Deformable Disinfectant Bottle for Compact Endoscope Cleaning Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a disinfectant bottle and endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus that can accommodate larger volumes of disinfectant while maintaining a compact size, as existing standard bottles are insufficient and traditional apparatus designs are not optimized for downsizing.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a disinfectant bottle with a rigid portion and a deformable bellows-shaped portion that changes shape from a first storage form to a second compressed form after disinfectant discharge, allowing for efficient use of space and integration with a sliding tray mechanism within the apparatus, enabling the apparatus to be more compact and accommodate higher-volume bottles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a standard disinfectant bottle is used, then the apparatus can be compact, but the disinfectant volume is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bottle body is designed with a deformable portion that changes shape during disinfectant discharge. The deformable portion transitions from an expanded first shape when full to a compressed second shape when empty, allowing the bottle to dynamically adapt its volume. This dynamic shape change enables the bottle to accommodate larger disinfectant volumes while maintaining a compact apparatus footprint when the disinfectant is depleted.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottle structure incorporates a deformable portion that changes its physical parameters (shape and volume) based on the disinfectant level. The deformable portion can be elastically deformed between different states, allowing the bottle to expand when filled with disinfectant and contract when empty, thus resolving the contradiction between storing large volumes and maintaining compact size.
2Quantity of substance
If a larger volume bottle is used, then disinfectant capacity increases, but the apparatus becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable portion of the bottle body enables dynamic volume adjustment. When the bottle is installed in the tray, the deformable portion can be compressed by the tray structure, transforming from an expanded storage shape to a compressed operational shape. This allows the bottle to provide large capacity when needed while occupying minimal space during apparatus operation.
3Volume of moving object
If the bottle is made deformable, then space efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bottle body incorporates a deformable portion made from flexible material that can be elastically deformed between different shapes. This flexible shell design allows the bottle to change volume and shape in response to external forces (such as compression by the tray), enabling efficient space utilization while using relatively simple manufacturing processes for flexible containers.
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 allows for the efficient discharge and storage of disinfectant, reducing the overall size of the apparatus while accommodating larger disinfectant volumes, enhancing the usability and efficiency of the endoscope cleaning and disinfecting process.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable portion which is in a first shape while the disinfectant being stored therein and is deformable from the first shape to a second shape when the disinfectant is discharged therefrom
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus of the present invention includes: a bottle body, including, a rigid portion with a mouth portion, and a deformable portion which is in a first shape while the disinfectant being stored therein and is deformable from the first shape to a second shape upon being compressed when the disinfectant is discharged therefrom; and a disinfectant tray having a housing section which can be pulled out of the apparatus body and into which the bottle body is housed, the disinfectant tray being provided with a housing space for a first slide member which allows the housing section to slide relative to the apparatus body and a housing space for a second slide member which is slidable relative to the first slide member.