Liquid Dispensing Device with Automated Microplate Storage Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dispensing devices are limited by the size of the table, which restricts the number of microplates that can be mounted, making it difficult to reduce the device size while accommodating multiple mother and daughter plates for preparing liquid mixtures.
Innovation Solution
A liquid transporting device with a control unit that manages storage containers, allowing for the dispensing of liquids to multiple microplates beyond the table capacity, reducing the stage size and overall device size, and ensuring safety by prompting replacement of off-stage containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the table area is increased to accommodate more microplates, then the number of microplates that can be mounted is improved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the microplate storage into multiple levels: microplates currently on the table and microplates stored in the refrigerator. The control unit segments the management of these containers, allowing independent access and replacement without requiring all microplates to be simultaneously mounted on the table.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a temporal dimension to microplate availability by implementing automated replacement between the table and refrigerator. Instead of requiring all microplates to be physically present at once (spatial arrangement), the system provides them sequentially through automated replacement (temporal arrangement), effectively adding a time dimension to the resource allocation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mother plates and daughter plates are mounted on the table to prepare various liquid mixtures, then the versatility of liquid material preparation is improved, but the table area and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the liquid preparation process into phases: active preparation on the table and storage/waiting in the refrigerator. Different mother plates and daughter plates can be prepared and stored separately, then combined as needed without requiring simultaneous presence on the limited table surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Mother plates and daughter plates can be prepared and stored in the refrigerator in advance before being mounted on the table. This preliminary action allows the system to have multiple container types ready without occupying table space simultaneously, enabling versatile liquid preparation when needed.
3Area of stationary object
If the device size is reduced to minimize laboratory space, then the device complexity is reduced, but the number of microplates that can be accommodated decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator serves as an intermediary storage device between the operator and the microplates. It holds additional microplates that are not currently needed on the table, providing a buffer that decouples the device size from the total number of microplates available for use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a purely spatial arrangement (all microplates on table) to a spatio-temporal arrangement (microplates on table or in refrigerator, replaced as needed). This adds the time dimension to microplate availability, allowing the device to maintain a small physical footprint while providing access to a larger total number of microplates through automated replacement.
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid transporting device capable of transporting a liquid, such as dispensing or distributing a liquid, to microplates in number larger than a value mountable on a table. The liquid transporting device comprises a table on an upper surface of which a storing member and a discharge receiving member are detachably mounted, sucking/discharging means, a control unit for transporting a liquid in accordance with a previously incorporate program while relatively moving the sucking/discharging means and the table, input means, and alarm signal notifying means. The control unit has a function of determining whether ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member, which is a work target of the previously incorporate program, is identical to ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member mounted on the table. The control unit continues transporting work when both data of the ID information are identical at the same position, and issues an error signal and notifies the ID information of the storing member and/or the discharge receiving member, which is the work target of the previously incorporate program, through the alarm signal notifying means when the both are different.