A test strip batch marking device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a test paper strip batch marking device, including box body, feeding mechanism, conveying mechanism, in place sensor, thermal printer and ejection mechanism etc. parts, through automatic feeding + thermal printing + automatic ejection, can automatically batch complete clear, standard mark, realized from test strip code put into the full process automation of printing completion, reduce manual operation, greatly saved writing time, improve work efficiency. At the same time, avoid the oil stain pollution caused by manual writing, and avoid misreading caused by illegible handwriting, ensure the accuracy of experimental results. In addition, adopt thermal printing, strong adhesion, alcohol resistance, water resistance, not easy to fade because of condensation, friction or conventional disinfection, ensure the long-term traceability of sample information, can be widely used in medical diagnosis, food safety detection and other fields test paper strip information marking link.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical testing auxiliary devices, and in particular to a batch marking device for test strips. Background Technology

[0002] In routine PCR experiments, researchers need to simultaneously test a large number of samples using test strips. To distinguish between different samples and avoid cross-contamination and confusion, researchers must clearly and permanently number each test strip. Currently, the most common method of numbering in laboratories is handwriting with an oil-based pen. This method has several drawbacks: 1. Low efficiency: Manually writing a large number of numbers during batch experiments is time-consuming and laborious, affecting the overall experimental progress.

[0003] 2. Handwriting issues: Handwritten characters may be illegible and irregular, which can easily lead to misreading (such as confusing "6" with "8", or "1" with "7").

[0004] 3. Easily fades and becomes blurred: During experimental operations, hand friction or contact with organic solvents such as alcohol may cause the writing to become blurred or disappear, resulting in the loss of sample information and bringing serious experimental risks.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to design a batch marking device for test strips to improve marking efficiency, reduce labor costs, and ensure the long-term traceability of sample information. Utility Model Content

[0006] This invention addresses the problems of existing technology by providing a batch marking device for test strips.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: A batch marking device for test strips, comprising: Box; The feeding mechanism is located inside the box on one side, upstream of the conveying mechanism. It includes a feeding channel, a dispensing component, and a discharging channel. Multiple test strips enter the dispensing component sequentially through the feeding channel, and are then pushed sequentially by the dispensing component to the discharging channel, and then sent to the conveying mechanism through the discharging channel. The conveying mechanism, located inside the box below the feeding mechanism and the thermal printer, is used to convey the test strips fed by the feeding mechanism to the printing station, and after the thermal printer prints the marks, the test strips are conveyed to the discharging mechanism. The positioning sensor is fixed inside the housing and on one side of the conveying mechanism to detect whether the test strip on the conveying mechanism has been conveyed to the printing station. The thermal printer, located inside the housing and driven up and down above the printing station by the first electric actuator, is used to print markings on the test strips at the printing station. The discharging mechanism, located on the other side inside the box and downstream of the conveying mechanism, is used to receive the printed test strips.

[0008] Furthermore, in the aforementioned batch marking device for test strips, the dispensing component includes a fixed part and a movable part. A first through hole is formed on one side of the top surface of the fixed part, communicating with the lower end of the feeding channel. A second through hole is formed on the other side of the bottom surface of the fixed part, communicating with the upper end of the dispensing channel. The shape of the movable part matches the inner cavity of the fixed part, and a third through hole is formed inside the movable part. The first, second, and third through holes all match the shape of the test strip. The movable part moves horizontally inside the fixed part via a second electric push rod. When the first and third through holes are connected, the test strip is lowered from the feeding channel into the third through hole of the movable part. When the second and third through holes are connected, the test strip is lowered from the movable part into the dispensing channel.

[0009] Furthermore, in the aforementioned batch marking device for test strips, the side of the fixing member has an elongated limiting hole, which is arranged in a horizontal direction. The side of the movable member is connected to a limiting post, which moves horizontally within the limiting hole along with the movable member. When the limiting post is located at one end of the limiting hole, the first through hole and the third through hole are connected. When the limiting post is located at the other end of the limiting hole, the second through hole and the third through hole are connected.

[0010] Furthermore, in the aforementioned batch marking device for test strips, the top of the feeding channel is provided with a feeding port, which is funnel-shaped.

[0011] Furthermore, in the aforementioned batch marking device for test strips, the conveying mechanism includes a stepper motor, a conveyor belt, and multiple rubber rollers. The rubber rollers at both ends tension the conveyor belt, and one of the rubber rollers at one end is driven to rotate by the stepper motor.

[0012] Furthermore, in the aforementioned batch marking device for test strips, the conveying mechanism is equipped with a fixed platform located at the printing station and fixed between two rubber rollers. The upper surface of the fixed platform is flush with the rubber rollers to keep the conveyor belt horizontal.

[0013] Furthermore, in the aforementioned batch marking device for test strips, the conveyor belt is provided with a rubber pad layer.

