Test tube laser coding and sorting machine

Abstract

The application relates to a test tube laser coding sorting machine, which adopts laser technology to mark on a test tube, so that the technical effects of non-contact processing, no need of consumables and no pollution of the content of the test tube are achieved; a mounting plate, a linear track, an electric sliding block and a laser engraving machine are matched to be used as laser output and position adjustment, an optical television recognition sensor, a test tube chute and a driving motor are matched to be used as test tube supply, and the test tube laser coding sorting machine is suitable for various different specifications of test tubes; laser marking is beneficial to precise positioning and coding, the coding area is smaller relative to a label, the test tube laser coding sorting machine can be applied to small specifications of test tubes, and the application range of the test tube laser coding sorting machine for processing test tubes is improved; extra addition of alcohol, organic solvents, disinfectants, inks and adhesives and the like on the test tube is avoided, consumables are saved, the content of the test tube is protected, the automation of test tube marking is improved, and the test tube laser coding sorting machine is especially suitable for medical treatment, pharmacy and food industries with high aseptic requirements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of laser marking and sorting, and in particular to a laser marking and sorting machine for test tubes. Background Technology

[0002] In medical, pharmaceutical, and laboratory testing and management processes, test tube labeling is a crucial step in ensuring material traceability and safe use. Currently, the industry widely employs traditional labeling methods that combine ink printing with label affixing.

[0003] However, ink markings are easily blurred by liquids such as alcohol, disinfectants, and blood, and ink may cause trace contamination, making it difficult to meet the industry's stringent sterility requirements. Furthermore, label pasting faces problems such as adhesive contamination, label detachment, and edge lifting, leading to the loss of marking information and affecting subsequent sorting and traceability. At the same time, both ink printing and label pasting are contact processing methods, which not only require continuous consumption of consumables such as ink and labels, but may also contaminate the contents of the test tubes. Utility Model Content

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a test tube laser marking and sorting machine.

[0005] One embodiment of this application is a test tube laser marking and sorting machine, which includes a laser marking assembly and a test tube conveying assembly;

[0006] The laser marking assembly includes a mounting plate, a linear track, an electric slider, a laser engraving machine, a photoelectric vision recognition sensor, a test tube tank, and a drive motor.

[0007] The linear track is mounted on the mounting plate, and the electric slider is slidably mounted on the linear track. The laser engraving machine is mounted on the electric slider.

[0008] The test tube trough is located below the laser engraving machine, and the photoelectric vision recognition sensor is installed on the test tube trough. The drive motor drives and connects to the test tube trough.

[0009] The test tube delivery assembly is connected to the test tube trough and is used to deliver the test tubes into the test tube trough and to remove the test tubes from the test tube trough.

[0010] The aforementioned laser-marked and sorted test tube machine, through the coordinated operation of a test tube conveying assembly, mounting plate, linear track, electric slider, laser engraving machine, photoelectric vision recognition sensor, test tube trough, and drive motor, achieves two key benefits. Firstly, it uses laser technology to mark test tubes, resulting in non-contact processing, eliminating the need for consumables, and preventing contamination of the test tube contents. Secondly, the mounting plate, linear track, electric slider, and laser engraving machine function as laser output and position adjustment components, while the photoelectric vision recognition sensor, test tube trough, and drive motor function as test tube supply components. This machine is suitable for test tubes of various sizes. The structure is simple, easy to implement, and less prone to marking errors. Furthermore, laser marking facilitates precise positioning and coding, and the coding area is smaller than that of labels, making it suitable for small-sized test tubes. This further expands the application range of the laser marking and sorting machine for test tubes. Additionally, it avoids the need for additional substances such as alcohol, organic solvents, disinfectants, inks, and adhesives on the test tubes, saving consumables, protecting the contents, and improving the automation of test tube marking. It is particularly suitable for industries with high sterility requirements, such as medical, pharmaceutical, and food industries, saving labor and increasing work efficiency.

[0011] In some embodiments, the laser marking assembly further includes a structural frame, on which the photoelectric visual recognition sensor and the test tube tank are respectively disposed.

[0012] In some embodiments, the laser marking assembly further includes a rotating roller disposed at the bottom of the test tube trough, and the drive motor drives the rotating roller to move the test tube trough.

[0013] In some embodiments, the number of rollers is a pair, and the pair of rollers are symmetrically distributed relative to the bottom of the test tube trough.

[0014] In some embodiments, the test tube conveying assembly includes a sorting bin, a pusher plate feeder, a test tube feeding conveyor belt, a tube pusher, a test tube unloading conveyor belt, and a tube puller.

[0015] The sorting bin is used to store test tubes;

[0016] The pusher plate feeder is used to transport the test tubes in the sorting bin to the test tube feeding conveyor belt;

[0017] The test tube feeding conveyor belt is used to transport the test tubes to the tube pusher;

[0018] The tube pusher is used to feed the test tube into the test tube trough, and to remove the test tube from the test tube trough and transport it to the test tube unloading conveyor belt;

[0019] The test tube feeding conveyor belt is used to transport the test tubes to the tube dispenser;

[0020] The tube feeder is used to feed the test tubes into the sorting bin.

