A high-throughput, fully automated slide stainer

Abstract

This utility model discloses a high-throughput, fully automatic slide sealing machine, comprising a coverslip storage module, a coverslip picking, covering, and transferring module, a glue dispensing module, a slide transfer module, a slide collection module, and a central control system. The coverslip storage module is mounted on the upper end of the frame. The coverslip picking, covering, and transferring module is located in front of the coverslip storage module. The glue dispensing module is located to the left of the coverslip picking, covering, and transferring module. The slide transfer module is located behind the glue dispensing module. The slide collection module is located behind the slide transfer module. A glue bottle is located behind the coverslip storage module. This utility model, through a large-capacity 90-slide slide collection module and a highly efficient slide transfer module, achieves continuous automated processing of batch slides, greatly improving operational efficiency and meeting the high-throughput slide sealing needs of laboratories.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of pathological analysis and laboratory automation equipment, specifically to a high-throughput, fully automatic slide sealing machine. Background Technology

[0002] In biomedical research and clinical diagnosis, such as pathology and cytology, after staining cells, a mounting process is required. This involves applying mounting adhesive to the tissue sample on a glass slide and covering it with a transparent coverslip to protect the sample for long-term preservation and microscopic observation. Currently, semi-automatic mounting methods are used, which suffer from drawbacks such as low efficiency, poor consistency, and reliance on operator experience. Excessive adhesive can cause overflow and contamination of the back of the slide and microscope objectives, while insufficient adhesive can lead to incomplete mounting, air bubbles, and compromised observation and archiving quality. Therefore, those skilled in the art have developed a high-throughput, fully automated mounting machine to address the problems described in the background section. Utility Model Content

[0003] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a high-throughput, fully automatic slide sealing machine, including a frame, a cover slide storage module, a cover slide picking, cover slide sealing and cover slide transfer module, a glue dispensing module, a slide transfer module, a slide collection module, and a central control system. The cover slide storage module is installed on the upper end of the frame. The cover slide picking, cover slide sealing and cover slide transfer module is set in front of the cover slide storage module. The glue dispensing module is set to the left of the cover slide picking, cover slide sealing and cover slide transfer module. The slide transfer module is set behind the glue dispensing module. The slide collection module is set behind the slide transfer module. The glue bottle is set behind the cover slide storage module. The central control system, as the control core of the equipment, is used to coordinate and control the action sequence and timing of the cover slide storage module, the cover slide picking, cover slide sealing and cover slide transfer module, the glue dispensing module, the slide transfer module, and the slide collection module. Slide collection module: Used to automatically collect sealed glass slides, with a capacity of at least 90 slides; Slide transfer module: As the core transmission hub, it is used to grab the stained slides from the upstream circulating track module and accurately transfer them to the sealing station. It also integrates a horizontal X-axis drive mechanism and a rotary drive motor. It can move in conjunction with the dispensing module at the sealing station to complete the dispensing action along a preset trajectory. After sealing, the slides are transferred to the slide collection module. Coverslip storage module: Used for centralized and orderly storage of a large number of coverslips, providing a material source for automatic coverslip retrieval; Dispensing module: Equipped with a high-precision glue volume control and timing control system for precise regulation of glue dispensing volume and dispensing time; Coverslip picking, coverslip sealing, and coverslip transfer module: This module is used to pick up, transfer, and press coverslips onto the glass slides. It integrates a horizontal Y-axis mechanism and a vertical Z-axis mechanism. It can pick up coverslips from the coverslip storage module, transfer them to the top of the glued glass slide via the Y-axis mechanism, and then smoothly cover the glass slide onto the glass slide via the Z-axis mechanism. Central control system: Used to coordinate and control the sequence and timing of the actions of the slide transfer module, dispensing module, cover slip picking, cover slip sealing and cover slip transfer module to ensure continuous operation of the sealing process.

[0004] Preferably, the slide collection module has a capacity of 90 slides, which is suitable for the collection needs of high-throughput operations.

[0005] Preferably, the high-precision glue volume control and timing control system of the dispensing module can ensure that the glue volume on each glass slide is uniform and appropriate.

[0006] Preferably, the cover glass taking, sealing, and transferring modules achieve precise alignment and stable pressing of the cover glass through the coordinated action of the Y-axis mechanism and the Z-axis mechanism.

