Filter Element Orientation Device for Pipette Tips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Equipping injection molded pipette tips with cylindrical filter elements is challenging due to cycle time constraints and the close arrangement of tips, as well as accommodating different sizes and shapes, which requires a versatile fitting device.
Innovation Solution
A method and device involving a sieve plate, buffer plate, and transfer plate system where cylindrical filter elements are shaken into corresponding holes, held by a controllable retaining device, and transferred to a handling device, allowing for efficient alignment and fitting of filter elements into pipette tips, with the ability to easily exchange components for different sizes and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If filter elements are inserted one by one into pipette tips, then alignment precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased cycle time
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the filter element handling into three distinct plates: a receiving container with sieve plate for random bulk material input, a buffer plate for organized storage with holes corresponding to sieve openings, and a transfer plate for grouped transfer to pipette tips. This segmentation allows parallel processing and maintains both precision and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer plate performs preliminary action by pre-positioning filter elements in holes corresponding to sieve plate openings before the actual transfer to pipette tips occurs. This pre-organization enables faster subsequent transfer operations while maintaining alignment precision
2Manufacturing precision
If the fitting device is designed for specific pipette tip shapes, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer plate serves multiple functions: it receives filter elements from the buffer plate, positions them for transfer to pipette tips, and can accommodate different pipette tip configurations. The handling device also handles both filter elements and pipette tips, making the system versatile for different tip shapes and sizes without requiring separate fitting devices
3Area of stationary object
If pipette tips are arranged in close groups, then space utilization is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in equipping with filter elements
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the receiving container, buffer plate, and transfer plate into an integrated assembly that handles multiple filter elements simultaneously. The buffer plate with its array of holes allows parallel preparation of multiple filter elements, making it easy to equip closely arranged pipette tips in groups without increasing space requirements
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 solution enables efficient and flexible equipping of pipette tips with filter elements, improving cycle time and accommodating various tip sizes and shapes without the need for separate fitting devices, ensuring effective contamination protection.
Implementation Method 1
performing a shaking movement on the receiving container to transfer the disordered filter elements into the holes in the screen plate
Implementation Method 2
the retaining device is formed by applying a vacuum to the circumference of the bores in the screen plate, the vacuum being applied in a controlled manner in such a way that only one filter element is released at a time
Data Source
Figure 1~2d
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for orienting elements, in particular filter elements (F), for fitting injection-molded parts, in particular pipette tips (P), comprising an accommodating container (1a) for accommodating the filter elements (F) as bulk material, a sieve plate (1), which forms the bottom of the accommodating container and which has bores (11) for accommodating individual filter elements (F), a buffer plate (2), which is arranged under the sieve plate (1) and which has bores (2.1) corresponding to the bores of the sieve plate (1), and a transfer plate (3), which has bores (3.1) corresponding to the bores of the buffer plate (2) and which is arranged below the buffer plate in such a way that the transfer plate can be moved in relation to the buffer plate (2).