[0021] In some embodiments, the pusher feeder is equipped with an electric pusher plate, which is used to transport the test tubes in the sorting bin to the test tube feeding conveyor belt via the electric pusher plate.

[0022] In some embodiments, the number of sorting bins and the number of tube pullers are the same and they are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0023] In some embodiments, the sorting bin is arranged in a cyclic manner. When the test tubes in the sorting bin are conveyed to the test tube feeding conveyor belt, the sorting bin moves to the tube feeder to receive the test tubes that have been laser-coded; and when the test tubes in the sorting bin at the tube feeder are removed, the sorting bin is reset.

[0024] In some embodiments, the test tube laser marking and sorting machine further includes a structural support frame, on which the sorting bin, the pusher plate feeder, the test tube feeding conveyor belt, the laser marking assembly, the tube pusher, the test tube unloading conveyor belt, and the tube puller are respectively disposed.

[0025] In some embodiments, a central controller is provided on the structural support frame, the central controller being connected to the pusher plate feeder, the test tube feeding conveyor belt, the laser marking assembly, the tube pusher, the test tube unloading conveyor belt, and the tube distributor; or...

[0026] The drive motor is mounted on the structural support frame. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the conventional technology, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the conventional technology 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.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the test tube laser marking and sorting machine described in this application;

[0029] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified schematic diagram of point A of the laser marking and sorting machine for test tubes shown;

[0030] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The diagram shows another direction of the laser-coded and sorted test tube machine.

[0031] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified schematic diagram of point B on the laser marking and sorting machine for test tubes shown;

[0032] Figure 5 for Figure 3 The diagram shows another direction of the laser-coded and sorted test tube machine.

[0033] Figure 6 for Figure 5 The diagram shows another direction of the laser marking and sorting machine for test tubes.

[0034] Reference numerals: 1. Structural support frame; 2. Electric pusher plate; 3. Sorting hopper; 4. Pusher plate feeder; 5. Test tube feeding conveyor belt; 6. Laser marking assembly; 61. Mounting plate; 62. Linear track; 63. Electric slider; 64. Laser engraving machine; 65. Structural frame; 66. Photoelectric vision recognition sensor; 67. Test tube trough; 68. Rotary roller; 69. Drive motor; 7. Tube pusher; 8. Test tube unloading conveyor belt; 9. Tube puller; 10. Test tube laser marking and sorting machine. Detailed Implementation

[0035] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0036] 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 the other component or there may be an intermediate component. When a component is considered to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application's specification are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0037] 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 at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0038] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0039] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The term "and or" as used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0040] This application discloses a test tube laser marking and sorting machine, which includes some or all of the technical features of the following embodiments; that is, the test tube laser marking and sorting machine includes some or all of the following structures. In one embodiment of this application, a test tube laser marking and sorting machine includes a laser marking assembly and a test tube conveying assembly; the laser marking assembly includes a mounting plate, a linear track, an electric slider, a laser engraving machine, a photoelectric vision recognition sensor, a test tube trough, and a drive motor; the linear track is disposed on the mounting plate, and the electric slider is slidably mounted on the linear track, and the laser engraving machine is disposed on the electric slider; the test tube trough is located below the laser engraving machine, and the photoelectric vision recognition sensor is installed on the test tube trough, and the drive motor drives and connects to the test tube trough; the test tube conveying assembly is connected to the test tube trough and is used to feed test tubes into the test tube trough and to remove test tubes from the test tube trough. The aforementioned laser-marked and sorted test tube machine, through the coordinated operation of a test tube conveying assembly, mounting plate, linear track, electric slider, laser engraving machine, photoelectric vision recognition sensor, test tube trough, and drive motor, achieves two key benefits. Firstly, it uses laser technology to mark test tubes, resulting in non-contact processing, eliminating the need for consumables, and preventing contamination of the test tube contents. Secondly, the mounting plate, linear track, electric slider, and laser engraving machine function as laser output and position adjustment components, while the photoelectric vision recognition sensor, test tube trough, and drive motor function as test tube supply components. This machine is suitable for test tubes of various sizes. The structure is simple, easy to implement, and less prone to marking errors. Furthermore, laser marking facilitates precise positioning and coding, and the coding area is smaller than that of labels, making it suitable for small-sized test tubes, further expanding the application range of the test tube laser marking and sorting machine. It also avoids the need for additional alcohol, organic solvents, disinfectants, inks, and adhesives on the test tubes, saving consumables, protecting the test tube contents, and improving the automation of test tube marking. This is particularly suitable for industries with high aseptic requirements, such as medical, pharmaceutical, and food industries, saving labor and improving work efficiency. The following section will combine... Figures 1 to 6 The laser marking and sorting machine for test tubes is described in detail below.

