Drying Holder for FTIR Filter Paper

Solution Overview

Problem

Drying filter paper impregnated with a liquid sample for Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis often results in wrinkles, creating an irregular surface that complicates focus adjustment and leads to poor measurement accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A holder for drying that includes a first tubular portion and an annular second member, which fixes filter paper in a flat state under tension, allowing for even drying and maintaining a flat surface for accurate measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If filter paper is dried to remove liquid for FTIR measurement, then the liquid sample can be analyzed, but wrinkles are caused in the filter paper creating an irregular surface

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveFTIR measurement accuracyVSAvoidfilter paper surface flatness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The filter paper is pre-mounted on the cylindrical holder before drying, establishing a flat supporting surface in advance. This preliminary arrangement ensures that during the drying process, the filter paper maintains its flatness and does not develop wrinkles, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving accurate FTIR measurements and maintaining filter paper surface flatness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cylindrical holder acts as an intermediary structure between the filter paper and the drying environment. It provides a rigid, flat supporting surface that prevents the filter paper from wrinkling during drying, while still allowing the liquid sample to be effectively dried for FTIR analysis. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by maintaining both measurement accuracy and surface flatness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If filter paper is dried to enable FTIR measurement, then the sample can be analyzed, but focus adjustment becomes difficult due to irregular surface

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveFTIR measurement accuracyVSAvoidfocus adjustment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The filter paper is pre-mounted on the cylindrical holder before drying, establishing a flat supporting surface in advance. This preliminary arrangement ensures that during the drying process, the filter paper maintains its flatness and does not develop wrinkles, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving accurate FTIR measurements and maintaining filter paper surface flatness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cylindrical holder acts as an intermediary structure between the filter paper and the drying environment. It provides a rigid, flat supporting surface that prevents the filter paper from wrinkling during drying, while still allowing the liquid sample to be effectively dried for FTIR analysis. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by maintaining both measurement accuracy and surface flatness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional drying method is used, then drying process is simple, but measurement data accuracy becomes poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying process simplicityVSAvoidmeasurement data accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The filter paper is pre-mounted on the cylindrical holder before drying, establishing a flat supporting surface in advance. This preliminary arrangement ensures that during the drying process, the filter paper maintains its flatness and does not develop wrinkles, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving accurate FTIR measurements and maintaining filter paper surface flatness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cylindrical holder acts as an intermediary structure between the filter paper and the drying environment. It provides a rigid, flat supporting surface that prevents the filter paper from wrinkling during drying, while still allowing the liquid sample to be effectively dried for FTIR analysis. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by maintaining both measurement accuracy and surface flatness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The holder enables highly accurate FTIR measurements by ensuring the filter paper remains flat and smooth during drying, improving data intensity and peak clarity compared to conventional drying methods.

Implementation Method 1

an annular second member that can fix filter paper impregnated with a liquid containing an object in a flat state under tension

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTension: Tension

Implementation Method 2

the filter paper is dried. Drying, however, causes wrinkles in the filter paper

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS12313537B2Holder for drying, method of manufacturing measurement sample, and measurement method

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 SHIMADZU CORP

AI summary

A holder for drying includes a first member including a first tubular portion that protrudes like a tube and an annular second member that can fix filter paper in a flat state under tension by being fitted over the filter paper to surround an outer side of the first tubular portion while the filter paper is carried on the first tubular portion.