Fermenter inoculum device

Abstract

The application provides a fermenter strain inoculation device, which comprises a ring cover, the ring cover is a hollow structure with a ring-shaped opening in an inner ring wall, a handle is fixed to an outer ring wall of the ring cover, and a cotton rope ring soaked with alcohol is arranged in the ring cover; the ring cover is further provided with a blocking ring capable of moving up and down and blocking the ring-shaped opening; the blocking ring is fixedly connected with two symmetrical sliding rods which are in sliding connection with the ring cover in the vertical direction; springs are arranged between the sliding rods and the ring cover in the vertical direction; the gravity of the ring cover is greater than the sum of the elastic forces of the two springs; when the springs are in a free state, the blocking ring blocks the ring-shaped opening and the sliding frame extends below the ring cover. The application can automatically extinguish the flame of the cotton rope ring by only holding the handle and moving the ring cover upward, which is convenient to operate and easy to extinguish the flame, and solves the problem that the flame is not easy to extinguish due to improper operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to fermenter inoculation technology, and more particularly to a fermenter inoculation device. Background Technology

[0002] In microbial fermentation, the microbial strain is typically first cultured in test tubes, then in Erlenmeyer flasks. After cultivation in the Erlenmeyer flasks, the strain needs to be transferred to a fermenter for primary and secondary scale-up. To prevent contaminating microorganisms from entering the fermenter, flame inoculation is generally used during inoculation.

[0003] Currently, the commonly used flame inoculation method involves placing an alcohol-soaked flame ring over the inoculation port of the fermenter, igniting the flame ring, and then opening the threaded sealing cap connected to the inoculation port after the flame envelops the port. The mouth of the Erlenmeyer flask is then sterilized by the burning flame, and the flask is passed through the flame while the inoculum is poured into the fermenter. Finally, the inoculation port is sealed with the sealing cap, and the flame is extinguished with a damp cloth. However, extinguishing the flame typically requires two damp cloths, which is not only cumbersome but also prone to failure if not handled properly. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a fermenter inoculation device to solve the problems of cumbersome operation in the existing method of using a flame ring for fermenter inoculation, and the difficulty in extinguishing the flame after improper operation.

[0005] This application provides a fermenter inoculation device, including an annular cover, which is a hollow structure with an annular opening on the inner ring wall. A handle is fixed on the outer ring wall of the annular cover, and an alcohol-soaked cotton rope loop is provided inside the annular cover. It also includes a sealing ring that can move up and down and close the annular opening; The sealing ring is fixedly connected to two symmetrically distributed sliding rods that are slidably connected to the annular cover in the vertical direction, and vertically distributed springs are connected between the sliding rods and the annular cover; The weight of the annular cover is greater than the sum of the elastic forces of the two springs; When the spring is in a free state, the sealing ring closes the annular opening and the sliding frame extends to the bottom of the annular cover.

[0006] Optionally, the upper part of the annular cover is an annular frustum structure, and the smaller diameter end of the frustum structure is located at the upper end of the annular cover, with a gap between the inner wall of the frustum structure and the cotton rope loop.

[0007] Optionally, the bottom of the annular cover is fixed with a plurality of supports arranged in a ring.

[0008] Optionally, the slide rod is fitted with two limiting rings that are distributed vertically and slidably connected to the slide rod, and the limiting rings are fixedly connected to the outer ring wall of the annular cover; The spring is sleeved on the slide rod, and the two ends of the spring are respectively connected to the lower end of the slide rod and the limiting ring located below.

[0009] Optionally, the bottom of the annular cover is provided with a hollow annular cavity, and the interior of the annular cavity is filled with alcohol; The cotton rope loop includes an arc-shaped segment with an open loop structure, and both ends of the arc-shaped segment are provided with vertical segments extending into the annular cavity.

[0010] Optionally, it also includes a base for placing the annular cover, the base having an annular structure and multiple legs fixed to the lower end of the base; The annular cover is placed behind the seat, the support leg is located inside the seat, the spring is in a free state, and the slide rod is in a suspended state.