[0041] In some embodiments, a test tube laser marking and sorting machine 10, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, it includes a laser marking assembly 6 and a test tube delivery assembly; combined with Figure 2 and Figure 4The laser marking assembly 6 includes a mounting plate 61, a linear track 62, an electric slider 63, a laser engraving machine 64, a photoelectric vision recognition sensor 66, a test tube trough 67, and a drive motor 69. The linear track 62 is mounted on the mounting plate 61, and the electric slider 63 is slidably mounted on the linear track 62. The laser engraving machine 64 is mounted on the electric slider 63. The test tube trough 67 is located below the laser engraving machine 64, and the photoelectric vision recognition sensor 66 is mounted on the test tube trough 67. The drive motor 69 drives and connects to the test tube trough 67. The test tube conveying assembly is connected to the test tube trough 67 and is used to feed test tubes into the test tube trough 67 and remove test tubes from the test tube trough 67.

[0042] This structural design, through the cooperation of the test tube delivery assembly, mounting plate 61, linear track 62, electric slider 63, laser engraving machine 64, photoelectric vision recognition sensor 66, test tube trough 67, and drive motor 69, achieves two key benefits. Firstly, laser technology is used to mark test tubes, resulting in non-contact processing, eliminating the need for consumables, and preventing contamination of the test tube contents. Secondly, the mounting plate 61, linear track 62, electric slider 63, and laser engraving machine 64 function as laser output and position adjustment components, while the photoelectric vision recognition sensor 66, test tube trough 67, and drive motor 69 function as test tube supply components. This design is suitable for various applications. The laser marking system can handle various test tube sizes, has a simple overall structure, is easy to implement, and is less prone to marking errors. Furthermore, laser marking facilitates precise positioning and coding, and the coding area is smaller than that of labels, making it suitable for small-sized test tubes. This further expands the application range of the laser marking and sorting machine. Additionally, it avoids the need for additional alcohol, organic solvents, disinfectants, inks, and adhesives on the test tubes, saving consumables, protecting the contents, and improving the automation of test tube marking. It is particularly suitable for industries with high aseptic requirements, such as medical, pharmaceutical, and food processing, saving labor and increasing work efficiency.

[0043] In various embodiments, the linear track 62 is disposed on the mounting plate 61, and the electric slider 63 is slidably mounted on the linear track 62. The laser engraving machine 64 is disposed on the electric slider 63. This structural design makes the mounting plate 61, the linear track 62, the electric slider 63, and the laser engraving machine 64 a single unit, enabling the position adjustment of the laser engraving machine 64. In various embodiments, the test tube trough 67 is located below the laser engraving machine 64, and the photoelectric visual recognition sensor 66 is mounted on the test tube trough 67. The drive motor 69 drives and connects to the test tube trough 67. This structural design makes the photoelectric visual recognition sensor 66, the test tube trough 67, and the drive motor 69 a single unit, enabling the position adjustment of the test tubes to be marked. As an example, the drive motor 69 drives and connects to the test tube trough 67, so that the photoelectric visual recognition sensor 66 moves through the test tube trough 67. In each embodiment, the test tube delivery assembly is connected to the test tube trough 67 and is used to deliver the test tube to be marked into the test tube trough 67 and to remove the marked test tube from the test tube trough 67.

[0044] This structural design allows for flexible adjustment of the lateral and longitudinal positions of the laser engraving machine 64. Combined with the overall structure of the test tube tray 67, photoelectric vision sensor 66, and drive motor 69, the drive motor 69 synchronously moves the test tube tray 67 and photoelectric vision sensor 66, enabling real-time capture and dynamic adjustment of the test tube's position. This collaborative approach achieves precise laser marking, significantly reducing the probability of errors such as marking misalignment and missed markings, thus ensuring marking accuracy. Furthermore, the non-contact marking method of the laser engraving machine 64 avoids direct contact with the test tube, preventing damage from mechanical contact and eliminating the risk of contaminating the test tube contents. The entire process requires no consumables such as ink or adhesives, nor does it require the use of alcohol or organic solvents for auxiliary processing, saving on consumable costs while further protecting the purity of the test tube contents. On the other hand, the electric slider 63 adjusts the position of the laser engraving machine 64, and the drive motor 69 controls the angle and position of the test tube trough 67, which can be adapted to test tubes of different diameters and lengths. Since the laser marking area is much smaller than that of traditional labels, it can especially meet the marking needs of small test tubes, effectively expanding the application range of the equipment.

[0045] To facilitate accurate movement or adjustment of the test tube trough 67, ensuring the test tubes are placed in the correct position and easily and accurately removed, in some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown, the laser marking assembly 6 further includes a structural frame 65, on which the photoelectric visual recognition sensor 66 and the test tube trough 67 are respectively disposed. As an example, the drive motor 69 drives the structural frame 65 to adjust the positions of the photoelectric visual recognition sensor 66 and the test tube trough 67 by controlling the overall movement of the structural frame 65. In the embodiment with a structural support frame 1 described below, as an example, the structural frame 65 is disposed on the structural support frame 1.

