Incubator External Loading Mechanism for Sterility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing incubators face challenges with the exposure of infeed and outfeed mechanisms to harmful atmospheres, leading to corrosion and complex cleaning processes, and external robot systems are not suitable for compact designs with integrated mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The infeed and outfeed mechanisms are mounted completely outside the sample chamber, with the sample container carrier supported even when the access opening is closed, ensuring the mechanisms are sealed off from the interior atmosphere and facilitating easier cleaning and sterility, while allowing for a compact and easy-to-handle design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the drawer mechanism is placed within the sample chamber to enable sample loading and unloading, then the incubator can achieve compact design with integrated inlet/outlet mechanism, but the mechanism is exposed to harmful contaminated atmosphere leading to corrosion and complex cleaning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer mechanism is extracted from the sample chamber interior and relocated to the exterior. The mechanism now operates outside the chamber while still enabling sample container carrier insertion/removal through the access opening, thereby eliminating exposure to harmful contaminated atmosphere while maintaining compact integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The access opening serves as an intermediary interface between the exterior drawer mechanism and the interior sample chamber. The mechanism operates externally while interacting with the chamber through this mediator, allowing functional integration without direct exposure to harmful internal atmosphere
2Device complexity
If the drawer mechanism is located within the sample chamber, then integrated loading/unloading is achieved, but cleaning becomes difficult and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer mechanism is extracted from the chamber interior to the exterior where it is fully accessible for cleaning. This relocation maintains integrated functionality while dramatically improving cleaning accessibility and ease of operation
3Extent of automation
If an external robotic system is used for sample insertion and removal, then automation is achieved, but the system must extend into the chamber when open and be removed before closing, losing time and requiring considerable adaptation effort
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic mechanism is extracted to operate entirely outside the chamber. The robotic arm extends through or alongside the access opening to insert/remove sample container carriers, then retracts without entering the chamber interior, eliminating time loss and adaptation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The external robotic mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions: inserting sample container carriers, removing them, and retracting, all while operating from outside the chamber. This multi-functional external design eliminates the need for time-consuming extension and retraction cycles into the chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an incubator (1) for exposing samples accommodated in sample containers (2) to a specifically specifiable temperature, comprising a sample chamber (3), the temperature of which can be controlled and which has at least one closable access opening (4), and at least one insertion and removal mechanism (7), which bears a sample container carrier (8) and by means of which the sample container carrier (8), which in turn bears a sample container (2), can be moved into the sample chamber (3) and out of the sample chamber through an access opening (4) of the incubator (1). The incubator (1) according to the invention is furthermore characterized in that the at least one insertion and removal mechanism (7) is installed completely outside of the sample chamber (3) and bears the sample container carrier (8) inserted into the sample chamber (3) even while the access opening (4) is closed.