Nest With Stacking Pins For Reliable Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nests for plunger stoppers are not designed to fit securely within existing tubs and are not stackable, leading to unreliable positioning and movement during robotic handling in automated filling machines.
Innovation Solution
A nest design featuring a top surface with openings and a bottom surface with stacking pins, allowing for vertical stacking and secure alignment of multiple nests, with the lower portion of the stacking pins fitting within the openings of the nest below, ensuring consistent and secure alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current nests for plunger stoppers are used, then they can hold plunger stoppers, but they cannot be securely stacked vertically leading to unreliable positioning and movement during robotic handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by incorporating stacking pins that extend from the bottom surface of each nest, which fit into corresponding openings in the nest below when vertically stacked. This nested structure enables reliable vertical stacking and prevents movement during robotic handling, directly resolving the positioning reliability issue while maintaining a relatively simple overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The nest structure is segmented into distinct functional elements: receptacles for holding plunger stoppers, openings in the top surface, and stacking pins extending from the bottom surface. This segmentation allows the stacking function to be added as a separate mechanism without fundamentally redesigning the entire nest structure, thus improving reliability while controlling complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If nests are designed with stacking pins and openings, then vertical stacking and alignment are ensured, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stacking pins extend from the bottom surface and nest into the openings of the nest below, creating a stable vertical alignment. This nested connection ensures that multiple nests stack reliably without lateral movement, achieving stack alignment stability through a straightforward structural integration rather than complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacking pins and openings are integrated directly into the nest structure itself, allowing the nest to perform its own stacking function without requiring external alignment mechanisms or additional components. This self-service approach achieves stable alignment while minimizing added complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If current nests are used without specific tub integration, then they can be universally applied, but they do not fit securely within existing tub designs used in automated filling machines
Solution Approach 1:
The nest design incorporates both the plunger stopper holding function and the vertical stacking function within a single structure. The stacking pins and openings enable the nest to work reliably with automated filling machines that require nested packaging, while the receptacles continue to hold plunger stoppers, thus achieving multi-functionality without sacrificing versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacking pins extending from the bottom surface and fitting into openings of nested nests create a secure connection that enables reliable handling in automated filling machines. This nested structure provides the mechanical interface needed for robotic manipulation while maintaining the universal applicability of the nest design across different machine configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A nest (10) for the storage of medical device components, including a top surface (12), a bottom surface (14), and a plurality of receptacles (20) for the storage of a plurality of medical device components therein, wherein each of the plurality of receptacles (20) includes a sidewall portion (22) extending downward from the bottom surface (14) of the nest (10). The nest (10) further includes a plurality of openings (26) formed in the top surface (12) and a plurality of stacking pins (28) extending from the bottom surface (14). Each of the plurality of openings (26) is substantially aligned with a respective one of the plurality of stacking pins (28) so as to enable two or more nests (10) to be stacked vertically relative to one another via association between the openings (26) and the stacking pins (28).