[0046] This structural design integrates the photoelectric vision recognition sensor 66 and the test tube trough 67 into a single unit via the structural frame 65. When the drive motor 69 moves the entire frame, the positions of both can be adjusted synchronously, avoiding misalignment caused by individual component movement. This ensures that the photoelectric vision recognition sensor 66 accurately captures the test tube position and that the test tube trough 67 precisely aligns with the test tube delivery assembly and laser engraving machine 64, reducing problems such as test tube jamming and handling errors. Furthermore, the structural frame 65 provides a stable mounting base for the photoelectric vision recognition sensor 66 and the test tube trough 67, reducing the risk of recognition deviation or engraving misalignment caused by component movement, further ensuring engraving accuracy. The overall adjustment method eliminates the need for frequent component disassembly and assembly, making it more convenient to adapt to test tubes of different specifications. The trough position can be quickly adjusted to match the test tube length and diameter, broadening the equipment's applicability. On the other hand, the design of the structural frame 65 being set on the structural support frame 1 ensures that the laser marking component 6 is firmly connected to the main frame of the equipment, improving the overall stability of the equipment during operation and avoiding the impact of loose components on the accuracy of operation. At the same time, it facilitates the overall assembly and maintenance of the equipment, making it particularly suitable for industries such as medical and pharmaceutical industries that have strict requirements for equipment stability, and helping to improve production continuity and efficiency.

[0047] To facilitate accurate movement or adjustment of the position of the test tube trough 67, in some embodiments, such as Figure 4As shown, the laser marking assembly 6 further includes a rotating roller 68, which is disposed at the bottom of the test tube trough 67. The drive motor 69 drives and connects to the rotating roller 68 to move the test tube trough 67. As an example, the drive motor 69 drives and connects to the rotating roller 68 to rotate the test tube trough 67 to a position suitable for laser engraving machine 64 to perform marking. In some embodiments, the number of rotating rollers 68 is a pair, and the pair of rotating rollers 68 are symmetrically distributed with respect to the bottom of the test tube trough 67. In embodiments with a structural support frame 1, as described below, in some embodiments, the drive motor 69 is disposed on the structural support frame 1. In embodiments with the structural frame 65, as an example, the drive motor 69 is disposed on the structural support frame 1 and drives and connects to the structural frame 65.

[0048] This structural design, on the one hand, utilizes the rolling transmission characteristics of the roller 68 to make the movement of the test tube trough 67 more stable and smooth, avoiding trough jamming or positional displacement caused by sliding friction. Combined with the precise driving force of the drive motor 69, it can accurately transport the test tube trough 67 to the marking position corresponding to the laser engraving machine 64, reducing marking misalignment caused by trough displacement deviation and ensuring marking accuracy. On the other hand, the roller 68 acts directly on the bottom of the test tube trough 67, with a short transmission path and low power loss, allowing for rapid response to the control commands of the drive motor 69, realizing rapid adjustment of the trough position, improving the cycle efficiency of test tube marking, and adapting to the needs of batch test tube processing. On the other hand, the design of rotating the test tube trough 67 to a suitable position for laser engraving 64 by the rotating roller 68 allows for flexible adjustment of the angle of the test tube trough 67. Whether it is a cylindrical test tube requiring adjustment of the engraving circumference or a test tube of special specifications needing to adapt to the laser incident angle, the rotation adjustment driven by the rotating roller 68 can meet the requirements. It can adapt to different engraving scenarios without changing the trough structure, further expanding the equipment's compatibility with test tube specifications. On another hand, the symmetrically distributed pair of rotating rollers 68 can provide balanced support and driving force for the test tube trough 67, avoiding trough tilting caused by single roller transmission, ensuring that the test tubes are placed stably in the trough, and preventing the test tubes from tipping over or the contents from shaking and overflowing. At the same time, the dual-roller cooperative transmission can reduce the load on a single rotating roller, reduce component wear, extend the service life of the equipment, and reduce maintenance costs. Furthermore, fixing the drive motor 69 to the structural support frame 1 can prevent the motor from shaking as it moves with the material trough or frame, ensuring the stability of the motor's output speed and torque, and thus ensuring the transmission accuracy of the roller 68. At the same time, the motor is centrally installed on the main frame, which is convenient for staff to inspect and maintain. It can be operated without disassembling the test tube material trough 67 or the structural frame 65, improving the convenience of equipment maintenance, reducing downtime, and ensuring production continuity.

[0049] The following examples illustrate the technical means of feeding test tubes into the test tube reservoir 67 and removing the test tubes from the test tube reservoir 67. In some embodiments, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, the test tube conveying assembly includes a sorting bin 3, a pusher plate feeder 4, a test tube feeding conveyor belt 5, a tube pusher 7, a test tube unloading conveyor belt 8, and a tube puller 9. The sorting bin 3 is used to store test tubes. The pusher plate feeder 4 is used to convey the test tubes in the sorting bin 3 to the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5. The test tube feeding conveyor belt 5 is used to convey the test tubes to the pusher 7. The pusher 7 is used to feed the test tubes into the test tube trough 67 and to remove the test tubes from the test tube trough 67 and convey them to the test tube unloading conveyor belt 8. The test tube unloading conveyor belt 8 is used to convey the test tubes to the tube puller 9. The tube puller 9 is used to feed the test tubes into the sorting bin 3.

