Container Transfer Locking Mechanism for Safe Media Exchange
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container transfer systems in medical and pharmaceutical applications suffer from poor functional reliability, leading to errors in mixing and transferring medications, particularly due to inadequate locking mechanisms that can result in incorrect substance combinations or volumes.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an additional control mechanism on the mobile container that surrounds its external circumference, allowing for a controlled unlocking of the transfer device, which includes a key-lock system with physical coding to ensure safe and correct media transfer operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple locking mechanism is used for the transfer device, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of the locking mechanism deteriorates leading to operational errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a control mechanism on the mobile container that must be activated before the transfer device can be unlocked. This preliminary control step ensures that only authorized or correct containers can be transferred, preventing operational errors before they occur. The control mechanism is prepared in advance on the container itself, so when the container is presented to the transfer device, the unlocking can only proceed if the control conditions are met.
2Reliability
If an additional control mechanism with encryption is added to the container, then the reliability and safety of transfer operations is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by integrating the control mechanism directly into the container structure. The control is not a separate external device but is nested within or as part of the container itself (e.g., as part of the cap or container wall). This integration reduces the need for separate manufacturing processes and allows the control mechanism to be produced as part of the container molding or assembly, thereby easing manufacturing while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If a controlled unlocking mechanism is implemented, then operating errors are prevented and safety is improved, but the ease of operation is reduced due to additional control steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the control mechanism so that the container itself provides the control function. The container's control mechanism automatically interacts with the transfer device's locking system without requiring separate manual activation or complex user input. The user simply needs to present the correct container, and the control mechanism self-activates or self-verifies the unlocking condition, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer system for containers includes first and second containers (1), (5), which can be interconnected in a media-transferring way by a connection (7). The connection has a transfer device (27), when held in a locked position by a lock (25), prevents an exchange of media, and permits the exchange in an unlocked position in which the transfer device (7) is guided longitudinally movably in a seat (9) of the connection (7) for a transfer operation. The lock (25) is transferable to an unlocked position by the movement of at least one of the containers (5). The additional controls (13, 21) are present on the respective movable container (5), at least partially enclose the outer periphery of this container (5) and actuate the lock (25) of the transfer device (27) to unlock.