Liquid Metering Device Home Position Reset via Release Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dosing devices with electric drive motors face challenges in ensuring the displacement element or coupling means return to a known position after releasing a pipette tip or syringe, leading to uncertainty about the device's readiness for subsequent dosing, potentially causing incorrect filling or errors.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a sensor to detect the actuation of the release mechanism, which controls the displacement element or coupling means to return to a defined home position, ensuring the dosing device is ready for a new pipette tip or syringe by moving it to a basic position, thus simplifying operation and preventing errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the means for releasing the pipette tip or syringe are actuated separately without moving the displacement element or coupling means, then the release operation is simplified and can be performed independently, but the position of the displacement element or coupling means becomes uncertain, leading to potential errors in subsequent dosing operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent release operationVSAvoidposition certainty
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A sensor detects when the release mechanism is actuated and provides feedback to the control means. The control means then automatically moves the displacement element or coupling means back to a defined basic position, ensuring both independent operation and position certainty for reliable subsequent dosing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically resets itself after release. When the sensor detects release actuation, the control means autonomously returns the displacement element or coupling means to the basic position without requiring manual intervention, making the system self-correcting and ready for the next operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If no sensor is used to detect release actuation, then the device structure remains simple, but the displacement element or coupling means may not return to a known position, causing uncertainty about device readiness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidposition information
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

A sensor provides feedback information about the release state to the control means. This information flow enables the system to know when release occurs and automatically restore the basic position, preventing loss of position information while adding minimal structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual monitoring of position with an automated sensor-based detection system. The sensor electronically detects release actuation, substituting mechanical observation with automated sensing to maintain position information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2319623B1Metering device for liquids and method for metering liquids
Publication Date: 2014.03.05 EPPENDORF AG
  • EP2319623B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~3
  • EP2319623B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP2319623B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

Dispensing device for liquids with: - a base body, - means arranged on the base body for holding at least one pipette tip with its upper opening in sealing connection with a through-opening on the base body and a displacement device arranged in the base body with a displacement chamber, a displacement element movably arranged therein and a communicating connection with the through-opening; or - means arranged on the base body for holding at least one syringe with a syringe cylinder in a positionally fixed relationship to the base body and with a syringe piston displaceable in the syringe cylinder and with a coupling means in the base body that can be mechanically coupled to the syringe piston; - means arranged on the base body for releasing the pipette tip or syringe from the means for holding it, with a manually operable actuating element for actuating the means for releasing it.without moving the displacement element or the coupling element - a sensor arranged on the base body for detecting an actuation of the means for releasing or the successful release of the pipette tip or syringe, - a controllable drive that is operatively connected to the displacement element or the coupling means, - input means for controlling the controllable drive, - electrical control means that are electrically connected to the controllable drive, the input means and the sensor and that are designed such that, when the sensor detects an actuation of the means for releasing or the successful release of the pipette tip or syringe, the controllable drive moves the displacement element or the coupling means into a home position.