Laboratory Feeding Apparatus Carrier Orientation Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laboratory vessel feeding systems face challenges in accurately identifying the position of laboratory vessels within the feeding apparatus, especially during mechanical failures, which can lead to mix-ups and compromise patient safety.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a carrier with positive locking mechanisms and sensors to ensure correct orientation and allocation of laboratory vessels, combined with an endless conveyor unit and optoelectronic sensors for precise positioning and automation, preventing mix-ups and facilitating repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the carrier remains in the carrier holder during the entire analysis process, then the carrier can continuously store and transport laboratory vessels, but the position of specific laboratory vessels cannot be clearly identified and the unloading zone is not easily accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent parts: the carrier holder that remains in the feeding apparatus for continuous operation, and the removable carrier that can be taken out for loading. This segmentation allows the carrier holder to maintain continuous productivity while the carrier can be removed to improve accessibility of the unloading zone and enable clear identification of vessel positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is extracted from the carrier holder during the analysis process. The carrier holder remains in the feeding apparatus to maintain continuous operation, while the carrier is removed to allow easy access to the unloading zone and clear identification of laboratory vessel positions. The carrier can be reinserted when needed for additional loading.
2Productivity
If stacks of laboratory vessels are removed from and returned to the carrier multiple times, then the feeding process can continue, but the stacks become unstable and vessels may shift or fall
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is pre-loaded with all required stacks of laboratory vessels before the analysis process begins. The positive locking mechanism secures the carrier in the carrier holder, ensuring stacks remain stable throughout the entire analysis process without any removal or repositioning, thus maintaining both productivity and stack stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The positive locking mechanism between the carrier and carrier holder provides beforehand cushioning against instability. By securing the carrier firmly in place before the analysis process starts, the system prevents any potential shifting or falling of stacks during operation, eliminating the need for repeated removal and repositioning.
3Extent of automation
If sensors are used to detect vessel positions, then automation is improved, but the system cannot reliably identify positions during mechanical failures or power outages
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines electronic sensor-based position detection with physical segmentation through the removable carrier design. The carrier itself serves as a physical record of vessel positions, providing redundant information that remains valid during power outages or sensor failures, thus maintaining reliability while preserving automation capabilities during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier acts as an intermediary between the loading process and the analysis process. It carries physical information about vessel positions and can be removed with this information intact, serving as a backup when electronic sensors fail. The carrier mediates between automated detection and manual verification needs during failure conditions.
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
This solution ensures accurate and reliable handling of laboratory vessels, reducing the risk of mix-ups, enhancing patient safety, and increasing the system's reliability and automation, even in case of defects or power outages.
Implementation Method 1
optoelectronic sensors for precise positioning and automation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a feeding system (10) having a feeding apparatus (30) for conveying laboratory vessels for samples, microorganisms, cell cultures or the like, and a carrier (12) having one or plural holders (16) for storing laboratory vessels, which feeding apparatus (30) has a loading area (36) and an unloading area (46) remote from the loading area (36) in which plural laboratory vessels can be stored in a vertically stacked configuration, with each receiving unit (34) being coupled to an endless conveyor unit (38) which transports the receiving unit (34) from the loading area (36) to the unloading area (46), and in which the carrier (12) can be used to introduce laboratory vessels into one or plural receiving units (34) in the loading area (36), for which purpose the carrier (12) is at least partially slid over the at least one receiving unit (34) which is to be loaded or unloaded, and for this purpose has projections (28, 32) and/or recesses that are associated with the carrier (12) and are provided in the loading area (36) of the feeding apparatus (30), which will result in positive locking of the feeding apparatus (30) and the carrier (12) when the carrier (12) has been inserted in the loading area (36). According to the invention, the carrier (12) has at least two holders (16) and the positive locking of the carrier (12) and the receiving unit (34) in the loading area (36) of the feeding apparatus (30) will allow only a single predefined orientation of the carrier (12) in the loading area (36).