Hinged Transport Container for Microplate Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport containers for microplates are inefficient in maintaining the stacked state during transport, prone to tilting and falling, and require manual handling, which can lead to contamination and increased labor, especially when handling hazardous substances or precision instruments.
Innovation Solution
A transport container with a hinged structure that allows the side members to adjust their position relative to the handle, enabling easy loading and unloading while maintaining the stacked microplates securely, and can be transported manually or by machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a shelf-shaped structure is used for individual storage, then tilting and falling of transported objects can be prevented, but the container structure becomes complex and requires lid members to be opened and closed repeatedly
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a body and a detachable cover assembly. The cover assembly includes a cover member and a support member that can be separated from the body, allowing for simplified loading and unloading operations without requiring complex lid mechanisms to be opened and closed repeatedly.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member is designed to be movable relative to the cover member, allowing it to adjust its position to support stacked microplates. This dynamic configuration enables the container to adapt to different stacking scenarios while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If manual handling is used for loading and unloading, then ease of operation is maintained, but contamination risk and labor increase especially when handling hazardous substances
Solution Approach 1:
The detachable cover assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the transported objects. By removing the cover assembly rather than manually handling the microplates, the system reduces contamination risk while maintaining ease of operation through a simple removal and reattachment process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the container is designed for secure transport, then stability is improved, but ease of loading and unloading deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The separation of the cover assembly from the body allows the container to provide secure transport during transit while enabling easy loading and unloading when the cover assembly is removed. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing different configurations for different operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member is pre-configured within the cover assembly to automatically support stacked microplates when the assembly is attached. This preliminary arrangement ensures secure transport without requiring complex loading procedures, as the support structure is already in place to guide and secure the objects during transfer.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport container includes: a bottom member where the transported object is placed; left and right side members disposed beside the bottom member; a handle disposed above the bottom member; left and right lower connecting members interconnecting the bottom member and side members; and left and right upper connecting members interconnecting the side and the handle members, which are respectively interconnected via hinges. When the handle is not lifted, the side members are separated from the bottom member. When the handle is lifted, the side members laterally support the transported object. As for the transport method, with the transported object stacked in the up-down direction, the transport container is installed at an unloading location such that the lower and upper connecting members are laid to be non-parallel to the side member, and the transported object is taken out from the front or rear between the left and right side members.