[0011] The fermenter inoculation device provided in this application comprises an annular cover with an annular opening on its inner wall, a handle fixed to the outer wall of the annular cover, an alcohol-soaked cotton rope loop inside the annular cover, and a sealing ring that can move up and down and close the annular opening. The sealing ring is fixedly connected to two symmetrically distributed sliding rods that slide vertically on the annular cover. Vertically distributed springs connect the sliding rods to the annular cover. The weight of the annular cover is greater than the sum of the spring forces of the two springs. When the springs are in a free state, the sealing ring closes the annular opening, and the sliding rods extend below the annular cover. This allows for easy access by holding the handle during use. After the annular cover is placed over the inoculation port of the fermenter and makes contact with the fermenter, the spring compresses, and the annular opening opens automatically. At this point, the cotton rope ring can be ignited to carry out the inoculation. After inoculation, by holding the handle and moving the annular cover upwards, the spring returns to its original position, and the sealing ring automatically seals the annular opening, isolating the cotton rope ring from oxygen. The flame of the burning cotton rope ring is automatically extinguished. Compared with the existing method of extinguishing flames with a wet cloth, simply holding the handle and moving the annular cover upwards is enough to automatically extinguish the flame of the burning cotton rope ring. This method is not only convenient to operate but also makes it easy to extinguish the flame, solving the problem of flames being difficult to extinguish due to improper operation. Attached Figure Description

[0012] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0013] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the fermenter inoculation device provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a partial three-dimensional structural diagram of the fermenter inoculation device provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the front cross-sectional structure of the fermenter inoculation device provided in this embodiment of the application, placed behind the fermenter; Figure 4 This is a partial top view cross-sectional structural diagram of the fermenter inoculation device provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 This is a front view of the fermenter inoculation device provided in this embodiment, placed behind the base.

[0014] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Annular cover; 2. Annular opening; 3. Handle; 4. Cotton rope loop; 5. Arc-shaped section; 6. Vertical section; 7. Sealing ring; 8. Sliding rod; 9. Spring; 10. Support leg; 11. Limiting ring; 12. Annular cavity; 13. U-shaped seat; 14. Sealing ring; 15. Seat body; 16. Support leg; 17. Fermentation tank; 18. Inoculation port. Detailed Implementation

[0015] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application are described clearly and completely below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are also within the scope of protection of this application.

[0016] like Figures 1-5 As shown: An embodiment of this application provides a fermenter inoculation device, which includes an annular cover 1. The annular cover 1 is a hollow structure with an annular opening 2 on the inner ring wall. A handle 3 is fixed on the outer ring wall of the annular cover 1. The handle 3 is a rod-shaped structure, which makes it easy for the staff to pick up and put down the annular cover 1. The inside of the annular cover 1 is provided with a cotton rope ring 4 soaked in alcohol.

[0017] It also includes a sealing ring 7 that can move up and down and close the annular opening 2. The sealing ring 7 is located directly above the inner annular wall of the annular cover 1. The outer annular wall of the sealing ring 7 contacts and slides with the upper edge of the annular opening 2. The lower end of the sealing ring 7 can contact the upper end of the inner annular wall of the annular cover 1.

[0018] The sealing ring 7 is fixedly connected to two symmetrically distributed slide rods 8 that are slidably connected to the annular cover 1 in the vertical direction. A vertically distributed spring 9 is connected between the slide rods 8 and the annular cover 1.

[0019] In this embodiment, a connecting lug is fixed to the upper end of the slide rod 8, and the connecting lug is fixedly connected to the inner ring wall of the sealing ring 7.

[0020] The weight of the ring cover 1 is greater than the sum of the elastic forces of the two springs 9.

[0021] When the spring 9 is in a free state, the sealing ring 7 closes the annular opening 2 and the sliding frame extends to the bottom of the annular cover 1.

[0022] In this embodiment, both the outer wall of the annular cover 1 and the outer wall of the sealing ring 7 are provided with heat insulation layers to prevent burns caused by accidental contact by staff. The heat insulation layers are made of fiberglass.

