Dispensing Nozzle Cleaning Layout for Compact Automatic Analyzers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzers face challenges in maintaining analysis accuracy due to insufficient cleaning of dispensing nozzles, which are enlarged and costly due to dedicated special cleaning tanks for each dispensing mechanism.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analyzer design with shared special cleaning tanks and dedicated normal cleaning tanks for dispensing mechanisms, minimizing the analyzer's size and cost while ensuring effective cleaning through a controller-managed operation schedule.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated special cleaning tanks are provided for each dispensing mechanism, then cleaning performance is improved, but the size of the analyzer is enlarged and manufacturing cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the special cleaning functions for multiple dispensing mechanisms into a single shared special cleaning tank. Multiple dispensing mechanisms share this common tank, eliminating the need for separate dedicated tanks for each mechanism. This consolidation reduces the overall volume of cleaning tanks while maintaining the ability to perform specialized cleaning when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared special cleaning tank serves multiple dispensing mechanisms simultaneously, making it a universal cleaning resource. The tank can be accessed by any dispensing mechanism that requires special cleaning, and the system coordinates access to ensure proper cleaning of each mechanism without requiring dedicated infrastructure for each.
2Reliability
If dedicated special cleaning tanks are provided for each dispensing mechanism, then cleaning performance is improved, but manufacturing cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple special cleaning tanks into a single shared unit, directly reducing manufacturing costs. By producing one tank instead of multiple dedicated tanks, the system reduces material costs, assembly complexity, and overall manufacturing expenditure while preserving specialized cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal special cleaning tank serves multiple dispensing mechanisms, providing cost-effective multi-functionality. Rather than manufacturing separate specialized tanks for each mechanism, a single versatile tank is produced that can handle special cleaning requirements for any dispensing mechanism in the system.
3Reliability
If normal cleaning tanks are dedicated to each dispensing mechanism, then cleaning effectiveness is maintained, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cleaning system into two distinct levels: dedicated normal cleaning tanks for each dispensing mechanism and a shared special cleaning tank. This segmentation allows routine cleaning to be handled independently by each mechanism's dedicated tank, while specialized cleaning is coordinated through the shared resource, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the special cleaning resources into a shared tank while maintaining dedicated normal cleaning tanks. This hybrid approach combines the benefits of dedicated resources for routine operations with shared resources for specialized tasks, optimizing the balance between effectiveness and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic analyzer dispenses each specimen and reagent in a reaction vessel so as to make the specimen and the reagent react with each other and measures a liquid obtained by the reaction. The automatic analyzer includes a plurality of dispensing mechanisms; a controller which controls the plurality of dispensing mechanisms; a normal cleaning tank dedicated to each of the dispensing mechanisms, which is provided at a position where only one of the plurality of dispensing mechanisms accesses, and performs normal cleaning with respect to the dispensing mechanism that has accessed; and a special cleaning tank shared by each of the dispensing mechanisms, which is provided at a position where all of the plurality of dispensing mechanisms access, and performs cleaning different from the normal cleaning with respect to the dispensing mechanism that has accessed.