[0050] This structural design forms a closed-loop conveying process consisting of sorting bin 3, pusher plate feeder 4, test tube feeding conveyor belt 5, tube pusher 7, test tube trough 6, tube pusher 7, test tube unloading conveyor belt 8, tube puller 9, and sorting bin 3. The entire process requires no manual intervention in the storage, retrieval, and transfer of test tubes, avoiding test tube contamination caused by human contact, meeting the aseptic requirements of industries such as medical, pharmaceutical, and food, reducing manual operation costs and efficiency losses, and enabling continuous coding processing of batch test tubes, significantly improving operational efficiency. On the other hand, the pusher feeder 4 can control the discharge rhythm of test tubes from the sorting bin 3, avoiding congestion or supply interruption and ensuring the stability of subsequent processes. The test tube feeding conveyor belt 5 and the test tube unloading conveyor belt 8 adopt a stable conveying design, which can adapt to test tube specifications of different lengths and diameters, preventing test tubes from tipping over or colliding and breaking during the conveying process, and protecting the test tubes and their contents. The tube pusher 7, as the core component connecting the test tube conveying and marking, can accurately align with the test tube trough 67, ensuring that the test tubes are placed in place when fed in and transferred smoothly when taken out, avoiding errors in marking by the laser engraving machine 64 due to test tube position deviation. The tube puller 9 realizes the orderly recycling of marked test tubes, allowing the sorting bin 3 to be cyclically supplied with materials without frequent manual replenishment, further improving the automation level and production continuity of the equipment. Furthermore, the entire conveying assembly has a modular structure, and the parameters of each component can be flexibly adjusted according to actual production needs to adapt to bin capacity or conveyor belt speed, as well as to the processing needs of test tubes of different batches and specifications, thus broadening the application scenarios of the equipment.

[0051] To facilitate the transport of the test tubes onto the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5, in some embodiments, such as Figure 3 and Figure 6As shown, the pusher plate feeder 4 is equipped with an electric pusher plate 2, which is used to transport the test tubes in the sorting bin 3 to the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5 via the electric pusher plate 2. As an example, the electric pusher plate 2 is disposed inside the pusher plate feeder 4; in other embodiments, the test tube laser marking sorting machine 10 is equipped with the electric pusher plate 2 on the pusher plate feeder 4.

[0052] This structural design, on the one hand, leverages the mechanized drive characteristics of the electric pusher plate 2 to precisely control the pushing force and stroke, avoiding the tipping, collision, or disordered arrangement of test tubes caused by uneven force and unstable speed during manual pushing. This effectively protects the integrity of the test tubes and their internal contents, laying a stable foundation for the subsequent precise coding by the laser engraving machine 64. On the other hand, the electric pusher plate 2 can uniformly transport test tubes at a preset frequency, dynamically adjusting the feeding rhythm according to the transmission speed of the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5. This prevents test tubes from accumulating and congesting in the sorting bin 3 and avoids the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5 from running idle due to supply interruption, ensuring the continuity of the entire conveying chain of the sorting bin 3, the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5, and the pusher 7, reducing process interruption losses, and improving the overall coding efficiency. Furthermore, the driving parameters of the electric pusher plate 2, such as pushing speed and stroke, are flexibly adjustable to adapt to test tube specifications of different diameters and lengths. It can meet diverse test tube conveying needs without replacing the pushing components, further broadening the application range of the equipment and improving the compatibility and ease of maintenance of the equipment structure design.

[0053] To improve work efficiency, in some embodiments, such as Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the number of sorting bins 3 and tube feeders 9 are the same and they are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. In some embodiments, the sorting bins 3 are arranged in a cyclical manner. When the test tubes in the sorting bins 3 are conveyed to the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5, the sorting bins 3 move to the tube feeders 9 to receive the test tubes that have completed laser marking; and when the test tubes in the sorting bins 3 at the tube feeders 9 are removed, the sorting bins 3 are reset.

[0054] This structural design achieves precise matching between the sorting bins 3 and the tube feeders 9. Each tube feeder 9 corresponds to only one sorting bin 3, conveying laser-coded test tubes and avoiding classification confusion caused by mixing test tubes from different bins. This is especially suitable for scenarios where test tubes need to be distinguished by batch and specification, ensuring test tube traceability. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for frequent position adjustments by the tube feeders 9 to adapt to different bins, reducing component redundancy, shortening test tube retrieval time, and improving the efficiency of the test tube transmission link. Finally, it establishes a complete cycle process for the sorting bins 3, from feeding to awaiting retrieval and then back to resetting for continued feeding. When a bin finishes feeding on the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5, it can simultaneously move to the tube feeder 9 to receive finished test tubes, eliminating the need to stop the machine to wait for manual bin replacement or replenishment, achieving continuous operation and significantly reducing process gap losses. On the other hand, the entire process does not require manual intervention in the movement and reset of the hopper, avoiding potential microbial contamination from manual contact with the hopper. Furthermore, the reset function of the sorting hopper 3 ensures that it accurately aligns with the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5 and the tube puller 9 each time, preventing test tube jamming or conveying errors caused by positional deviations and ensuring the stability of the overall process.

