Automatic Analyzer Rack Conveyance Error Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic analyzers using rack samplers face challenges in accurately conveying racks due to potential misplacement, leading to falls or deviations from the sample suction position, which existing detection methods struggle to address effectively without compromising size reduction or increasing apparatus size.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analyzer is designed with a convey mechanism, error placement detection unit, and controller that intermittently moves the rack and stops the convey operation when an error placement is detected, ensuring safe and accurate conveyance by using sensors to determine proper placement and prevent falls through guided positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a movable portion relying on rack self-weight is used for placement detection, then the detection mechanism is simple, but the rack readily falls and size reduction is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical movable portion detection system with an optical sensor-based detection system. The sensor detects the rack's placement state by sensing light reflection or interruption, eliminating the need for mechanical components that rely on rack self-weight. This substitution maintains detection functionality while improving reliability and enabling compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary sensor between the rack and the detection system. Instead of direct mechanical interaction, the sensor acts as an intermediary that detects rack placement through optical or electromagnetic fields, preventing direct mechanical contact that could cause instability or require larger components.
2Reliability
If the rack size is increased to prevent falling, then placement stability improves, but apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing mechanical stability mechanisms with sensor-based detection, the patent eliminates the need to increase rack size for stability. The sensor system can detect and respond to placement issues regardless of rack dimensions, allowing compact rack design while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system enables the apparatus to self-monitor rack placement and automatically respond to misplacement conditions. This self-service capability allows the use of smaller racks since the system actively compensates for potential instability through detection and control, rather than relying on passive mechanical stability from larger size.
3Device complexity
If placement detection is performed only at the pull-in position, then the detection mechanism is simple, but the rack may fall during conveyance before reaching the pull-in position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary placement detection at the convey mechanism's placement position before the rack is conveyed to the pull-in position. This early detection allows the system to verify correct placement and prevent conveyance of improperly positioned racks, eliminating safety gaps in the monitoring process while maintaining simple sensor-based detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system operates continuously during the rack placement and conveyance process, providing uninterrupted monitoring. Rather than single-point detection, the system maintains continuous awareness of rack position and placement state, ensuring safety throughout the entire conveyance operation while using straightforward sensor technology.
Data Source
AI summary
A convey mechanism is a moving mechanism used to move a rack, which can store cuvettes, along a linear moving direction. A driving unit drives the convey mechanism to intermittently move the rack along. A detection unit outputs an error signal when it detects that a placement state of the rack on the convey mechanism corresponds to an error placement which does not allow the convey mechanism to normally convey the rack, and does not output any error signal when it detects that the placement state does not correspond to the error placement. A controller controls the driving unit to stop a convey operation of the rack when the error signal is output. The controller controls the driving unit to execute the convey operation of the rack when the error signal is not output.