410. Each striking element 420 strikes each emulsifying tube 2 under the drive of the drive element 410. In this embodiment, it is necessary to ensure that each striking element 420 and each mounting position are configured in a one-to-one correspondence. Before starting the drive element 410, the multiple emulsifying tubes 2 are installed in their respective mounting positions on the mounting frame 300. Then, the drive element 410 is started, driving each striking element 420 to move synchronously. This allows each striking element 420 to strike each emulsifying tube 2 simultaneously and at the same frequency, with the same striking force and duration, thus ensuring the same emulsification effect for each emulsifying tube 2 and facilitating mass emulsification production.

[0062] The number of striking elements 420 and the number of mounting positions can be set according to actual needs. For example, in some embodiments, the number of striking elements 420 and mounting positions are both four. In practical applications, emulsifying tubes 2 can be installed at all four mounting positions, or at one, two, or three other mounting positions. In other embodiments, the number of striking elements 420 and mounting positions can also be one, two, three, five, or more than five, and no single limitation is made here.

[0063] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 2 to 5 The emulsifying device also includes two mounting bases 500, and the power mechanism includes a connecting shaft 430. The connecting shaft 430 is connected to the output end of the drive member 410. The two opposite ends of the connecting shaft 430 are rotatably mounted on the two mounting bases 500, and each striking member 420 is fixedly mounted on the connecting shaft 430 and spaced apart along the axial direction of the connecting shaft 430. When the drive member 410 drives the connecting shaft 430 to rotate, the connecting shaft 430 drives each striking member 420 to rotate synchronously, thereby causing each striking member 420 to strike each emulsifying tube 2 at the same frequency.

[0064] Optionally, the drive element 410 includes a motor. It is understood that in other embodiments of this application, the drive element 410 may also be a rotary cylinder or other drive element 410 capable of outputting rotational motion, and is not limited to this specific embodiment.

[0065] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 2 to 4The emulsifying device also includes a housing 100, which has an inner cavity. The mounting bracket 300 and the power mechanism 400 are both installed within the inner cavity of the housing 100. Specifically, the mounting bracket 300 is connected to the inner wall of the housing 100. The power mechanism 400 includes a drive member 410 and an impact member 420. The drive member 410 is connected to the inner wall of the housing 100, and the impact member 420 is mounted on a connecting shaft 430. The connecting shaft 430 is mounted to the inner wall of the housing 100 via a mounting seat 500.

[0066] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 6 The mounting bracket 300 has mounting holes 310, and an elastic pad 600 is installed in the mounting holes 310. The elastic pad 600 has a through hole 610 through which the emulsifying tube 2 passes. The outer diameter of the emulsifying tube 2 is adapted to the inner diameter of the through hole 610. The elastic pad 600 allows the emulsifying tube 2 to be compressed and rebound when struck by the impactor 420, ensuring a certain range of horizontal vibration and thus achieving a better emulsification effect. Furthermore, the elastic pad 600 can enclose the emulsifying tube 2, buffering its vibration and preventing direct contact between the impactor 420 and the emulsifying tube 2, reducing wear on the emulsifying tube 2 and overall machine vibration.

[0067] Optionally, the elastic pad 600 is made of silicone material and is annular in shape. It is understood that in other embodiments of this application, the elastic pad 600 may also be made of rubber or other soft and elastically deformable materials.

[0068] Optionally, the inner diameter of the elastic pad 600 can be selected according to the emulsifying tube 2. In order to fix the emulsifying tube 2, the elastic pad 600 is set to an annular shape. The assembly of the elastic pad 600 and the emulsifying tube 2 should not be too loose, otherwise the position will shift during impact; the assembly of the elastic pad 600 and the emulsifying tube 2 should not be too tight, otherwise it will be difficult to replace the emulsifying tube 2.

[0069] Optionally, the elastic pad 600 is fixed to the mounting hole 310 of the mounting bracket 300 by adhesive bonding. Specifically, the mounting bracket 300 has a mounting hole 310 and a mating hole 320. The mounting hole 310 is a cylindrical hole, and the mating hole 320 is a conical hole. The inner radial direction of the mating hole 320 gradually increases away from the mounting hole 310. The inner diameter of the end of the mating hole 320 that connects to the mounting hole 310 is smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 310. A limiting surface is formed at the connection between the mounting hole 310 and the mating hole 320. The elastic pad 600 is assembled in the mounting hole 310, with its bottom end abutting against the limiting surface. The elastic pad 600 is fixed to the mounting hole 310 by adhesive bonding. The emulsifying tube 2 passes through the through hole 610 and the mating hole 320 of the elastic pad 600 in sequence. The outer diameter of the emulsifying tube 2 is smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the mating hole 320. When the emulsifying tube 2 is hit, it can swing in the mating hole 320 due to the elasticity of the elastic pad 600.