[0055] To facilitate the design of the test tube laser marking and sorting machine 10 as an easy-to-use integrated structure, and to facilitate the overall movement of the test tube laser marking and sorting machine 10, in some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, the test tube laser marking and sorting machine 10 also includes a structural support frame 1. The sorting bin 3, the pusher plate feeder 4, the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5, the laser marking assembly 6, the tube pusher 7, the test tube unloading conveyor belt 8, and the tube puller 9 are respectively disposed on the structural support frame 1. As an example, the test tube laser marking and sorting machine 10 also includes a roller assembly disposed below the structural support frame 1 to facilitate the overall movement of the test tube laser marking and sorting machine 10, thereby facilitating the transport of the test tubes.

[0056] This structural design achieves several advantages. First, the integrated layout of core components through the structural support frame 1 avoids relative displacement caused by scattered installation of various components. This ensures precise feeding connections between the sorting bin 3 and the pusher plate feeder 4, the transfer connection between the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5 and the pusher 7, and the precise coding coordination between the laser marking assembly 6 (including the laser engraving machine 64), the test tube trough 67, and the pusher 7. It reduces malfunctions such as test tube jamming and marking misalignment caused by component misalignment, further guaranteeing overall operational accuracy and stability. Second, the integrated structure significantly simplifies the equipment installation process, eliminating the need for individual component debugging and positioning, reducing assembly difficulty and time costs. During maintenance, faulty components such as the laser marking assembly 6 or the test tube unloading conveyor belt 8 can be quickly located using the frame, improving maintenance efficiency. The neat layout also aligns with the space planning requirements of the medical and pharmaceutical industries for production equipment, reducing wasted workshop space. Third, it solves the problem of labor-intensive overall equipment handling. The roller assembly allows for easy adjustment of the equipment's workstation, such as moving it to a designated area according to changes in the production line layout, without relying on heavy handling tools, reducing manpower and time consumption. On the other hand, the locking structure of the roller assembly can fix the entire device after it is moved to the target position, so as to avoid the alignment accuracy of the laser engraving machine 64 and the test tube tank 67 being affected by the sliding of the device during operation, thus ensuring the stability of the engraving and conveying process. At the same time, the flexible mobility allows the device to be connected to different production links as needed, such as temporarily using it in conjunction with test tube testing equipment, further expanding the application scenarios and improving the flexibility of production scheduling.

[0057] To facilitate control of the laser marking assembly 6, as an example, a central controller is provided on the structural support frame 1. This central controller is connected to the laser marking assembly 6 (e.g., the laser engraving machine 64), the photoelectric visual recognition sensor 66, and the drive motor 69. In some embodiments, the central controller is provided on the structural support frame 1, and is connected to the pusher plate feeder 4, the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5, the laser marking assembly 6, the tube pusher 7, the test tube unloading conveyor belt 8, and the tube distributor 9, respectively, to achieve an automated workflow.

[0058] This structural design achieves closed-loop precise control of the laser marking process: the photoelectric vision recognition sensor 66 captures the position and posture information of the test tubes in the test tube tank 67 in real time and feeds the data back to the central controller. The controller then adjusts the marking power, timing, and marking position of the laser engraving machine 64 according to preset parameters, while driving the drive motor 69 to fine-tune the test tube tank 67 to ensure that the laser beam is precisely aligned with the marking area of ​​the test tube. This avoids errors caused by manual judgment and operation, significantly reduces marking errors such as misalignment and omissions, and ensures the stability of marking quality. On the other hand, it further automates the entire test tube processing chain. The central controller can preset complete operating procedures and coordinate the linkage of various components in a rhythmic manner. It controls the electric push plate 2 of the push plate feeder 4 to feed the test tubes at a uniform speed, matching the transmission speed of the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5. After the test tubes are transported to the pusher 7, the pusher 7 is instructed to accurately send the test tubes into the test tube trough 67. After the marking is completed, the pusher 7 is dispatched to transfer the test tubes to the test tube unloading conveyor belt 8, and finally, the tubes are recovered to the sorting bin 3 by the tube puller 9. The entire process does not require manual intervention, which reduces labor costs and eliminates test tube contamination caused by human contact. At the same time, the controller can flexibly adjust the parameters of each component to adapt to the processing needs of test tubes of different specifications, further expanding the application scenarios of the equipment. It can also monitor the operating status of each component in real time. If an abnormality occurs, it can quickly provide feedback and trigger the protection mechanism, reducing failure losses and effectively ensuring production continuity.

[0059] The following continues... Figure 1 Example 3 illustrates the test tube laser coding and sorting machine 10. The test tube laser coding and sorting machine 10 applies laser coding equipment technology and includes a structural support frame 1, a sorting hopper 3, a pusher plate feeder 4, a test tube feeding conveyor belt 5, a tube pusher 7, a test tube unloading conveyor belt 8, a tube puller 9, and a laser coding component 6. The laser coding component 6 is used for engraving and coding, which can resist the erosion of liquids such as alcohol, organic solvents, disinfectants, and blood, and will not blur. It is non-contact and has no consumables, avoiding the risk of ink contamination or label detachment.

