Automatic Analyzer Dual Consumable Holders for Uninterrupted Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzers face reduced throughput and test accuracy when analytic operations are interrupted for consumable replacement, and providing a dedicated mechanism to avoid interruptions leads to increased size and cost.
Innovation Solution
The automatic analyzer includes a control system that allows access to one consumable holder during operations and restricts access to another holder during non-operations, using multiple consumable holders and a conveying mechanism to manage consumable supply without dedicated mechanisms, enabling seamless replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a dedicated mechanism is provided for replacing consumables without interrupting analytic operations, then throughput is maintained, but the analyzer becomes larger and more costly
Solution Approach 1:
The consumable supply system is segmented into multiple independent consumable holders (first holder and second holder), each capable of storing consumables. This segmentation allows one holder to be accessed while the other is in use, enabling consumable replacement without interrupting analytic operations, thus maintaining throughput without requiring a complex dedicated replacement mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple consumable holders are merged into a single integrated consumable supply section that shares common conveying mechanisms and control systems. This merging allows the system to maintain multiple consumable storage locations while avoiding the need for separate dedicated replacement mechanisms for each holder, thereby controlling device complexity and cost
2Device complexity
If analytic operations are interrupted during consumable replacement, then device complexity is reduced, but throughput and test accuracy are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares consumables in advance by storing them in multiple consumable holders before they are needed. The control section monitors consumable levels and ensures that replacement consumables are ready in the available holder, allowing seamless replacement without interrupting analytic operations and maintaining throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The control section acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the consumable holders and the analysis section. It manages the switching between holders, ensures proper conveying of consumables, and maintains operational continuity, thereby enabling uninterrupted throughput without complex mechanical intervention
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an automatic analyzer for replacing a consumable without interrupting analytic operations while suppressing increase in size and cost of the device. The consumable supply section includes a first consumable holder capable of holding a first consumable storage vessel for storing multiple consumables, a second consumable holder capable of holding a second consumable storage vessel for storing multiple consumables, and a conveying mechanism for conveying the consumables in the first and the second consumable holders to an analysis section. While the analysis section is executing analytic operations, the control section executes control operations to allow the access of the operator to the first consumable holder, and to disable the access of the operator to the second consumable holder. While the analysis section is not executing the analytic operations, the control section executes control operations to allow the access of the operator to the first and the second consumable holders.