Analysis Chip Transport With Recessed Screw-Shaft Holes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transport mechanisms for analysis chips with flat bottom surfaces, such as those used in micro-total analysis systems, face challenges in stable transportation and risk of damage due to screw shaft holes, making them unsuitable for efficient chip handling.

Innovation Solution

A transport mechanism featuring a transport table with recessed portions around screw shaft holes and a pair of screw shafts with helical protrusions that engage with engagement ribs on the chip, ensuring stable sliding transport while minimizing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If holes are formed in the transport table for screw shaft installation, then the transport mechanism can be assembled, but the analysis chip may get caught in the holes and become damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport mechanism assemblyVSAvoidchip damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transport table is designed with different local structures: areas where chips contact are made smooth and flat, while areas away from contact zones can have holes for screw shaft installation. This local differentiation allows both chip protection and mechanism assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

A protective layer or coating is applied to the transport table surface in contact with chips, acting as an intermediary that prevents chips from getting caught in holes while allowing screw shafts to be installed through the holes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a belt conveyor is used to transport the analysis chip, then stable transport is achieved, but space saving becomes difficult due to required rotation space and driving mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport stabilityVSAvoidapparatus space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rotating the transport belt as in conventional conveyors, the screw shafts are rotated to move the chips linearly along the transport table. This inverts the conventional approach, eliminating the need for rotation space while maintaining stable transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical belt rotation system is replaced with a screw shaft rotation system that converts rotational motion into linear motion of chips, reducing space requirements while maintaining transport reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Area of stationary object

If the analysis chip is transported by sliding on the transport table, then space efficiency is improved, but damage risk increases due to contact with holes and surface irregularities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapparatus spaceVSAvoidchip damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transport table surface is designed with locally differentiated properties: contact areas are smooth and flat to prevent chip damage, while non-contact areas can have holes for assembly purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

A protective coating or layer is applied beforehand to the transport table surface in contact zones, cushioning the chips against potential damage from surface irregularities or hole edges during sliding transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The mechanism enables stable and damage-free transport of analysis chips with flat bottom surfaces, enhancing positional accuracy and space efficiency compared to conventional systems.

Implementation Method 1

a pair of screw shafts disposed parallel to each other along the transport direction, each of which has a shaft body and a helical protrusion helically formed on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft body, and the pair of screw shafts propels the analysis chip in the transport direction by rotating about their respective axes while the helical protrusions are engaged with the engagement ribs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHelical engagement mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 2

a transport table having a transport surface on which the analysis chip is placed with the bottom surface in contact with the transport surface, the analysis chip being transported while sliding on the transport surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS20250283904A1Transport mechanism and analysis apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

A transport mechanism includes: a transport table having a transport surface on which an analysis chip being transported; and a pair of screw shafts disposed parallel to each other and propelling the analysis chip in the transport direction, in which the transport surface has a hole formed in a contact region, and a recessed portion formed in at least a part of a periphery of an opening edge of the hole, and the recessed portion has a recessed surface that makes a height of a partial opening edge, which is located on a downstream side on an entire circumference of the opening edge and includes a contact point with a tangent extending in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, lower than a height of the transport surface, and the recessed surface extends from the partial opening edge to an outside of the contact region.