Elastic Container Clamping for Centering and Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic analytical apparatuses face challenges in accurately grasping and centering blood collection tubes of various diameters, leading to potential inclination and miscentering, which affects the accuracy of liquid surface height detection and reproducibility of trace pipetting processes.
Innovation Solution
A container-clamping apparatus with at least two container holding members and a connection member, where at least part of the holding member or connection member is formed of an elastic body, ensures the container is centered and securely held, absorbing vibrations to maintain stability and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a chuck mechanism is used to hold blood collection tubes of various diameters, then the device can accommodate different container sizes, but small diameter tubes are less firmly held and may become inclined or miscentered
Solution Approach 1:
The container holding members are equipped with elastic bodies at specific contact points with the container. This creates localized adaptive compression forces that conform to the container's surface, providing firm yet gentle holding for small diameter tubes while maintaining proper centering, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic bodies allow the holding force and contact pressure to change dynamically based on container diameter. When a small diameter tube is inserted, the elastic bodies compress more, increasing the holding force locally to prevent inclination and miscentering, thereby maintaining reliability across different container sizes
2Reliability
If a rigid holding mechanism is used to firmly secure containers, then container stability is improved, but containers of various diameters cannot be accommodated and small tubes may be damaged or miscentered
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic bodies act as flexible elements within the holding members, allowing the mechanism to adapt its shape and contact pressure to accommodate containers of various diameters. This flexibility maintains firm holding stability for large containers while providing gentle, adaptive support for small diameter tubes, preventing damage and miscentering
3Measurement precision
If the container is not properly centered, then the liquid surface height detection accuracy decreases, but re-centering mechanisms increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic bodies in the holding members automatically adjust to center the container on the transport mechanism without requiring external sensing or control systems. As the container is placed, the elastic bodies compress asymmetrically until the container reaches its centered position, where symmetric compression occurs. This self-centering action ensures accurate liquid surface height detection while avoiding complex re-centering mechanisms
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 precise detection of liquid surface positions and highly reproducible pipetting, reducing the need for user intervention and enhancing the reliability of analysis results by preventing backtracking operations and delays.
Implementation Method 1
at least a part of the container holding member or the connection member is formed of an elastic body
Implementation Method 2
at least a part of the container holding member or the connection member is formed of an elastic body
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
In the past, when centering the center of a liquid surface and fixation thereof proved difficult under the circumstances encountered during mounting into an automatic analytical apparatus, there was sometimes the possibility that the accuracy of checking the liquid surface conditions and the pipetting precision could not be ensured, due to effects occurring during the sample check or pipetting. When this sort of problem occurred, there was sometimes the possibility that the result report would be delayed, that a backtracking operation by the user would be necessary, or that the reliability of the analysis results would be diminished. In view of the foregoing problem, the present invention provides an automatic analytical apparatus provided with a probe for suctioning a liquid to be used in analysis, characterized in that the apparatus is provided with a transport apparatus for transporting a container accommodating the liquid, and a container-clamping apparatus for clamping the container transported by the transport apparatus, the container-clamping apparatus having a vibration suppression mechanism for retaining the clamped container through the agency of an elastic body, and a centering retention mechanism with which centering of the container center can be fixed.