Micropipette sorting and packaging system

A micropipette sorting and packaging system includes a base, a XY platform, a carrying platform, a vibration tray, an automatic discharge mechanism and a control unit. With the installation of the automatic discharge mechanism, a conventional sorting and packaging design adopting a robotic arm is replaced to reduce occupied space and lower installation costs.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a micropipette sorting and packaging system, in particular to a system for separating a solid from other solids such as a device for separating solids and applicable for loose objects like bulk materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, a conventional micropipette sorting and packaging method as shown inFIG. 1uses a vibration tray1to guide each micropipette2into a sorting rail3, and then clamps the micropipette2by a robotic arm4, and finally sends the micropipette2to a packaging tray. However, this method adopts the robotic arm and has the following disadvantages. Firstly, the size of robotic arm occupies a relatively large space. Secondly, the robotic arm incurs a higher cost. Thirdly, the robotic arm is generally driven by an air compressor, and the air compressor occupies additional space for the installation of the air compressor, and a motor of the air compressor produces noisy sounds when the air compressor is operated.

It is a main subject of the present invention to develop a micropipette sorting and packaging system to replace the traditional sorting and packaging design that adopts the robotic arm, so as to reduce occupied spaces, lower installation costs and avoid noisy sounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned shortcomings of the conventional micropipette sorting and packaging system, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience in the related industry to conduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed a micropipette sorting and packaging system in hope of reducing occupied spaces, lowering installation costs, and preventing sound pollutions.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides a micropipette sorting and packaging system, comprising: a base; a XY platform, installed on the base, and moved in X-axis and Y-axis directions on the base; a carrying platform, installed on the XY platform; a vibration tray, installed on the base, and having a sorting rail disposed at an external rim of the vibration tray for sorting a micropipette; an automatic discharge mechanism, having a long-strip rail, and an upper end of the long-strip rail having a feeding inlet and a stop portion, and a lower end of the long-strip rail having an outlet and a sensor, and the feeding inlet being coupled to the sorting rail, and the outlet being situated at the carrying platform; and a control unit, electrically coupled to the vibration tray, the automatic discharge mechanism and the XY platform, for controlling a sorting and packaging process.

Therefore, a micropipette sorting and packaging system of the present invention can reduce occupied spaces, lower installation costs, and avoid noisy sounds.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

With reference toFIG. 2for a perspective view of a micropipette sorting and packaging system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the micropipette sorting and packaging system comprises a base10, a XY platform20, a carrying platform30, a vibration tray40, an automatic discharge mechanism50and a control unit60.

The XY platform20is installed on the base10and moved in X-axis and Y-axis directions. The carrying platform30is installed on the XY platform20for moving the XY platform20and changing a carrying position. The vibration tray40is installed on the base10, and the vibration tray40has an internal rim higher than an external rim of the vibration tray40, and a sorting rail42is disposed at the external rim of the vibration tray40for sorting a micropipette (not shown in the figure).

With reference toFIG. 3for a schematic enlarged view of an automatic discharge mechanism of a micropipette sorting and packaging system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the automatic discharge mechanism50includes a long-strip rail55, and an upper end of the long-strip rail55includes a feeding inlet52and a stop portion54, and a lower end of the long-strip rail55includes an outlet56and a sensor58. The feeding inlet52is coupled to the sorting rail42. The stop portion54is driven by an electromagnetic force or a mechanical force. The outlet56is aligned with the carrying platform30. The sensor58is an infrared sensor.

The control unit60is electrically coupled to the vibration tray40, the automatic discharge mechanism50and the XY platform20for controlling the sorting and packaging process.

With reference toFIGS. 4A,4B and4C for a sorting and packaging a micropipette by a micropipette sorting and packaging system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control unit60turns on the vibration tray40to scatter the micropipette2on the vibration tray40to enter into an external rim of the vibration tray40, and guiding the micropipette2into the sorting rail42. The micropipette2moves along the sorting rail42and enters into the feeding inlet52of the automatic discharge mechanism50. Now, the control unit60controls the stop portion54to ascend and then descend immediately (as shown inFIG. 4B) to send the micropipette2into the long-strip rail55, and block another micropipette2′ from entering (as shown inFIG. 4C). When the micropipette2is discharged from the outlet56, the sensor58detects the micropipette2passing through the outlet56and transmits a signal to the control unit60. After the control unit60controls the XY platform20to move the carrying platform30to a fixed position, the stop portion54is released to allow the micropipette2′ to enter into the long-strip rail55.

Therefore, the micropipette sorting and packaging system of the present invention can replace the traditional robotic arm for the sieving and packaging work.

In summation of the description above, the present invention provides an automatic discharge mechanism to replace the conventional sorting and packaging design adopting a robotic arm and achieves the effects of reducing occupied space, lowering installation cost, and avoiding noisy sounds. Obviously, the present invention complies with the patent application requirements and the products manufactured in accordance with the present invention can meet the current market requirements.