[0023] In use, the operator holds handle 3 and first places the annular cover 1 over the inoculation port 18 of the fermentation tank 17. Then, the annular cover 1 is lowered and placed on the fermentation tank 17. As the annular cover 1 moves down, the sliding rod 8 first contacts the fermentation tank 17. As the annular cover 1 continues to move down, because the weight of the annular cover 1 is greater than the sum of the elastic forces of the two springs 9, the springs 9 are compressed under the action of the weight of the annular cover 1. The sliding rod 8 moves upward relative to the annular cover 1, and the sliding rod 8 drives the sealing ring 7 to move upward. The annular opening 2 gradually opens. When the annular cover 1 contacts the fermentation tank 17, that is, after the annular cover 1 is placed on the fermentation tank 17, the annular opening 2 is fully opened. At this time, the operator inserts a long-handled lighter into the annular cover 1 through the annular opening 2 and ignites the cotton rope ring 4. The flame of the burning cotton rope ring 4 wraps around the inoculation port 18, and the inoculation work can then be carried out. After the inoculation is completed, the staff holds handle 3 and moves the annular cover 1 upward. During the upward movement of the annular cover 1, spring 9 returns to its original state. Under the action of the elastic force of spring 9, spring 9 drives slide rod 8 downward. Slide rod 8 drives sealing ring 7 downward to gradually seal the annular opening 2. When spring 9 returns to its free state, the lower end of sealing ring 7 contacts the upper end of the inner ring wall of annular cover 1, and the inner ring wall of sealing ring 7 contacts the upper edge of annular opening 2. Sealing ring 7 completely seals annular opening 2, forming a sealed space inside annular cover 1. The cotton rope ring 4 is isolated from oxygen, and the flame burning in the cotton rope ring 4 is extinguished. Therefore, compared with the existing flame extinguishing methods, the flame burning in the cotton rope ring 4 can be automatically extinguished simply by the staff holding handle 3 and moving the annular cover 1 upward. This is not only convenient to operate, but also easy to extinguish the flame, solving the problem of flames being difficult to extinguish due to improper operation.

[0024] In addition, after the sealing ring 7 moves up and opens the annular opening 2, when the cotton rope ring 4 burns, the sealing ring 7 and the annular cover 1 confine the flame to its hollow position. Under the premise that the flame covers the inoculation port 18 to ensure a sterile environment at the inoculation port 18, the sealing ring 7 and the annular cover 1 can block the spread of the flame and reduce the risk of workers being burned by the flame.

[0025] In this embodiment, the long-handled lighter is existing technology and will not be described in detail.

[0026] In some embodiments of this application, the upper part of the annular cover 1 is an annular frustum structure, and the small diameter end of the frustum structure is located at the upper end of the annular cover 1. There is a gap between the inner wall of the frustum structure and the cotton rope loop 4, so that the flame of the burning cotton rope loop 4 can be concentrated in the middle of the annular cover 1 under the guidance of the frustum structure, thereby improving the effect of the flame covering the inoculation port 18.

[0027] In this embodiment, the size of the gap can be selected according to actual needs, as long as it is ensured that the flame gathers towards the center of the annular cover 1 and wraps around the inoculation port 18 under the guidance of the frustum structure. No specific limit is made on the size of the gap here.

[0028] In some embodiments of this application, the bottom of the annular cover 1 is fixed with a plurality of ring-shaped support legs 10, which are used to support the annular cover 1 when it is placed on the fermentation tank 17.

[0029] In some embodiments of this application, two limiting rings 11 are sleeved on the slide rod 8, which are distributed vertically and slidably connected to the slide rod 8, and the limiting rings 11 are fixedly connected to the outer ring wall of the annular cover 1.

[0030] Among them, the slide rod 8 is a cylindrical rod structure. The slide rod 8 passes through the limiting ring 11 and slides in contact with the limiting ring 11, thereby making the frictional resistance between the slide rod 8 and the limiting ring 11 small, and the slide rod 8 can drive the sealing ring 7 to move smoothly.

[0031] Spring 9 is sleeved on slide rod 8, and both ends of spring 9 are connected to the lower end of slide rod 8 and the limiting ring 11 located below, respectively, so that slide rod 8 can support spring 9 and spring 9 can perform extension and retraction smoothly.

