Flow Cell Mounting Structure for Screwless Automatic Analyzers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional method of fixing the flow cell on the board using screws results in low working efficiency due to the need for screw installation or removal during loading and unloading.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analyzer is designed with a protrusion and/or recess portion on the board and flow cell, and a pressing member that vertically presses the flow cell into place, eliminating the need for screws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flow cell is fixed on the board using screws, then the light blocking effect is improved and alignment is maintained, but the working efficiency decreases due to the need to install or remove screws during loading and unloading
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the screws from the fixing mechanism, replacing them with a pressing member that applies vertical pressure to secure the flow cell. This eliminates the need for screw installation and removal while maintaining the light blocking effect and alignment stability through the pressing force alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical screw-based fixing system with a pressing member-based system that uses vertical pressing force. This substitution maintains the necessary mechanical constraint for alignment while eliminating the complex screw installation/removal process, thereby improving working efficiency.
2Reliability
If the flow cell is fixed using screws, then the light blocking effect is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for screw installation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the screws and associated installation mechanisms from the system, replacing them with a simpler pressing member that achieves the same light blocking and alignment function through vertical pressing alone, thereby reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by concentrating the fixing function at the pressing interface between the pressing member and the flow cell. The pressing member applies localized vertical pressure at specific points to achieve both alignment and light blocking without requiring distributed screw fixation throughout the structure.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an automatic analyzer with improved workability when a flow cell is loaded and unloaded. The automatic analyzer includes: a photomultiplier tube; a board disposed vertically below the photomultiplier tube; and a flow cell disposed vertically below the board. A lower surface of the board has a protrusion portion and/or a recess portion, and an upper surface of the flow cell has a recess portion and/or a protrusion portion. The automatic analyzer includes a pressing member configured to press the flow cell vertically upward from below in a state in which the recess portion and/or the protrusion portion of the flow cell is fitted to the protrusion portion and/or the recess portion of the board.