[0070] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 2 to 6 The emulsification device also includes a housing 100 and an elastic element 700. A mounting bracket 300 is installed on the housing 100, and the elastic element 700 abuts against the top of the emulsification tube 2 between it and the housing 100. The emulsification tube 2 has a stepped surface 22, and the top surface of the elastic pad 600 abuts against the stepped surface 22. The elastic element 700 exerts a downward elastic force on the emulsification tube 2, and the top surface of the elastic pad 600 exerts an upward force on the emulsification tube 2. This ensures that when the emulsification tube 2 is struck by the striking element 420, the vibration of the emulsification tube 2 has a certain range in both the horizontal and vertical directions, achieving a better emulsification effect.

[0071] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 6 The elastic element 700 is a cylindrical spring, fixed to the outer shell 100. When both the elastic element 700 and the emulsifying tube 2 are assembled, the elastic element 700 is in a naturally stretched state, abutting against the top surface of the emulsifying tube 2. When the emulsifying tube 2 is struck by the striking element 420 and floats upward, the elastic element 700 compresses and accumulates elastic force. When the force exerted by the striking element 420 on the emulsifying tube 2 disappears, the elastic element 700 releases the elastic force and drives the emulsifying tube 2 to descend and reset.

[0072] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2The emulsifying device also includes a housing 100, which includes a housing 110 and a cover plate 120. A power mechanism 400 and a control panel 200 are installed inside the housing 110. The housing 110 has a window 111. A mounting bracket 300 is installed inside the housing 110 and faces the window 111. The emulsifying tube 2 is installed on the mounting bracket 300 via the window 111. The cover plate 120 is unclamped over the window 111 and can be locked. The housing 110 and cover plate 120 not only house the power mechanism 400, control panel 200, mounting bracket 300, and assembled emulsifying tube 2 within a sealed space to prevent external contaminants from entering the internal cavity, but also reduce the transmission of internal operating noise to the outside. In addition, the cover plate 120 is opened and locked over the window 111, allowing the user to open the cover plate 120 at the window 111 to assemble and disassemble the emulsification tube 2, and also to lock the cover plate 120 for operation.

[0073] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 A hinge 130 connects one side of the cover plate 120 to the housing 110, allowing the cover plate 120 to rotatably mount on the housing 110 via the hinge 130. The other side of the cover plate 120 is locked to the housing 110 via a locking structure 140 and is detachable. When it is necessary to assemble or disassemble the emulsifying tube 2, the locking structure 140 can be opened to open the cover plate 120. After operating on the emulsifying tube 2, the cover plate 120 is rotated and closed at the window 111 via the hinge 130, and the locking structure 140 is locked.

[0074] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The emulsifying device also includes a connector 800, which is welded to the inner wall of the housing 110 surrounding the window 111. The connector 800 is frame-shaped, and each side of the mounting bracket 300 is locked and fixed to a different side of the connector 800.

[0075] Optionally, the connector 800 is made of sheet metal, and the housing 110 is also formed by welding sheet metal. The connector 800 and the housing 110 are welded together.

[0076] Optionally, please refer to Figures 2 to 4 The two mounting bases 500 are respectively fixed to the bottom wall of the housing 110 by screws. The drive component 410 is horizontally arranged, and the drive component 410 and the two mounting bases 500 are distributed in the horizontal direction, specifically along the axial direction of the connecting shaft 430. The drive component 410 is fixed to the side wall of the housing 110 by screws.

[0077] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 6The elastic element 700 is fixed to the inner side of the cover plate 120. When the cover plate 120 is opened, the elastic element 700 opens along with the cover plate 120. After the emulsifying tube 2 is installed, the cover plate 120 is closed, and each elastic element 700 abuts against the top of each emulsifying tube 2. The arrangement of installing the elastic element 700 on the cover plate 120 not only allows the elastic element 700 to abut against the emulsifying tube 2 perpendicularly, but also ensures that the elastic element 700 does not structurally interfere with the emulsifying tube 2 during installation.