[0032] In some embodiments of this application, the bottom of the annular cover 1 is provided with a hollow annular cavity 12, the interior of the annular cavity 12 is filled with alcohol, and the cotton rope loop 4 includes an arc-shaped segment 5 with an open ring structure. Both ends of the arc-shaped segment 5 are provided with vertical segments 6 extending into the interior of the annular cavity 12. The vertical segments 6 and the arc-shaped segment 5 are an integral structure, thereby enabling the cotton rope loop 4 to automatically absorb alcohol and facilitate alcohol soaking of the cotton rope loop 4.

[0033] In this embodiment, the annular cavity 12 is connected to a liquid inlet, which is threaded with a plug to facilitate the addition of alcohol into the annular cavity 12. The cotton rope loop 4 is fixed to the upper end of the annular cavity 12 via a U-shaped seat 13, and the U-shaped seat 13 is detachably fixed to the upper end of the annular cavity 12 via bolts. A sealing ring 14 is fitted onto the vertical section 6, pressing tightly against it. The sealing ring 14 passes through the upper end of the annular cavity 12 and is fixedly sealed to the upper end of the annular cavity 12, preventing alcohol leakage at the connection between the upper end of the annular cavity 12 and the vertical section 6 when the annular cavity 12 is tilted.

[0034] In some embodiments of this application, a seat 15 for placing the annular cover 1 is also included. The seat 15 has an annular structure, and a plurality of legs 16 are fixed to the lower end of the seat 15. After the annular cover 1 is placed in the seat 15, the legs 10 are located inside the seat 15, the spring 9 is in a free state, and the slide bar 8 is in a suspended state, that is, there is a certain distance between the lower end of the legs 10 and the lower end of the legs 16.

[0035] In this embodiment, when no inoculation is being performed, the annular cover 1 is placed on the base 15, which supports the annular cover 1, allowing the spring 9 to be in a free state. The sealing ring 7 seals the annular opening 2, thereby preventing the alcohol on the cotton rope loop 4 from evaporating to the outside and causing waste when the application is idle.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A fermenter inoculation device, characterized in that: Includes an annular cover (1), which is a hollow structure with an annular opening (2) on the inner ring wall, and a handle (3) fixed on the outer ring wall of the annular cover (1). The interior of the annular cover (1) is provided with a cotton rope loop (4) soaked in alcohol. It also includes a sealing ring (7) that can move up and down and close the annular opening (2); The sealing ring (7) is fixedly connected to two symmetrically distributed slide rods (8) that are slidably connected to the annular cover (1) in the vertical direction. A vertically distributed spring (9) is connected between the slide rods (8) and the annular cover (1). The weight of the annular cover (1) is greater than the sum of the elastic forces of the two springs (9); When the spring (9) is in a free state, the sealing ring (7) closes the annular opening (2) and the sliding frame extends to the bottom of the annular cover (1).

2. The fermenter inoculation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper part of the annular cover (1) is an annular frustum structure, and the small diameter end of the frustum structure is located at the upper end of the annular cover (1). There is a gap between the inner wall of the frustum structure and the cotton rope loop (4).

3. The fermenter inoculation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the annular cover (1) is fixed with a plurality of ring-shaped support legs (10).

4. The fermenter inoculation device according to claim 3, characterized in that: Two limiting rings (11) are sleeved on the slide rod (8) and are distributed vertically and slidably connected to the slide rod (8). The limiting rings (11) are fixedly connected to the outer ring wall of the annular cover (1). The spring (9) is sleeved on the slide rod (8), and the two ends of the spring (9) are respectively connected to the lower end of the slide rod (8) and the limiting ring (11) located below.

5. The fermenter inoculation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the annular cover (1) is provided with a hollow annular cavity (12), and the interior of the annular cavity (12) is filled with alcohol; The cotton rope loop (4) includes an arc-shaped segment (5) with an open ring structure, and both ends of the arc-shaped segment (5) are provided with vertical segments (6) extending into the annular cavity (12).

6. The fermenter inoculation device according to claim 4, characterized in that: It also includes a seat (15) for placing the annular cover (1), the seat (15) having an annular structure and a plurality of legs (16) fixed at the lower end of the seat (15). The ring cover (1) is placed behind the seat (15), the support leg (10) is located inside the seat (15), the spring (9) is in a free state, and the slide rod (8) is in a suspended state.

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