Floor-standing cryogenic storage refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cryogenic storage devices with hinged doors expose the cryogenic zone during frequent sample storage and retrieval, causing temperature variations that adversely affect sensitive biological samples.

Innovation Solution

A vertical low-temperature storage refrigerator with a roller shutter passage assembly and a sample scooping mechanism that allows sample storage and retrieval without opening the entire chamber door, using a roller shutter and sample scooping mechanism that moves upward or downward through a transfer window to access samples while minimizing exposure to other samples.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a hinged door is used for sample storage and retrieval, then ease of operation is improved, but temperature stability deteriorates due to exposure of the cryogenic zone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesample storage and retrieval operationVSAvoidtemperature stability in cryogenic zone
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The door system is segmented into a fixed main door and a movable roller shutter. The roller shutter can be independently opened only at the specific location where sample retrieval is needed, while the rest of the door remains closed. This segmentation allows localized access without exposing the entire cryogenic zone, thus maintaining temperature stability while enabling easy operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the entire chamber door is opened for sample retrieval, then ease of operation is improved, but sample viability deteriorates due to temperature variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesample retrieval operationVSAvoidsample viability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The door system is segmented into a fixed main door and a movable roller shutter. The roller shutter can be independently opened only at the specific location where sample retrieval is needed, while the rest of the door remains closed. This segmentation allows localized access without exposing the entire cryogenic zone, thus maintaining temperature stability while enabling easy operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If frequent access to the cryogenic zone is allowed, then productivity is improved, but temperature stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesample storage and retrieval efficiencyVSAvoidtemperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The door system is segmented into a fixed main door and a movable roller shutter. The roller shutter can be independently opened only at the specific location where sample retrieval is needed, while the rest of the door remains closed. This segmentation allows localized access without exposing the entire cryogenic zone, thus maintaining temperature stability while enabling easy operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4718000A1Floor-standing cryogenic storage refrigerator
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 SHANGHAI ORIGINCELL BIOLOGICAL CRYO EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP4718000A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4718000A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4718000A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a vertical low-temperature storage refrigerator, including a sample storage chamber and an operation chamber. The operation chamber is arranged laterally adjacent to the sample storage chamber, a roller shutter passage assembly is arranged on the sample storage chamber, and the roller shutter passage assembly is arranged inside the operation chamber. A sample scooping mechanism is arranged inside the operation chamber, and the sample scooping mechanism is configured to store and scoop the corresponding samples in the sample storage chamber through the roller shutter passage assembly. In the present invention, a rolling storage member drives a transfer window to move upward or downward, so as to match a corresponding storage slot on a basket in the sample storage chamber, and the sample scooping mechanism penetrates the transfer window by moving upward or downward to scoop the sample on the basket, which avoids exposure of other samples that do not need to be extracted, and reduces frequent temperature variations. A grasping mechanism, a transfer tank retention zone, and a code scanning mechanism are arranged together, such that the grasping mechanism facilitates sample grasping, transport and scanning, and only one grasping mechanism is needed to realize the free movement of a plurality of functional areas.