[0078] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 The emulsification device also includes a display screen 900 and an information input structure 1000. The information input structure 1000 is electrically connected to the control board 200 and is used to input parameter information to the control board 200. The control board 200 sends control commands to the power mechanism 400 according to the parameter information. The display screen 900 is electrically connected to the control board 200 and is used to display the execution information of the power mechanism 400.

[0079] Specifically, in this application, the output rate and drive duration of the power mechanism 400 need to be adjusted according to the emulsification requirements of the emulsification tube 2 in order to ensure the best emulsification effect.

[0080] Specifically, the information input structure 1000 can directly input the speed parameters and duration parameters of the power mechanism 400 to the control board 200, and then the power mechanism 400 controls itself according to the parameters input by the information input structure 1000; or the information input structure 1000 can input adjustment information to the control board 200, and the control board 200 can adjust the speed parameters and duration parameters of the power mechanism 400 according to the adjustment information.

[0081] In addition, the display screen 900 can be used to display the execution information of the power mechanism 400, such as the current speed of the power mechanism 400 and the required driving time.

[0082] In this embodiment, the design of the information input structure 1000 and the display screen 900 makes it easy for users to adjust the output rate and driving time of the power mechanism 400 according to the actual emulsification needs of the emulsification tube 2. At the same time, users can also observe the operation in real time through the display screen 900.

[0083] In some specific embodiments, the rotational speed of the striking element 420 is in the range of 45 r / min to 60 r / min, and the duration of the striking element 420 striking the emulsion tube 2 is in the range of 2 s to 5 s. For example, the rotational speed of the striking element 420 can be 45 r / min, 46 r / min, 47 r / min, 48 r / min, 49 r / min, 50 r / min, 51 r / min, 52 r / min, 53 r / min, 54 r / min, 55 r / min, 56 r / min, 57 r / min, 58 r / min, 59 r / min, or 60 r / min, and the duration of the striking element 420 striking the emulsion tube 2 can be 2 s, 3 s, 4 s, or 5 s, etc. The rotational speed and striking duration of the striking element 420 need to be controlled within a suitable range to ensure that appropriately sized vesicles can be formed within the emulsion tube 2. Specifically, the rotation of the drive component 410 and the striking component 320 can be adjusted by controlling the power of the drive component 410.

[0084] In practical applications, the speed of the motor (drive unit 410) can be divided into different levels. During operation, the speed level and drive duration can be adjusted simply by using the information input structure 1000, making operation straightforward. Furthermore, the display screen 900 can also display the number of strikes by the striking unit 420, allowing the user to easily monitor the striking progress.

[0085] Optionally, please refer to Figure 7 The information input structure 1000 includes multiple buttons, namely the middle button 1001, the left button 1002, the right button 1003, the up button 1004, and the down button 1005.

[0086] The middle key 1001 is mainly used for mode selection, with two modes: parameter mode and run mode. In parameter mode, the motor stops running while allowing parameter modification; in run mode, parameter modification is disabled while parameter commands are sent to the motor to drive it.

[0087] The up key 1004 and the down key 1005 are used to select parameters, mainly time parameters and speed range parameters. The time parameter determines the motor running time, and the speed range parameter determines the motor speed.

[0088] Left-click 1002 and right-click 1003 are mainly used to modify parameter values. Up-click 1004 and down-click 1005 are used to modify the values ​​of the parameters selected; right-click 1003 increases the value, and left-click 1002 decreases it.

[0089] For example: When you need to emulsify at speed 7 for 5 seconds, the emulsifier will default to parameter mode upon startup. At this time, the motor will stop, and the parameter selection cursor on display 900 will default to the time parameter (default 0). You can then press the right key 1003 to change the time parameter value to 5. Next, press the down key 1005 to move the cursor to the speed parameter (default 0), and then press the right key 1003 again to change the speed parameter to 7. Finally, press the middle key 1001 to enter running mode, and the motor will start running. You can press the middle key 1001 during the process to stop the motor and simultaneously return to parameter mode.

[0090] In some embodiments, the control system of the control board 200 adopts a main control module based on an 8-bit microprocessor (MCU) and uses embedded firmware written in C language to realize motor control, human-machine interface management, real-time status monitoring and power execution system. In addition, an RS485 communication module is used.

[0091] For some specific embodiments, please refer to Figure 8 The housing 110 has a display port 112 at the position corresponding to the display screen 900, and the display screen 900 is exposed to the housing 110 through the display port 112. The housing 110 has a through groove 113 at the position corresponding to the information input structure 1000, and the button part of the information input structure 1000 is exposed to the housing 110 through the through groove 113 for easy operation.