[0060] The structural support frame 1 has a central controller on its back; the laser marking assembly 6 includes a mounting plate 61, a linear track 62 fixedly mounted on the front of the mounting plate 61, an electric slider 63 slidably mounted on the linear track 62, a laser engraving machine 64 fixedly mounted on the front of the electric slider 63, a test tube trough 67 below the laser engraving machine 64, two rotating rollers 68 symmetrically mounted on the bottom of the test tube trough 67, and a photoelectric visual recognition sensor 66 on the front of the test tube trough 67.

[0061] With this structural design, the photoelectric vision recognition sensor 66 can adopt a common industrial photoelectric sensor, which can identify the length of the test tube in the test tube tank 67, and also identify whether there is a test tube in the test tube tank 67. Its monitoring data is transmitted to the central controller, which controls the electric slider 63 to slide on the linear track 62 according to the data, so as to drive the laser engraving machine 64 to perform laser engraving and marking at the corresponding set position on the test tube.

[0062] As an example, a structural frame 65 is fixedly installed on the structural support frame 1, a photoelectric visual recognition sensor 66 is fixedly installed on the structural frame 65, a test tube trough 67 is fixedly connected to the structural support frame 1, two rollers 68 are fixedly connected to pulleys at their ends, a drive motor 69 is provided below the test tube trough 67, the drive motor 69 is fixedly installed on the side of the structural support frame 1, a transmission belt is fixedly installed at the output end of the drive motor 69, and a tension belt is sleeved on the outside of the two pulleys and the transmission belt.

[0063] With this structural design, the drive motor 69 starts while coding is being performed. The tension belt drives the two rotating rollers 68 to rotate synchronously and in the same direction, thereby causing the test tube placed on the upper side of the two rotating rollers 68 to rotate, so that the laser coding can be applied to the entire body of the test tube.

[0064] As an example, several sorting bins 3 are fixedly installed on the front side of the structural support frame 1, several tube pushers 9 are fixedly installed on the upper side of the structural support frame 1, and the installation positions of the tube pushers 9 and the sorting bins 3 correspond one-to-one. The pusher plate feeder 4 is fixedly installed on the left rear side of the structural support frame 1. An electric pusher plate 2 is slidably installed on the inner side of the pusher plate feeder 4. The test tube feeding conveyor belt 5 and the test tube unloading conveyor belt 8 are both fixedly installed on the upper side of the structural support frame 1. The left side of the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5 is connected to the port of the pusher plate feeder 4. The tube pusher 7 is fixedly installed on the structural support frame 1 and is located at the right end of the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5. The test tube trough 67 is located to the right of the output end of the tube pusher 7.

[0065] In this structural design, the sorting bin 3 stores test tubes. When the electric pusher 2 in the pusher feeder 4 is activated, it pushes the test tubes to be coded onto the upper side of the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5. Subsequently, under the conveying action of the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5, the tubes are transported to the output end of the pusher 7, where the pusher 7 pushes the test tubes into the test tube trough 67 to await coding. After coding, the pusher 7 pulls out the test tubes and pushes them into the test tube unloading conveyor belt 8, which then transports them to each sorting bin 3. Based on the test tube length information identified by the photoelectric vision recognition sensor 66, the central controller controls the corresponding tube pusher 9 to push the test tube from the test tube unloading conveyor belt 8 to the corresponding sorting bin 3. It should be noted that the pusher 7 and the tube pusher 9 are common electrical devices in industrial production and can be purchased directly; their detailed working principles will not be elaborated in this article.

[0066] The following example illustrates the working principle of the test tube laser marking and sorting machine 10.

[0067] After the test tube laser marking and sorting machine 10 is started, the sorting bin 3 on the structural support frame 1 first collects the test tubes to be processed to provide test tubes for subsequent processes. The electric push plate 2 inside the pusher 4 is activated, pushing the test tubes to be marked in the sorting bin 3 to the upper side of the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5. Under the conveying action of the test tube feeding conveyor belt 5, the test tubes to be marked are transported to the output end of the pusher 7. Then the pusher 7 moves to accurately push the test tubes into the test tube trough 67 in the laser marking assembly 6. At this time, the photoelectric vision recognition sensor 66 starts to work, identifies the length information of the test tubes in the test tube trough 67, and transmits the information to the central controller on the back of the structural support frame 1, completing the test tube feeding and information acquisition process.

[0068] After receiving the signal from the photoelectric vision recognition sensor 66, the central controller controls the drive motor 69 to start. The transmission belt at the output end of the drive motor 69 drives the two rotating rollers 68 at the bottom of the test tube trough 67 to rotate synchronously and in the same direction through the tension belt, so that the test tubes in the test tube trough 67 rotate accordingly. On the other hand, the controller controls the electric slider 63 to slide on the linear track 62 fixed to the front side of the mounting plate 61, and adjusts the position of the laser engraving machine 64 fixed to the front side of the electric slider 63. After the laser engraving machine 64 moves to the set position, it performs laser engraving on the rotating test tubes. After the marking is completed, the tube pusher 7 operates again, pulling the marked test tubes out of the test tube trough 67 and pushing them onto the test tube unloading conveyor belt 8. The test tube unloading conveyor belt 8 transports the marked test tubes toward the sorting bin 3. Based on the previously collected test tube length information, the central controller controls the tube pusher 9, which corresponds one-to-one with the target sorting bin 3, to operate. The tube pusher 9 pushes the test tubes from the test tube unloading conveyor belt 8 toward the corresponding sorting bin 3, completing the entire laser marking and sorting process.

