Cleaning Bath Compressed Air Outlet Trajectory Probe Water Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzers face challenges in removing leftover cleaning water from the outer wall surface of probes without increasing the size of the cleaning bath, which can contaminate the probe and affect analysis accuracy, especially with reduced dispensing volumes and repeated suction and cleaning cycles.
Innovation Solution
The automatic analyzer incorporates a cleaning bath with a cleaning water outlet and a compressed air outlet disposed on the trajectory of the cleaning water discharge, allowing for the controlled removal of leftover cleaning water from the probe's outer wall surface without enlarging the bath and preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air outlet is disposed above the cleaning unit and at a distance from the probe to prevent contamination, then the reliability of preventing probe contamination is improved, but the volume of the cleaning bath increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet is positioned within the trajectory of cleaning water discharge, utilizing the vertical dimension of water flow to naturally rinse the air outlet. This spatial arrangement allows the air outlet to be located close to the probe without contamination risk, as the downward flowing cleaning water prevents contaminated air from reaching the probe.
Solution Approach 2:
Cleaning water serves as an intermediary medium that rinses the air outlet and prevents contamination. The trajectory of cleaning water discharge creates a protective barrier that eliminates the need for spatial separation between the air outlet and probe, thereby maintaining compact bath volume while ensuring reliability.
2Productivity
If the cleaning water outlet and compressed air outlet are positioned close to the probe for efficient cleaning, then the productivity of the cleaning process is improved, but the risk of scattering cleaning water and contaminating the probe increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outlets are positioned to utilize the vertical trajectory of cleaning water discharge. The air outlet is placed within this trajectory so that downward flowing water naturally rinses the air outlet and prevents scattered water from contaminating the probe, enabling close positioning without increasing contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic flow (cleaning water) to create a controlled environment where the water trajectory acts as a protective barrier. By positioning the air outlet within this hydraulic flow path, the system leverages fluid dynamics to prevent contamination while maintaining high cleaning efficiency.
3Volume of stationary object
If the cleaning bath volume is reduced to maintain compact apparatus size, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to effectively remove leftover cleaning water from the probe deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet is positioned within the vertical trajectory of cleaning water discharge, utilizing the downward flow direction to rinse the air outlet. This spatial configuration allows effective removal of leftover cleaning water from the probe while maintaining a compact bath volume, as the water flow path provides continuous rinsing action.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning water discharge trajectory automatically rinses the air outlet and probe area without requiring additional mechanisms. The system uses its own cleaning water flow to maintain cleanliness of critical components, enabling effective leftover water removal in a compact configuration.
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
This configuration effectively removes leftover cleaning water without contaminating the probe, maintaining high analysis accuracy and reliability by ensuring efficient cleaning without scattering or carrying over cleaning water to subsequent dispensing and stirring processes.
Implementation Method 1
a compressed air outlet, disposed on the trajectory of the cleaning water discharged from the cleaning water outlet, and for discharging the compressed air supplied from the compressed air supply unit toward the probe inserted into the cleaning bath
Implementation Method 2
a cleaning water outlet for discharging into the cleaning bath the cleaning water supplied from the cleaning water supply unit
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
[Subject] The invention provides a highly reliable automatic analyzer and dispenser probe cleaning method that allows for the removal of leftover cleaning water from the outer wall surfaces of a probe without increasing the size of a cleaning bath and contaminating the outer wall surfaces of the probe. [Solving Means] A cleaning bath 113 (108, 106) comprises: a cleaning water outlet 203 for discharging into the cleaning bath 113 (108, 116) the cleaning water supplied from a cleaning water supply mechanism 123; and a compressed air outlet 204, disposed on the trajectory of the cleaning water discharged from the cleaning water outlet 203, for discharging the compressed air supplied from a compressed air supply mechanism 124 toward a sample probe 111b or a reagent probe 120 inserted in the cleaning bath 113 (108, 106).