Automatic Analyzer Opening Lid Hinge for Stable Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing opening and closing lid devices in automatic analyzers are prone to unintentionally closing during maintenance due to the application of slight forces, hindering maintenance work and potentially damaging the device.
Innovation Solution
The opening and closing lid device features a hinge mechanism with a biasing member that maintains the lid in an opened position and ensures it moves to a fully closed position based on applied forces, using a lock mechanism to stabilize the lid's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a biasing member is used to maintain the lid in an opened position, then the lid can be stably maintained in an opened state during maintenance, but a slight force in the closing direction may cause the lid to close unexpectedly, hindering maintenance work
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper portion is positioned in advance to engage with the biasing member before any closing force is applied. This preliminary positioning ensures that when maintenance work is performed and the lid is opened, the stopper automatically engages with the biasing member to maintain the opened state, preventing unexpected closing without requiring additional action during maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper portion acts as an intermediary element between the lid and the biasing member. It mediates the interaction by providing a mechanical stop that prevents the biasing member from acting on the lid until a specific condition (lid closing) is met, thus maintaining stability during maintenance while allowing controlled closing when needed.
2Reliability
If the opening degree of the outlet cover is increased to maintain it in an opened position, then stability in opened state is improved, but excessive load may be applied to the rotating portion and stopper portion when force is applied from above
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper portion is pre-positioned to engage with the biasing member at a specific location on the lid. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the lid is opened, the stopper engages with the biasing member to provide support without requiring excessive opening degree, thereby preventing excessive load on the rotating portion while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of opening degree by providing a mechanical stop that limits the maximum opening angle. The stopper portion engages with the biasing member to prevent the lid from opening beyond a safe angle, thereby maintaining stability while preventing excessive load on the rotating portion and stopper portion.
3Reliability
If the lid is designed to close automatically based on applied forces, then operational reliability is improved, but the lid may close during maintenance work if not properly controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper portion is positioned in advance to engage with the biasing member before maintenance work begins. This preliminary engagement creates a mechanical lock that prevents the lid from closing during maintenance operations, while still allowing automatic closing to occur when the stopper disengages after maintenance is completed.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper portion serves as an intermediary that controls the interaction between the lid and the biasing member during maintenance. It mediates the automatic closing function by preventing engagement during maintenance work and allowing engagement after maintenance, thus controlling when the lid closes without requiring manual intervention.
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 device securely maintains the lid in an opened state during maintenance and automatically closes it when necessary, ensuring airtightness and temperature control within the analyzer, enhancing operational reliability and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member (46) that maintains the opening and closing lid (16) in an opened position and enables the opening and closing lid (16) to move to a fully closed position in accordance with a biasing applied to the opening and closing lid (16) from above
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an opening and closing lid device that can stably maintain an opening and closing lid in an opened position and move the opening and closing lid to a fully closed position in accordance with a biasing applied to the opening and closing lid from above, and an automatic analyzer using the opening and closing lid device. The opening and closing lid device includes: the opening and closing lid that covers and freely opens or closes an opening portion provided at a region cover that covers a first region including a pretreatment device; a support arm that connects, through the opening portion, the opening and closing lid and a support shaft in the first region and is rotatably supported by the support shaft; and an opening holding mechanism that holds the support arm so as to hold the opening and closing lid in a fully opened position when a tip end of the opening and closing lid is at a position higher than a predetermined reference height, and releases holding of the support arm so that the opening and closing lid moves to the fully closed position due to own weight when the tip end of the opening and closing lid is at a position lower than the reference height. The opening and closing lid is held such that the tip end is higher than an end close to the support shaft in the fully opened position and the end close to the support shaft is higher than the tip end in the fully closed position.