[0069] This structural design, through the laser marking component 6, utilizes a laser engraving machine 64 to laser-mark the test tubes, achieving ultra-high precision marking. The marked marks are directly integrated with the material surface, unlike ink which adheres to the surface. It is resistant to corrosion from liquids such as alcohol, organic solvents, disinfectants, and blood, and will not become blurred. Its non-contact and consumable-free characteristics avoid the risks of ink contamination or label detachment, making it ideal for the medical, pharmaceutical, and food industries with extremely high sterility requirements. In addition, a photoelectric visual recognition sensor 66 is equipped on the side, which can identify the length of the test tubes placed in the test tube tray 67, facilitating cooperation with the electric slider 63 to drive the laser marking component 6 to mark the corresponding positions on the test tubes. The positioning is accurate, the stability is high, and the applicability is strong.

[0070] It should be noted that other embodiments of this application also include a test tube laser marking and sorting machine formed by combining the technical features of the above embodiments.

[0071] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0072] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the patent protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A test tube laser marking and sorting machine (10), characterized in that, Includes a laser marking assembly (6) and a test tube delivery assembly; The laser marking assembly (6) includes a mounting plate (61), a linear track (62), an electric slider (63), a laser engraving machine (64), a photoelectric vision recognition sensor (66), a test tube tank (67), and a drive motor (69). The linear track (62) is mounted on the mounting plate (61), and the electric slider (63) is slidably mounted on the linear track (62), and the laser engraving machine (64) is mounted on the electric slider (63); The test tube trough (67) is located below the laser engraving machine (64), and the photoelectric visual recognition sensor (66) is installed on the test tube trough (67). The drive motor (69) drives and connects to the test tube trough (67). The test tube delivery assembly is connected to the test tube trough (67) and is used to deliver the test tube into the test tube trough (67) and to remove the test tube from the test tube trough (67).

2. The test tube laser marking and sorting machine (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laser marking assembly (6) also includes a structural frame (65), on which the photoelectric visual recognition sensor (66) and the test tube material tank (67) are respectively disposed.

3. The test tube laser marking and sorting machine (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laser marking assembly (6) also includes a rotating roller (68), which is located at the bottom of the test tube trough (67). The drive motor (69) drives the rotating roller (68) to move the test tube trough (67) through the rotating roller (68).

4. The test tube laser marking and sorting machine (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The number of the rotating rollers (68) is one pair, and the pair of rotating rollers (68) are symmetrically distributed relative to the bottom of the test tube trough (67).

5. The test tube laser marking and sorting machine (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The test tube conveying assembly includes a sorting bin (3), a pusher plate feeder (4), a test tube feeding conveyor belt (5), a tube pusher (7), a test tube unloading conveyor belt (8), and a tube puller (9). The sorting bin (3) is used to store test tubes; The pusher feeder (4) is used to transport the test tubes in the sorting bin (3) to the test tube feeding conveyor belt (5); The test tube feeding conveyor belt (5) is used to transport the test tube to the tube pusher (7); The pusher (7) is used to feed the test tube into the test tube trough (67) and to take the test tube out of the test tube trough (67) and transport it to the test tube unloading conveyor belt (8); The test tube feeding conveyor belt (8) is used to transport the test tubes to the tube feeder (9); The tube feeder (9) is used to feed the test tube into the sorting bin (3).

6. The test tube laser marking and sorting machine (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The pusher plate feeder (4) is equipped with an electric pusher plate (2), which is used to transport the test tubes in the sorting bin (3) to the test tube feeding conveyor belt (5) via the electric pusher plate (2).

7. The test tube laser marking and sorting machine (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The number of sorting bins (3) and the number of tube pullers (9) are the same and they are set in a one-to-one correspondence.

8. The test tube laser marking and sorting machine (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sorting bin (3) is set up in a cycle. When the test tube in the sorting bin (3) is transported to the test tube feeding conveyor belt (5), the sorting bin (3) moves to the tube feeder (9) to receive the test tube that has been laser-coded; and when the test tube in the sorting bin (3) at the tube feeder (9) is taken out, the sorting bin (3) is reset.

9. The test tube laser marking and sorting machine (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The test tube laser marking and sorting machine (10) also includes a structural support frame (1), and the sorting bin (3), the pusher plate feeder (4), the test tube feeding conveyor belt (5), the laser marking assembly (6), the tube pusher (7), the test tube unloading conveyor belt (8) and the tube puller (9) are respectively arranged on the structural support frame (1).

10. The test tube laser marking and sorting machine (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that, A central controller is provided on the structural support frame (1), which is connected to the pusher plate feeder (4), the test tube feeding conveyor belt (5), the laser marking assembly (6), the tube pusher (7), the test tube unloading conveyor belt (8), and the tube puller (9); or, The drive motor (69) is mounted on the structural support frame (1).

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