Conical Screw Vessel Holder for Vibration-Stable Microscope Stages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vessel holders in biological microscopes require multiple screws for fixation, leading to inconvenience, reduced utility space, and vulnerability to vibration-induced position changes, especially when high magnification is used.
Innovation Solution
A vessel holder fixed with a conical screw that uses a single screw to securely attach to a stage, incorporating a wedge insertion groove and a conical screw head to maintain position stability and close contact, reducing the need for multiple screws and minimizing vibration impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple screws are used to fix the vessel holder to the stage, then the fixation stability is improved, but the device complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fixation functions into a single conical screw mechanism. The conical screw integrates both the positioning function (through the wedge-shaped protrusion fitting into the groove) and the fixation function (through the conical threading), replacing what would traditionally require multiple separate screws and alignment features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the screw from a standard cylindrical shape to a conical shape. This parameter change allows the screw to self-align and self-center during insertion, eliminating the need for precise alignment that would otherwise require multiple adjustment screws or complex alignment features.
2Reliability
If multiple screws are used to fix the vessel holder, then the fixation stability is improved, but the usability and cell observation efficiency deteriorate due to protruding screw heads
Solution Approach 1:
The conical shape of the screw head provides a curved, tapered surface that allows the screw to be recessed into the vessel holder body. This curved geometry enables the screw head to sit flush or below the surface, eliminating protrusion issues that would interfere with cell observation and usability.
3Device complexity
If a simple hole matching the vessel holder size is used, then the assembly complexity is reduced, but the position stability deteriorates due to vulnerability to external vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation mechanism combines two different geometric features (wedge-shaped protrusion and conical screw hole) into a composite fixation system. This composite approach provides both the simplicity of a single-piece fit and the stability of threaded fixation, resisting vibration better than a simple hole while remaining easier to assemble than multiple separate features.
4Device complexity
If a simple hole matching the vessel holder size is used, then the assembly complexity is reduced, but the contact between the stage and vessel holder deteriorates, causing lifting issues
Solution Approach 1:
The conical shape of the screw hole changes the contact parameters between the screw and the vessel holder. As the conical screw is tightened, it creates increasing radial pressure that ensures complete contact between the vessel holder bottom surface and the stage, preventing lifting while maintaining simple assembly.
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 solution ensures stable fixation with one screw, improving usability, reducing assembly complexity, and enhancing cell observation efficiency and accuracy by maintaining the vessel holder's position despite vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
a fixing screw is fastened to the screw hole and the screw opening
Implementation Method 2
a wedge insertion groove is formed in the reference side, and a screw opening is formed on the holder groove opposite to the reference side; wherein one end of the vessel holder is formed with a protruding wedge inserted into the wedge insertion groove
Implementation Method 3
a screw hole is formed on the vessel holder opposite to the protruding wedge; and wherein a fixing screw is fastened to the screw hole and the screw opening
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vessel holder fixed with a conical screw for use in a biological microscope or the like, and more particularly, to an improved vessel holder fixed with a conical screw to be accurately fixed to a reference side without a change in position with respect to impact vibration while allowing the vessel holders to be closely attached to an upper surface of the stage with only one screw, thereby improving usability, cell observation efficiency and accuracy.