[0007] The technical effects and advantages of this utility model are as follows: This invention achieves continuous automated processing of batch slides through a large-capacity (90 slides) slide collection module and a high-efficiency slide transfer module, greatly improving operational efficiency and meeting the high-throughput sealing needs of laboratories. It integrates multiple workstations and functional modules, including loading, transfer, dispensing, cover slip retrieval, capping, and unloading / collection, achieving true end-to-end automation. This reduces manual intervention, lowers the workload of operators, and avoids the impact of human error on sealing quality. High-precision dispensing module control ensures consistent adhesive application. The cover slip retrieval, capping, and transfer modules, through coordinated Y-axis and Z-axis mechanisms, achieve precise alignment and stable pressing of cover slips, effectively preventing air bubbles and adhesive overflow, significantly improving the stability and reliability of sealing quality, and ensuring effective sample observation and archiving. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this application; In the diagram: 1. Cover slip storage module; 2. Cover slip retrieval, cover slip sealing, and cover slip transfer module; 3. Adhesive dispensing module; 4. Slide transfer module; 5. Slide collection module; 6. Adhesive bottle. Detailed Implementation

[0009] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The embodiments of the present invention are given for illustrative and descriptive purposes only, and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the disclosed forms. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described to better illustrate the principles and practical applications of the present invention, and to enable those skilled in the art to understand the present invention and design various embodiments with various modifications suitable for a particular purpose.

[0010] like Figure 1As shown, this embodiment provides a high-throughput, fully automatic cover slide sealing machine, including a frame, a cover slide storage module 1, and a central control system. The cover slide storage module 1 is installed on the upper end of the frame. The cover slide storage module 1 serves as a dedicated storage tank for cover slides, used to centrally and orderly store a large number of cover slides, providing a stable and sufficient material source for the automatic cover slide retrieval process and ensuring the continuity of the sealing process. A cover slide retrieval, cover slide sealing, and cover slide transfer module 2 is set on the front side of the cover slide storage module 1. This module is the core execution unit for realizing the sealing function, integrating the functions of gripping, transferring, and sealing cover slides. Its specific workflow is as follows: from cover slide... In the slide storage module 1, coverslips are picked up by adsorption. Then, a horizontal Y-axis mechanism precisely transfers the coverslips to a position directly above the glued slide. Finally, a vertical Z-axis mechanism drives the coverslips to descend smoothly, precisely covering the sample area of ​​the slide, completing the sealing process. To the left of the coverslip retrieval, sealing, and transfer module 2 is the glue dispensing module 3. This module is equipped with a high-precision glue volume control unit and a timing control system. Its core function is to precisely control the glue dispensing amount and timing. This design ensures that the glue amount on each slide is uniform and appropriate, preventing glue overflow due to excessive glue or sealing defects due to insufficient glue. To address quality issues such as incomplete slides and air bubbles, a slide transfer module 4 is installed behind the dispensing module 3. This module serves as the core transport hub, handling the transfer of slides between various stations. It picks up stained slides from the upstream circulating track module and precisely transfers them to the sealing station. Simultaneously, the module integrates a horizontal X-axis drive mechanism and a rotary drive motor, allowing it to move in conjunction with the dispensing module 3 at the sealing station to complete the dispensing action along a preset trajectory, ensuring precise dispensing coverage. After sealing, this module transfers the slides again to the slide collection module 5, achieving closed-loop slide transport. The slide transfer module 4 is located behind... A slide collection module 5 is installed on the side. The slide collection module 5 is used to automatically collect the slides that have been sealed. It is designed to hold 90 slides to meet the collection needs of high-throughput operations and provide an orderly storage space for the slides after batch processing. A glue bottle 6 is installed on the rear side of the coverslip storage module 1. The central control system is the control core of the equipment. It is used to coordinate and control the action sequence and timing of the coverslip storage module 1, coverslip picking, coverslip sealing and coverslip transfer module 2, glue dispensing module 3, slide transfer module 4 and slide collection module 5. Through preset programs and real-time feedback control, it ensures that the entire sealing process runs smoothly, efficiently and without interference, and achieves the collaborative operation of each module.

