Blood Glucose Meter Strip Ejection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional strip unloading devices for blood glucose meters are complex, costly, and require separate assembly, limiting design flexibility and increasing the size of the meter, while also necessitating different designs for various types of meters, which complicates component management and user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A compact strip unloading device with an unloader block and contact pins integrated into a housing on a printed circuit board, featuring a guide protrusion for flexible mounting and elastic contact pins for secure loading and unloading, allowing for standardized design and reduced manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional strip unloading device is used, then the test strip can be unloaded from the blood glucose meter, but the device structure becomes complex and the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the unloader block, contact pins, and housing into an integrated assembly that functions as a unified strip unloading device. The unloader block is disposed within the housing and works in conjunction with the contact pins to provide both support and unloading functions through a single integrated structure, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The unloader block serves multiple functions: it acts as a support structure for the contact pins, provides the unloading mechanism through its movement, and guides the test strip through its geometric features. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the device structure while maintaining the strip unloading capability.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional strip unloading device with separate assembly is used, then the unloading function is provided, but the manufacturing efficiency decreases and assembly processes become complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the unloader block, contact pins, and housing into a pre-assembled unit that can be installed as a single module in the blood glucose meter. This merging of components into a unified assembly simplifies the manufacturing process and improves production efficiency by reducing the number of separate assembly steps required.
3Ease of operation
If the unloader block is disposed outside the housing, then the strip unloading function is provided, but the blood glucose meter size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the unloader block inside the housing, nesting the unloading mechanism within the existing structure of the blood glucose meter. The unloader block is disposed in the housing below the contact pins, utilizing the internal space efficiently and avoiding any increase in the external dimensions of the device.
4Adaptability or versatility
If different designs are used for various types of blood glucose meters, then each meter can be optimized, but component management becomes complicated and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the unloader block and housing assembly as a universal component that can be applied to various types of blood glucose meters. The standardized design allows the same unloading mechanism to be used across different meter models, simplifying component management and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining adaptability through flexible mounting options.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide protrusion can be selectively formed on the upper or lower portion of the unloader block, providing design flexibility that allows the same basic component to be adapted to different meter configurations and types. This dynamic positioning capability enables universal application across various blood glucose meter designs.
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
The solution minimizes the size and enhances manufacturing efficiency of the blood glucose meter, provides flexible design options, and ensures user convenience through secure and elastic strip handling, reducing contamination risks and simplifying component management.
Implementation Method 1
an unloader block disposed in the housing below the contact pins to linearly move towards or away from the strip insert and having a central unloading protrusion to be engaged with the test strip loaded into the strip insert so as to eject the test strip in the process of moving towards the strip insert
Implementation Method 2
The test strip is elastically supported by the contact pins in the space of the housing, thereby enhancing the fixed loading of the loaded test strip and complete unloading of the unloaded test strip by means of elastic force of the contact pins
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a strip ejection apparatus for a blood glucose meter, wherein: an ejector block moving to eject a measurement strip is received in the space inside a housing, whereby it is possible to make the apparatus compact, thereby enhancing space efficiency of the blood glucose meter; components can be mounted on a PCB of the blood glucose meter in units of modules as they are, without any additional separate assembly for the components, whereby it is possible to enhance efficiency of a manufacturing process; a guide protrusion coupled with an ejection switch of the blood glucose meter is selectively formed on the upper or lower portion of the ejector block or formed on both the upper and lower portions thereof, whereby it is possible to enhance the degree of freedom in design of the mounting position of the ejection switch; and the strip ejection apparatus can be applied to various types of blood glucose meters so that it is possible to standardize the type of strip ejection apparatus, thereby reducing manufacturing cost, as well as facilitating component management.