[0092] Please see Figure 9 This is a phospholipid vesicle size distribution map obtained by manually holding the emulsification tube 2 and rubbing it at a distance on the emulsification rack. Figure 10 This is a phospholipid vesicle size distribution diagram obtained by automatically driving the impact of the emulsification tube 2 in the embodiments of this application. The horizontal axis represents the size of the phospholipid vesicles, and the vertical axis represents the number of phospholipid vesicles. Three sets of experiments were conducted using both methods. Regardless of whether the experiments were conducted using the same method or different methods, the composition and volume of the aqueous and oily phospholipid phases in the emulsification tube 2 were identical. Figure 9 and Figure 10 It can be seen that the emulsification method using the automatic impact emulsification tube 2 resulted in higher emulsification uniformity and greater vesicle size uniformity in all three groups of experiments.

[0093] In other embodiments of this application, the power mechanism 400 can also be used to output periodic mechanical waves, such as sound waves, to the emulsifying tube 2. The sound waves are transmitted to the liquid, causing the liquid to vibrate periodically, thereby achieving uniform emulsification. In this embodiment, the power mechanism 400 may include a loudspeaker or other vibration module, which contacts the outer wall of the emulsifying tube 2 to transmit vibration to the emulsifying tube 2.

[0094] In some other embodiments of this application, the power mechanism 400 is used to output periodic vibrations to be transmitted to the emulsification tube 2. Specifically, the power mechanism 400 may include a vibration platform, a vibration motor, and a linkage mechanism, etc. The power mechanism 400 achieves uniform emulsification by transmitting periodic vibrations to the emulsification tube 2 and then transmitting the periodic vibrations to the liquid through the emulsification tube 2.

[0095] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An emulsifying device, characterized in that, include: Control panel; Mounting bracket for mounting emulsification tubing; A power mechanism, electrically connected to the control board, is located outside the emulsification tube. The power mechanism is used to output periodic mechanical force or mechanical motion to the emulsification tube so that the emulsification tube and its internal liquid vibrate periodically to achieve uniform emulsification.

2. The emulsifying device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The power mechanism is used to output periodic striking force to periodically strike the emulsification tube; Alternatively, the power mechanism is used to output periodic vibrations to be transmitted to the emulsification tube; Alternatively, the power mechanism is used to output periodic mechanical waves to the emulsion tube.

3. The emulsifying device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The power mechanism includes a driving component and a striking component. The driving component is electrically connected to the control board, and the striking component is connected to the motion output end of the driving component. The striking component can periodically strike the emulsification tube under the drive of the driving component.

4. The emulsifying device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The striking component includes a connecting part and a plurality of striking parts. The connecting part is connected to the motion output end of the driving component. Each of the striking parts is distributed at equal intervals along the circumference on the outer circumferential surface of the connecting part. The driving component is used to drive the connecting part and the striking parts to rotate so that each of the striking parts strikes the emulsification tube in sequence.

5. The emulsifying device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The two adjacent striking parts have an insertion gap along the circumferential direction, and the insertion gap is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the insertion part into which the emulsion tube is inserted between the two striking parts.

6. The emulsifying apparatus as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The rotational speed of the striking element is in the range of 45 r / min to 60 r / min, and the duration of the striking element striking the emulsion tube is in the range of 2 s to 5 s.

7. The emulsifying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The mounting bracket has multiple spaced mounting positions, each mounting position being used to mount one of the emulsifying tubes; the power mechanism includes multiple actuators, each actuator being used to drive each of the emulsifying tubes to vibrate.

8. The emulsifying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The mounting bracket has mounting holes, and elastic pads are installed in the mounting holes. The elastic pads have through holes, and the emulsifying tube passes through the through holes. The outer diameter of the emulsifying tube is adapted to the inner diameter of the through holes.

9. The emulsifying apparatus as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The emulsifying device further includes a housing and an elastic element. The mounting bracket is installed on the housing, and the elastic element abuts between the top end of the emulsifying tube and the housing. The emulsifying tube has a stepped surface, and the top end of the elastic pad is used to abut against the stepped surface.

10. The emulsifying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The emulsification device also includes a display screen and an information input structure. The information input structure is electrically connected to the control board and is used to input parameter information to the control board. The control board is used to output control commands to the power mechanism according to the parameter information. The display screen is electrically connected to the control board and is used to display the execution information of the power mechanism.

Images