[0011] The working principle of this utility model is as follows: After the equipment is started, the central control system initializes each module, checks the status of the coverslip storage module 1 (coverslip storage level) and the adhesive level in the dispensing module 3 (adhesive level), ensuring the equipment is ready. The slide transfer module 4 uses its gripping mechanism to pick up the stained slides from the upstream circulating track module. With the cooperation of the horizontal X-axis drive mechanism and the rotary drive motor, the slides are precisely transferred to the sealing station and positioned. The central control system sends a dispensing command, and the dispensing module 3, according to the preset adhesive level parameters and timing, dispenses adhesive onto the sample area of ​​the slide along a preset trajectory, ensuring uniform adhesive coverage of the sample. Dispensing is then complete. Afterwards, the coverslip retrieval, coverlip sealing, and coverslip transfer module 2 is activated. It picks up a coverslip from the coverslip storage module 1 through the adsorption component, moves it horizontally via the Y-axis mechanism to directly above the slide at the sealing station, and is driven by the Z-axis mechanism to slowly descend and smoothly cover the sample after adhesive dispensing, completing the sealing process. After sealing, the slide transfer module 4 operates again to transfer the sealed slide from the sealing station to the slide collection module 5 for orderly storage. The above steps are repeated until the slide collection module 5 is full (90 slides) or there are no more slides to be sealed upstream, at which point the equipment automatically stops or enters standby mode.

[0012] Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art and related fields based on the embodiments of this utility model without creative effort should fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Structures, devices, and operating methods not specifically described and explained in this utility model, unless otherwise specified or limited, shall be implemented according to conventional means in the art.

Claims

1. A high-throughput, fully automatic sealing machine, characterized in that, The system includes a frame, a cover plate storage module (1), a cover plate taking, cover plate sealing and cover plate transferring module (2), a glue dispensing module (3), a slide transferring module (4), a slide collecting module (5), and a central control system. The cover plate storage module (1) is installed on the upper end of the frame. The cover plate taking, cover plate sealing and cover plate transferring module (2) is set in front of the cover plate storage module (1). The glue dispensing module (3) is set on the left side of the cover plate taking, cover plate sealing and cover plate transferring module (2). The slide transferring module (4) is set behind the glue dispensing module (3). The slide collecting module (5) is set behind the slide transferring module (4). The glue bottle (6) is set behind the cover plate storage module (1). The central control system is the control core of the equipment and is used to coordinate and control the action sequence and timing of the cover plate storage module (1), the cover plate taking, cover plate sealing and cover plate transferring module (2), the glue dispensing module (3), the slide transferring module (4), and the slide collecting module (5). Slide collection module (5): used to automatically collect sealed slides, and can hold at least 90 slides; Slide transfer module (4): As the core transmission hub, it is used to grab the stained slides from the upstream circulating track module and accurately transfer them to the sealing station. It also integrates a horizontal X-axis drive mechanism and a rotary drive motor. It can move in conjunction with the dispensing module (3) at the sealing station to complete the preset trajectory dispensing action. After sealing, the slides are transferred to the slide collection module (5). Coverslip storage module (1): Used to centrally and orderly store a large number of coverslips, providing a material source for automatic coverlip retrieval; Dispensing module (3): Equipped with a high-precision glue volume control and timing control system for precise control of glue dispensing volume and dispensing time; Cover sheet picking, cover sheet sealing and cover sheet transfer module (2): used to realize the functions of grabbing, transferring and pressing cover sheets. It integrates a horizontal Y-axis mechanism and a vertical Z-axis mechanism. It can pick up cover sheets from the cover sheet storage module (1), transfer them to the top of the glued glass slide through the Y-axis mechanism, and then smoothly cover the glass slide through the Z-axis mechanism. Central control system: used to coordinate and control the sequence and timing of the actions of the slide transfer module (4), dispensing module (3), cover plate take-up, cover plate sealing and cover plate transfer module (2) to ensure continuous operation of the sealing process.

2. The high-throughput, fully automatic sealing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slide collection module has a capacity of 90 slides, which is suitable for high-throughput operations.

3. The high-throughput, fully automatic sealing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The high-precision glue volume control and timing control system of the dispensing module can ensure that the glue volume on each glass slide is uniform and appropriate.

4. The high-throughput, fully automatic sealing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover glass receiving, sealing, and transferring modules achieve precise alignment and stable pressing of the cover glass through the coordinated action of the Y-axis and Z-axis mechanisms.

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