Incubator Shelf Assembly With Rotatable Upright for Easy Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage systems for incubators are difficult to clean and disassemble due to their permanent integration and complex structure, especially in moving systems with mechanics, which are heavy and hard to handle.

Innovation Solution

A movable storage system with detachable trays and a rotatable spar, featuring connecting means that allow orthogonal assembly and disassembly, enabling easy handling and cleaning, and a modular design that allows the system to be removed and retrofitted independently of the incubator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If storage systems are permanently integrated into the incubator, then structural stability is improved, but cleaning difficulty increases and disassembly becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcleaning ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is divided into separate modular components: a carrier unit with a rotatable spar, multiple detachable trays, and connecting means. This segmentation allows each component to be independently removed for cleaning while maintaining structural stability during operation, directly resolving the contradiction between stability and cleaning ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If moving storage systems are equipped with mechanics for rotation, then accessibility is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidmechanical complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of complex mechanical drives, the patent uses a simple manual rotation mechanism where the user directly rotates the spar. This inversion of the expected mechanical solution reduces complexity and weight while maintaining full accessibility to all tray positions through manual operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Quantity of substance

If trays are made as complete units, then storage capacity is improved, but handling and cleaning difficulty increases due to weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Each tray is divided into multiple detachable tray parts that can be separated from the spar and from each other. This allows users to handle only the necessary number of tray parts at once, reducing weight and handling difficulty while maintaining full storage capacity when all parts are assembled together on the spar.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If the entire spar is dismantled to remove shelves, then cleaning access is improved, but disassembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning accessVSAvoiddismantling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting means are designed to allow trays to be easily extracted from the spar without dismantling the entire structure. The orthogonal assembly movement and simple connecting mechanisms enable selective removal of individual trays or tray parts for cleaning while leaving the spar and other components in place, greatly reducing disassembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2640650B1Storage system for an incubator
Publication Date: 2015.03.18 ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2640650B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2640650B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a storage system for an incubator (38), comprising a carrier unit for samples and/or sample containers. The invention is distinguished in that the carrier unit comprises carrier parts (22, 33), between which an upright (14, 34) is mounted in a rotatable manner, and shelves (18, 29, 36) are provided, it being possible for these shelves to be fastened in a releasable manner on the upright (14, 34).