Double-Decker Tube Dispenser Compact Design
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood sampling tube preparation apparatuses face issues with large size, difficulty in conveying rubber-capped tubes due to high frictional resistance, limited compatibility with tubes of varying sizes, and inability to handle tubes without caps, leading to restricted types of usable tubes and increased horizontal width, making them unsuitable for desktop or portable use.
Innovation Solution
A double-decker tube dispenser with a blood sampling tube stocker device arranged above a printing-and-pasting device, incorporating orientation detection and arrival detection mechanisms, a conveyor system for transporting labeled tubes, and an intermediate conveyor to facilitate efficient tube handling and reduce horizontal width, allowing for compact and portable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If stocker mechanisms are arranged vertically overlapping to handle multiple tube types, then the number of tube types handled increases, but the height dimension becomes considerably large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical stacking (height dimension) to horizontal arrangement (width dimension) for multiple stocker mechanisms. Each stocker mechanism is arranged side-by-side in the horizontal direction, allowing multiple tube types to be handled while maintaining a compact height suitable for desktop use.
2Quantity of substance
If caterpillar-like partition plates are expanded horizontally to form more receiving portions, then the number of receiving portions increases, but the horizontal width becomes significantly larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where blood sampling tubes are stored vertically within each receiving portion, and multiple receiving portions are arranged compactly in the horizontal direction. This nesting approach maximizes the number of receiving portions while minimizing the overall horizontal footprint of the apparatus.
3Stability of the object's composition
If frictional resistance between support rail and cap lower end surface is high, then support stability improves, but conveying fails due to friction exceeding driving force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cap holding member as an intermediary component between the support rail and the blood sampling tube cap. This holding member features a curved surface that contacts the cap, providing stable support while reducing frictional resistance compared to direct contact with the support rail, thereby enabling successful conveying.
4Volume of stationary object
If apparatus size is reduced for desktop use, then portability improves, but the ability to handle multiple tube types simultaneously decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges multiple stocker mechanisms horizontally side-by-side rather than stacking them vertically, and positions the printing-and-pasting device below the stockers. This spatial reconfiguration enables the apparatus to handle multiple tube types while maintaining a compact vertical profile suitable for desktop placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a shared conveying system that serves multiple stocker mechanisms, allowing a single conveyor to transport tubes from different stockers to the printing-and-pasting device. This multi-functional approach reduces overall apparatus size while maintaining the capability to handle various tube types.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a double-decker tube dispenser that is not only compact but also highly portable, can be set easily on a cart, a desk, and the like, is capable of responding immediately in case of emergency such as disaster, and enables blood sampling tubes of different types to be prepared in response to blood sampling instructions from doctors. A blood sampling tube stocker device is arranged in an overlapping manner above a printing-and-pasting device, and hence a horizontal width can be extremely reduced. With this, the double-decker tube dispenser, which is not only significantly compact but also highly portable, and applicable not only to medium and small hospitals and hospital wards for inpatients, but also, for example, to facilities specializing in blood sampling, and enables use beside a sickbed, desktop use, and use on a mobile cart and the like in a state in which the dispenser is simply mounted thereon, is provided. The double-decker tube dispenser is capable of responding immediately in case of emergency such as disaster, and hence blood sampling tubes of different types can be prepared by being dispensed reliably one by one in response to blood sampling instructions from doctors.