[0014] Furthermore, in the aforementioned batch marking device for test strips, a pressure plate is installed at the bottom of the print head of the thermal printer. The pressure plate matches the shape of the test strip, and one side of the pressure plate has a through hole for exposing the heating dot matrix of the print head.

[0015] Furthermore, in the aforementioned batch marking device for test strips, the dispensing mechanism adopts a drawer-type collection box, which is movable at the front opening at the bottom of the box.

[0016] Furthermore, in the aforementioned batch marking device for test strips, a viewing window is provided on the front side of the housing.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: This utility model provides a batch marking device for test strips. Through automatic feeding, thermal printing, and automatic discharging, it can automatically complete clear and standardized marking in batches, realizing full automation from barcode insertion to printing completion. This reduces manual operation, greatly saves writing time, and improves work efficiency. Simultaneously, it avoids oil stains caused by manual writing and misreading due to illegible handwriting, ensuring the accuracy of experimental results. Furthermore, the use of thermal printing provides strong adhesion, resistance to alcohol and water wiping, and resistance to fading due to condensation, friction, or routine disinfection, ensuring long-term traceability of sample information. It can be widely used in the marking of test strip information in fields such as medical diagnosis and food safety testing. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 Front view of the test strip batch marking device provided in the embodiments of this utility model Figure 1 .

[0020] Figure 2 Front view of the test strip batch marking device provided in the embodiments of this utility model Figure 2 .

[0021] Figure 3 Schematic cross-section of the feeding mechanism provided in the embodiment of this utility model Figure 1 .

[0022] Figure 4 Schematic cross-section of the feeding mechanism provided in the embodiment of this utility model Figure 1 .

[0023] Figure 5 A bottom view of the thermal printhead provided in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the test strip provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Box body; 2. Feeding mechanism; 21. Feeding channel; 22. Discharge channel; 23. Fixed part; 24. Moving part; 25. Second electric push rod; 26. Limiting hole; 27. Limiting post; 28. Feed inlet; 3. Conveying mechanism; 31. Stepper motor; 32. Conveyor belt; 33. Rubber rollers; 34. Fixed platform; 4. Position sensor; 5. Thermal printer; 51. First electric actuator; 52. Print head; 53. Pressure plate; 54. Through hole; 55. Heating dot matrix. 6. Discharge mechanism, 7. Viewing window, 8. Test strip. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of this utility model, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0027] like Figure 1-6 As shown.

[0028] This utility model provides a batch marking device for test strips, including a housing 1, a feeding mechanism 2, a conveying mechanism 3, a positioning sensor 4, a thermal printer 5, and a discharging mechanism 6, etc. Wherein: The enclosure 1, serving as the main structure and supporting frame of the equipment, provides the mounting base for all internal components and also functions as a safety barrier, dustproof, and light-shielding element. The enclosure material can be sheet metal or aluminum alloy, balancing structural strength and weight. In a preferred embodiment, to facilitate observation of the interior, the enclosure 1 has a viewing window 7 on its front side, which can be made of transparent acrylic or tempered glass, allowing for easy observation of the internal operating status (such as material jamming). The surface can be treated with an anti-static coating to prevent dust accumulation.

[0029] The feeding mechanism 2 is located inside the box 1 on one side and upstream of the conveying mechanism 3. It realizes the automatic and orderly supply of test strips. It includes a feeding channel 21, a dispensing component and a discharging channel 22. Multiple test strips enter the dispensing component in sequence through the feeding channel 21 and are pushed to the discharging channel 22 in sequence by the dispensing component. Then, they are sent to the conveying mechanism 3 through the discharging channel 22.

[0030] In order to facilitate the insertion of the test strip, in a preferred embodiment, the top of the feeding channel 21 is provided with a feeding port 28, which is funnel-shaped.

[0031] The feeding assembly separates and quantitatively supplies the stacked test strips, ensuring that only one test strip can pass through at a time. It includes a fixed part 23 and a movable part 24. The top surface of the fixed part 23 has a first through hole that communicates with the lower end of the feeding channel 21, and the bottom surface of the fixed part 23 has a second through hole that communicates with the upper end of the discharging channel 22. The shape of the movable part 24 matches the inner cavity of the fixed part 23, and a third through hole is formed inside the movable part 24. The first through hole, the second through hole, and the third through hole all match the shape of the test strip and maintain a gap fit with the shape of the test strip to ensure that the test strip can slide smoothly without flipping or jamming due to excessive gap. The movable part 24 moves horizontally inside the fixed part 23 through a second electric push rod 25. The second electric push rod 25 can be a stepper electric push rod (e.g., 50mm stroke, 150N thrust) to ensure that the third through hole of the movable part can accurately switch between the two positions of the first through hole and the second through hole. When the first through hole and the third through hole are connected, the test strip is lowered from the feed channel 21 into the third through hole of the movable part 24. When the second through hole and the third through hole are connected, the test strip is lowered from the movable part into the discharge channel 22.

