Workpiece Carrier With Corrugated Edges For Drug Delivery Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workpiece carriers for drug delivery devices are inefficient in terms of space usage, stability, and cost-effectiveness, particularly during transportation and storage, as they do not allow for optimal stacking and orientation of sub-assemblies, which complicates the assembly process and increases logistics costs.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece carrier with an array of accommodating recesses and a stack forming structure that allows for perpendicular stacking, featuring a corrugated or undulated surrounding edge for mutual alignment and fixation, enabling two different orientations for enhanced stability and space efficiency, and accommodating recesses with tapered shapes for secure component storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If workpiece carriers are designed with flat structures for simple manufacturing, then production cost is reduced, but stacking efficiency and space utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece carrier incorporates corrugated or undulated surrounding edges that extend vertically, transforming a flat 2D structure into a 3D structure with stacking capabilities. This dimensional change enables multiple carriers to be stacked vertically while maintaining alignment, improving space utilization without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The corrugated edges of upper workpiece carriers nest into the corrugations of lower carriers, creating a interlocking stacked arrangement. This nesting mechanism allows efficient vertical stacking while maintaining structural integrity and alignment, resolving the contradiction between simple manufacturing and stacking efficiency
2Device complexity
If workpiece carriers use simple flat structures, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but stability during stacking deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By adding vertical corrugations to the otherwise flat workpiece carrier structure, the design introduces a third dimension that provides mechanical interlocking between stacked carriers. This enhances stacking stability while maintaining relative simplicity in the overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The corrugated edges create an asymmetric profile that enables directional stacking and proper orientation of carriers. This asymmetric feature provides stability by ensuring carriers stack in the correct orientation while adding minimal structural complexity
3Volume of moving object
If workpiece carriers are designed for optimal stacking, then logistics costs are reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The corrugated edges add vertical dimensionality to the carrier structure, enabling efficient stacking without requiring complex multi-component assemblies. This simple geometric modification achieves optimal storage space utilization while keeping manufacturing relatively straightforward
Solution Approach 2:
The corrugated surrounding edges serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural rigidity, enable stacking alignment, and facilitate interlocking between carriers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, balancing manufacturing complexity with stacking optimization
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a workpiece carrier for transporting and/or storing components of a drug delivery device, comprising: - an array (12) of accommodating recesses (14) extending in a first lateral plane (x, y) and being adapted to receive at least one component of the drug delivery device, - at least one stack forming structure (16) adapted to mate with a corresponding stack forming structure (16) of another workpiece carrier for mutually aligning workpiece carriers when stacked on one another, - wherein the center of the at least one stack forming structure (16) is arranged laterally offset with respect to the center of the array (12) of accommodating recesses (14) in at least one lateral direction, and - wherein the stack forming structure (16) comprises a surrounding edge (16) comprising at least in sections a corrugated or undulated structure (18, 19).