Low-temperature storage system, transfer mechanism, and low-temperature storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low temperature storage systems face issues with temperature fluctuations and sample deterioration due to the need to remove entire storage trays from the low temperature chamber for retrieval, leading to inefficient cooling and increased costs, especially when using ultra-low temperatures like liquid nitrogen.
Innovation Solution
A transport mechanism with an in-vessel guide and a telescopic guide that provides stable and precise positioning, allowing for the direct retrieval of storage plates within the low temperature storage vessel, reducing lateral vibration and maintaining the cold environment by minimizing the opening size and enhancing storage efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the storage tray is removed from the low temperature storage chamber to retrieve a desired container, then the desired container can be accessed, but the temperature of the storage chamber rises and sample quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is divided into modular components: storage plates containing containers are separated from storage trays. The plate mover can extract individual storage plates from trays and transfer them to the picking area, allowing container retrieval without removing entire storage trays from the low temperature chamber. This segmentation enables selective access while maintaining the integrity and temperature of the remaining stored samples.
2Ease of operation
If the storage tray is taken out of the low temperature storage chamber, then container retrieval is enabled, but cooling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the storage system into plates and trays, the invention allows retrieval of individual plates rather than entire trays. The plate mover transfers only the necessary storage plate to the picking area, minimizing the volume of cold air that escapes and reduces the energy required for cooling the storage chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the necessary component (individual storage plate) from the storage tray for retrieval operations, rather than removing the entire tray. This extraction principle minimizes disturbance to the cold environment and reduces cooling costs.
3Ease of operation
If a cantilever structure arm is used to access storage plates, then the mechanism can operate outside the storage chamber, but lateral vibration occurs and positioning accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide unit combines multiple guiding components (guide rails, guide wheels, and positioning mechanisms) to provide comprehensive guidance and stabilization for the plate mover. This merging of guiding functions eliminates lateral vibration and ensures high positioning accuracy when accessing and transferring storage plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide unit acts as an intermediary between the plate mover and the storage trays, providing a stable guided path that prevents lateral vibration. The guide rails and guide wheels serve as mediating elements that ensure precise positioning while the plate mover operates.
4Productivity
If the opening size of the storage chamber is increased to facilitate plate transfer, then plate transfer is enabled, but cold air escape increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide unit incorporates a movable shutter that dynamically opens only when needed for plate transfer and closes immediately afterward. This dynamic control minimizes the duration and size of the opening, reducing cold air escape while still enabling efficient plate transfer operations when required.
Data Source
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AI summary
A low temperature storage system, a transport mechanism, and a low temperature storage vessel are provided, which enable downsizing and simplification of the transport mechanism, as well as stable transport of stored objects. A low temperature storage system (1) that stores objects (P) at low temperatures includes a low temperature storage vessel (10) and a transport mechanism (20) for loading and unloading the stored objects (P) to and from the low temperature storage vessel (10). The transport mechanism (20) includes a reciprocating part (30) that has a holding part (35) holding the stored objects (P) and that is capable of reciprocating along a transfer direction, and guide unit (40) for guiding the reciprocating part (30) along the transfer direction. The guide unit (40) include an in-vessel guide (50) fixedly placed inside the low temperature storage vessel (10), and a telescopic guide (60) configured to be able to extend and contract along the transfer direction. The telescopic guide (60) is provided independently of the in-vessel guide (50) so as to be connectable to the in-vessel guide (50).