Metering Head O-Ring Clamping Mechanism for Pipette Tip Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current pipetting devices face challenges in efficiently and reliably picking up and detaching a large number of pipette tips with reduced design complexity, particularly for 8, 12, 16, 24, 96, or 384 attachments, due to complex and cumbersome mechanisms that restrict the use of variously designed pipette tips.
Innovation Solution
A metering head with a carrier and parallel attachments featuring a tube, sleeve, and elastomer O-ring configuration, where a pressure plate shifts to expand O-rings for secure clamping and easy detachment of pipette tips, allowing for simultaneous and automated handling of multiple pipette tips with reduced design complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex mechanisms are used to clamp and detach pipette tips, then reliable handling is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical clamping mechanisms with a pneumatic system. A pressure generator creates pressure differences that are transmitted through fluid connections to the attachments, causing the O-rings to expand and clamp the pipette tips. This substitution of mechanical components with a pneumatic control system reduces device complexity while maintaining reliable handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the O-rings by applying pressure differences. When pressure is applied, the O-rings expand from a relaxed state to a clamped state, providing reliable grip on the pipette tips. Reversing the pressure difference returns the O-rings to their relaxed state, enabling easy detachment. This parameter-based control simplifies the mechanism while ensuring reliable operation.
2Strength
If strong clamping force is applied to secure multiple pipette tips, then secure clamping is achieved, but force requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex mechanical systems to generate and distribute strong clamping forces across multiple attachments, the patent employs a pneumatic system. The pressure generator creates pressure differences that are transmitted through fluid connections to expand O-rings at each attachment point, providing strong clamping force without requiring complex mechanical force distribution mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The O-rings perform dual functions: they provide sealing and generate clamping force through pressure-induced expansion. The elastic material of the O-rings allows them to automatically expand when pressure is applied and return to their original state when pressure is released, eliminating the need for additional mechanical components to control clamping force.
3Strength
If conventional clamping mechanisms are used, then pipette tips can be secured, but detachment becomes difficult and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses reversible pressure differences to control the clamping state. Applying positive pressure expands the O-rings for secure clamping, while applying negative pressure or releasing pressure allows the O-rings to contract and release the pipette tips. This parameter-based control enables easy detachment without complex mechanical release mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pneumatic system replaces complex mechanical detachment mechanisms. By simply reversing or releasing the pressure difference, the system automatically controls the expansion and contraction of the O-rings, enabling easy detachment of pipette tips while maintaining strong clamping when needed.
4Productivity
If multiple attachments are used to handle many pipette tips, then productivity increases, but the force required to clamp and detach all tips simultaneously increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic system distributes pressure forces independently to each attachment through separate fluid connections. This allows multiple O-rings to expand and clamp pipette tips simultaneously without requiring the sum of all clamping forces to be generated by a single mechanical system, reducing the total force requirement while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides the clamping function into separate O-rings at each attachment point, with independent pneumatic control through fluid connections. Each O-ring handles the clamping force for its specific pipette tip, segmenting the total force requirement across multiple independent elements rather than requiring one large mechanical force system.
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
The solution enables secure and efficient clamping and detachment of a large number of pipette tips with reduced force requirements, facilitating the use of variously designed tips and simplifying the device's design, while maintaining precision and alignment.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastomer O-ring which surrounds the tube and is arranged adjacent to the bottom end of the sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
A metering head for a metering machine having a carrier having parallel attachments for picking up pipette tips wherein each attachment has a tube having a supporting protrusion at the bottom end at least one sleeve which surrounds the tube and can be axially shifted on the tube, and at least one elastomer O-ring which surrounds the tube a pressure plate above the sleeves having a plurality of first holes through which the tubes extend, wherein the pressure plate can be shifted along the tubes from a release position into a clamping position where the sleeves are pressed, at the bottom ends, against the adjacent O-rings, and the O-rings are expanded to clamp pipette tips; and a first shifting apparatus connected to the pressure plate moving the pressure plate between the release position and clamping position.