[0032] To further ensure that the movable part moves to the accurate position each time, the side of the fixed part 23 is formed with an elongated limiting hole 26. The limiting hole 26 is set in the horizontal direction. The side of the movable part 24 is connected to a limiting post 27. The limiting post 27 moves horizontally within the limiting hole 26 with the movable part 24. When the limiting post 27 is located at one end of the limiting hole 26, the first through hole and the third through hole are connected. When the limiting post 27 is located at the other end of the limiting hole 26, the second through hole and the third through hole are connected. The limiting hole 26 and the limiting post 27 constitute a simple and reliable mechanical hard limiting system, which forms a double guarantee with the electronic control of the second electric push rod 25.

[0033] The feeding channel 22 can be designed as a slightly inclined slide, relying on the weight of the test strip itself to assist it in sliding down to the conveying mechanism. The structure is simple and reliable.

[0034] The conveying mechanism 3 is located inside the housing 1 below the feeding mechanism 2 and the thermal printer 5. It is used to convey the test strip 8 conveyed by the feeding mechanism 2 to the printing station, and after the thermal printer 5 prints a mark, it continues to convey the test strip to the discharging mechanism 6.

[0035] Specifically, the conveying mechanism 3 includes a stepper motor 31, a conveyor belt 32, and multiple rubber rollers 33. The rubber rollers 33 at both ends tension the conveyor belt 32, and one of the rubber rollers 33 is driven to rotate by the stepper motor 31. The stepper motor 31 can be electrically connected to a controller. Through the controller programming, the fixed distance the conveyor belt moves each time can be precisely controlled to ensure that each test strip stops directly below the print head.

[0036] To improve printing stability, in a preferred embodiment, the conveying mechanism 3 is equipped with a fixed platform 34. The fixed platform 34 is located at the printing station and fixed between two rubber rollers 33. The upper surface of the fixed platform 34 is flush with the rubber rollers 33 to keep the conveyor belt 32 horizontal. The fixed platform 34 provides a rigid support plane for the conveyor belt, which can effectively prevent uneven printing pressure or positional deviation caused by the deformation of the conveyor belt due to suspension.

[0037] To improve cushioning performance and increase friction to prevent the test strip from slipping, in a preferred embodiment, the conveyor belt 32 is provided with a rubber pad layer. This design has two main advantages: first, it increases friction, effectively preventing the test strip from slipping or shifting during transport and ensuring positioning accuracy; second, it provides cushioning, offering slight elastic deformation when the print head presses down, making the contact between the test strip and the print head more uniform and improving print quality.

[0038] The positioning sensor 4, fixed inside the housing 1 and on one side of the conveying mechanism 3, is used to detect whether the test strip on the conveying mechanism 3 has been conveyed to the printing station. The positioning sensor 4 can be a diffuse reflection photoelectric sensor (e.g., Omron E3Z-T61) or a fiber optic sensor. These sensors offer advantages such as fast response, high detection accuracy, and non-contact detection. The positioning sensor 4 can be electrically connected to the controller. When it detects that the test strip has arrived, it immediately sends a high / low level signal to the controller. The controller then commands the stepper motor to stop and, after a delay, starts the thermal printer 5 to print.

[0039] The thermal printer 5, located inside the housing 1, is driven up and down above the printing station by a first electric actuator 51. It is used to print markings (such as batch number, expiration date, QR code, or sample number) on the test strips at the printing station. The first electric actuator 51 controls the raising and lowering of the print head 52, providing stable and sufficient pressure during lowering to ensure printing quality, and raising it after printing to avoid unnecessary friction with the test strips. The first electric actuator 51 is electrically connected to the controller.

[0040] To improve the uniform distribution of pressure across the entire test strip when the print head 52 is pressed down, rather than being concentrated only on the heating dot matrix of the print head, in a preferred embodiment, a pressure plate 53 is installed at the bottom of the print head 52 of the thermal printer 5. The pressure plate 53 matches the shape of the test strip, and one side of the pressure plate 53 has a through hole 54 to expose the heating dot matrix 55 of the print head 52, ensuring that the test strip only turns black when heated in the area where printing is required (where the thermal label 81 is affixed to the test strip 8).

[0041] The dispensing mechanism 6, located on the other side inside the housing 1 and downstream of the conveying mechanism 3, is used to receive the printed test strips. In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing mechanism 6 is a drawer-type collection box, which is movable at the front opening at the bottom of the housing 1. It has a simple structure, low cost, and is easy for the operator to directly remove and use.

