Automated Analyzer Container With Moveable Wall For Vessel Lid Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated analyzers face challenges in efficiently and error-free insertion, removal, and opening of vessels with covers or lids, which are essential for consumables like reagents, due to complex and space-consuming mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A container design with a moveable wall assembly and actuator system that translates vessels and engages with lids or covers to open them during translation, using simple mechanical elements like spring-biased plates for compact integration and fault-tolerant operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If complex mechanisms are used for inserting, removing, and opening vessels with covers or lids, then the operation can be automated, but the device complexity and space consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (vessel insertion, lid opening, and vessel removal) into a single integrated container structure. The moveable wall assembly performs both the lid-opening function and the vessel-positioning function, eliminating the need for separate mechanisms for each operation. This merging reduces overall device complexity while maintaining full automation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The moveable wall assembly serves multiple purposes: it acts as a container wall, a lid opener, and a vessel positioning mechanism. By making the wall itself moveable, it can engage with the vessel cover to open it, then continue moving to position the vessel for removal. This multi-functionality reduces the number of dedicated components needed, thereby reducing device complexity.
2Device complexity
If simple mechanical elements are used for vessel handling, then the device complexity is reduced, but the automation capability and operational reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable wall assembly uses the force from its own movement to automatically open the vessel lid. As the wall moves from the open to closed position, it naturally engages with and pries open the lid without requiring separate actuators or complex control systems. This self-service mechanism improves reliability by reducing the number of potential failure points while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is designed so that the moveable wall is pre-positioned to engage with the vessel lid at the appropriate moment during its movement. The geometry of the wall and lid interface is designed in advance to ensure that the opening action occurs automatically as part of the wall's movement sequence, ensuring reliable operation without complex control logic.
3Ease of operation
If dedicated mechanisms are provided for each operation (insertion, removal, opening), then operational precision is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static container wall into a dynamic, moveable component that performs multiple operations. The moveable wall can change position to accommodate vessel insertion, engage with the lid to open it, and then position the vessel for removal. This dynamic approach allows a single component to perform functions that would traditionally require multiple dedicated mechanisms, thereby reducing space requirements while maintaining operational precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to a container for receiving vessels for use in an automated analyzer the container comprising a wall assembly including a first wall and a second wall, the wall assembly forming a receptacle for receiving a vessel having one or more covers or lids, at least one of the first and second walls being moveable to provide a first open configuration for receiving the vessel and a second closed configuration. The container further comprises an actuator, the actuator being configured to translate the vessel from a first position after being received in the container to a second position and the wall assembly in the second closed configuration being positioned so that at least one engaging element attached to the wall assembly engages with the covers or lids of the vessel to open the covers or lids while the vessel is being translated by the actuator from the first position to the second position.