Fuming Enclosure Moveable Barrier for Sealed Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fuming enclosures for enhancing latent fingerprints are hazardous and lack precision due to manual handling of cyanoacrylate during the microburst fuming process, leading to potential exposure to fumes and burns, and are not highly repeatable.

Innovation Solution

A fuming enclosure with a moveable support or barrier that positions a receptacle containing a volatile component in contact with a heating element while maintaining the enclosure sealed, ensuring safe and precise heating through automated or manual control, allowing for either traditional or microburst fuming processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the operator manually opens the door and deposits cyanoacrylate on the heat source during microburst fuming, then the fuming process can be performed, but the operator is exposed to hazardous fumes and risk of burns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual operation of fuming processVSAvoidexposure to fumes and burns

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A moveable support structure serves as an intermediary mechanism that transfers the receptacle from a safe non-contact position to a contact position with the heating element. This mediator enables the heating process while maintaining operator safety by eliminating the need for manual intervention during the hazardous heating phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static manual operation to dynamic automated control. The moveable support can be actuated by a solenoid or motor to automatically position the receptacle, transforming the manual process into an automated sequence that reduces operator exposure to hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the operator quickly opens and closes the door during microburst fuming, then processing time is reduced, but the process is not highly repeatable or precise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidrepeatability of fuming process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-positioning of the receptacle through the moveable support mechanism. Once activated, the system automatically handles the receptacle transfer without requiring operator dexterity or speed, ensuring consistent and repeatable positioning for precise fuming control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical manipulation of the receptacle is replaced with an automated actuation system (solenoid or motor). This substitution eliminates human variability in timing and positioning, achieving precise and repeatable fuming parameters while maintaining efficient processing speeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Power

If the receptacle is placed in contact with the heating element before heating, then heating efficiency is improved, but fumes may escape and the operator may be burned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidfume escape and burn risk

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary positioning of the receptacle on the moveable support in a safe non-contact position. The heating element is activated first, and only after reaching the required temperature does the moveable support transfer the receptacle to the contact position. This preliminary action sequence prevents fume escape and burns while maintaining heating efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enhances safety by preventing exposure to fumes and burns, and improves repeatability and precision by maintaining the enclosure sealed during the heating process, reducing risks and increasing efficiency in fingerprint processing.

Implementation Method 1

The heating element is operable to be energized to heat a receptacle containing a volatile component to a specified temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The support is configured to move the receptacle to a contact position such that the receptacle is in contact with the heating element while maintaining the enclosure sealed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical displacement: Displacement

Implementation Method 3

Cyanoacrylate is heated within the enclosure so that it vaporizes into fumes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS11428469B2Fuming enclosure with selective heating apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.08.30 LABCONCO CORP

AI summary

A fuming enclosure including a heating element and a moveable support or barrier. The heating element may heat a receptacle containing a volatile component. The moveable support or barrier is moveable between a first position, in which the volatile component is not heated by the heating element, and a second position, in which the volatile component is heated by the heating element. The moveable support or barrier may be moveable while maintaining the enclosure sealed. The moveable support or barrier may be automatically moveable. A fuming enclosure with a one-way seal configured to prevent fumes from escaping the enclosure and allow volatile component to flow through the seal into the enclosure while the enclosure is sealed.