[0042] This utility model provides a batch marking device for test strips. Through automatic feeding, thermal printing, and automatic discharging, it can automatically complete clear and standardized marking in batches, realizing full automation from barcode insertion to printing completion. This reduces manual operation, greatly saves writing time, and improves work efficiency. Simultaneously, it avoids oil stains caused by manual writing and misreading due to illegible handwriting, ensuring the accuracy of experimental results. Furthermore, the use of thermal printing provides strong adhesion, resistance to alcohol and water wiping, and resistance to fading due to condensation, friction, or routine disinfection, ensuring long-term traceability of sample information. It can be widely used in the marking of test strip information in fields such as medical diagnosis and food safety testing.

[0043] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0044] The embodiments described above are merely specific implementations of this application, used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them. The protection scope of this application is not limited thereto. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that any person skilled in the art can still modify or easily conceive of changes to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the specific technologies; and these modifications, changes, or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application. All should be covered within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be determined by the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A batch marking device for test strips, characterized in that, include: Box (1); The feeding mechanism (2) is located inside the box (1) on one side and upstream of the conveying mechanism (3). It includes a feeding channel (21), a dispensing component and a discharge channel (22). Multiple test strips enter the dispensing component sequentially through the feeding channel (21) and are pushed sequentially to the discharge channel (22) by the dispensing component. They are then sent to the conveying mechanism (3) through the discharge channel (22). The conveying mechanism (3) is located inside the box (1) below the feeding mechanism (2) and the thermal printer (5). It is used to convey the test strip (8) conveyed by the feeding mechanism (2) to the printing station, and after the thermal printer (5) prints the mark, the test strip is conveyed to the discharging mechanism (6). The positioning sensor (4) is fixed inside the housing (1) and on one side of the conveying mechanism (3) to detect whether the test strip on the conveying mechanism (3) has been conveyed to the printing station; The thermal printer (5) is located inside the housing (1) and is driven up and down above the printing station by the first electric push rod (51) to print markings on the test strips at the printing station; The discharge mechanism (6), located on the other side inside the box (1) and downstream of the conveying mechanism (3), is used to receive the printed test strips.

2. The batch marking device for test strips according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material distribution assembly includes a fixed part (23) and a movable part (24). The top surface of the fixed part (23) has a first through hole that communicates with the lower end of the feeding channel (21), and the bottom surface of the fixed part (23) has a second through hole that communicates with the upper end of the discharging channel (22). The shape of the movable part (24) matches the inner cavity of the fixed part (23), and a third through hole is formed inside the movable part (24). The first through hole, the second through hole and the third through hole all match the shape of the test strip. The movable part (24) moves horizontally inside the fixed part (23) through the second electric push rod (25). When the first through hole and the third through hole are connected, the test strip is lowered from the feeding channel (21) into the third through hole of the movable part (24). When the second through hole and the third through hole are connected, the test strip is lowered from the movable part into the discharging channel (22).

3. The batch marking device for test strips according to claim 2, characterized in that, The side of the fixing member (23) is formed with an elongated limiting hole (26). The limiting hole (26) is set in the horizontal direction. The side of the movable member (24) is connected to a limiting post (27). The limiting post (27) moves horizontally in the limiting hole (26) with the movable member (24). When the limiting post (27) is located at one end of the limiting hole (26), the first through hole and the third through hole are connected. When the limiting post (27) is located at the other end of the limiting hole (26), the second through hole and the third through hole are connected.

4. The batch marking device for test strips according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the feeding channel (21) is provided with a feeding port (28), which is funnel-shaped.

5. The batch marking device for test strips according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conveying mechanism (3) includes a stepper motor (31), a conveyor belt (32) and multiple rubber rollers (33). The rubber rollers (33) at both ends tension the conveyor belt (32), and one of the rubber rollers (33) at one end is driven to rotate by the stepper motor (31).

6. The batch marking device for test strips according to claim 5, characterized in that, The conveying mechanism (3) has a fixed platform (34) inside. The fixed platform (34) is located at the printing station and fixed between two rubber rollers (33). The upper surface of the fixed platform (34) is flush with the rubber rollers (33) so that the conveyor belt (32) is horizontal.

7. The batch marking device for test strips according to claim 5, characterized in that, The conveyor belt (32) is provided with a rubber pad layer.

8. The batch marking device for test strips according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermal printer (5) has a pressure plate (53) installed at the bottom of the print head (52). The pressure plate (53) matches the shape of the test strip. One side of the pressure plate (53) has a through hole (54) to expose the heating dot matrix (55) of the print head (52).

9. The batch marking device for test strips according to claim 1, characterized in that, The discharge mechanism (6) adopts a drawer-type collection box, which is located at the front opening at the bottom of the box (1).

10. The batch marking device for test strips according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front side of the box (1) is provided with a viewing window (7).

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