Dual-Sided Gripping Device for Sample Vessel Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sample manipulation devices face challenges in reliably and quickly placing and removing sample vessels from carriers, especially when vessels are secured against removal, leading to reduced throughput and increased error rates as handling speed increases.
Innovation Solution
A gripping device with a first gripping section that grips from one side and a second gripping section that grips from the opposite side, allowing for efficient movement and placement of sample vessels along a lifting path, and orthogonal repositioning to manage vessels secured against removal, without requiring specialized devices or tools for different configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single gripping section is used to handle sample vessels, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of handling secured vessels decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device is divided into a first gripping section with a first holder and first tool, and a second gripping section with a second holder and second tool. Each section can independently engage with the sample vessel from opposite sides, allowing reliable handling of secured vessels through coordinated action of multiple segmented gripping components.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second gripping sections are combined in a single gripping device, working together to simultaneously engage the sample vessel from both sides. This merging of multiple gripping sections enables reliable handling of secured vessels while maintaining device integration.
2Productivity
If handling speed is increased to improve throughput, then the productivity increases, but the error rate increases reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second tools are positioned to simultaneously engage with the sample vessel before movement begins. The first tool engages from the first side and the second tool engages from the second side in advance, ensuring secure grip on secured vessels before high-speed movement, thereby maintaining reliability at increased handling speeds.
3Adaptability or versatility
If specialized devices are used for different vessel configurations, then the handling reliability for specific configurations improves, but the device complexity and adaptability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device with first and second gripping sections is designed to universally handle different vessel configurations including secured and unsecured vessels. The coordinated action of the first and second tools allows the same device to adapt to various vessel types without requiring specialized configurations, thereby improving versatility while maintaining manageable device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for receiving a sample vessel (18) from a sample carrier (16) by means of a gripping device (12) comprising a first gripping section (30) and a second gripping section (32). The first gripping section (30) is designed to grip the sample vessel (18) from a first side, and the first gripping section (30) has a first mounting (34) for the sample vessel (18) and a first tool (42) for moving the sample vessel (18) along a stroke movement. The second gripping section (32) is designed to grip the sample vessel (18) from a second side opposite the first side, and the second gripping section (32) has a second mounting (52) for the sample vessel (18). The method has the following steps: positioning the first gripping section (30) on the first side of the sample vessel (18) and the second gripping section (32) on the second side of the sample vessel (18) such that the first gripping section (30) lies opposite the second gripping section (32) along the stroke movement; bringing the first tool (42) into engagement with the sample vessel (18); moving the sample vessel (18) along the stroke movement from the first side to the second side in one direction; receiving the sample vessel (18) in the second mounting (52); repositioning the first gripping section (30) and the second gripping section (32) in a lateral direction running orthogonally to the stroke movement such that the first gripping section (30) on the first side of the sample vessel (18) lies opposite the second gripping section (32) along the stroke movement, wherein the sample vessel (18) is arranged in a free region which is not occupied by the sample carrier (16); moving the sample vessel (18) along the stroke movement from the second side to the first side in the opposite direction; and bringing the sample vessel (18) into engagement with the first mounting (34) provided in the first gripping section (30).