Paper-Structured Weighing Kit with Funnel for Sample Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current disposable weighing materials in laboratories, such as flat weighing paper and polymer-structured boats, face challenges like fragility, difficulty in handling and transferring samples, and environmental concerns due to plastic waste, while reusable glass boats require cleaning and risk breakage.
Innovation Solution
A two-layer weighing kit with a disposable paper-structured boat featuring a funnel portion for easy transfer and a denser trapezoid-shaped base for support, allowing for efficient storage and handling, and potentially made from anti-static materials like paper or metal foil, with the base designed to fit standard flask openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If flat weighing paper is used, then environmental impact is reduced and cost is lowered, but handling difficulty increases and sample transfer efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The weighing container is divided into two functional layers: a flat disposable paper base layer for weighing and a separate funnel component for transfer. This segmentation allows the paper to remain simple and disposable while adding transfer functionality through the reusable funnel, resolving the contradiction between environmental friendliness and handling ease.
Solution Approach 2:
A reusable funnel component is introduced as an intermediary tool that works with the disposable paper. The funnel mediates the transfer process, allowing efficient sample transfer without requiring the paper itself to have complex three-dimensional structures, thus maintaining the paper's environmental advantages while improving transfer efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If polymer-structured weighing boats are used, then handling ease improves, but environmental impact increases and static electricity issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses disposable paper-based weighing containers instead of reusable polymer boats. The paper containers are inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and eliminate static electricity issues. A reusable funnel is added to compensate for the paper's structural limitations, providing handling ease without the harmful effects of plastic materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines paper material (for the disposable base) with a reusable funnel material (metal, plastic, or glass). This composite approach leverages the environmental and anti-static advantages of paper while incorporating the structural and handling advantages of more durable materials in the funnel component.
3Productivity
If reusable glass boats are used, then sample transfer efficiency improves, but time consumption increases and breakage risk arises
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable paper weighing container eliminates the need for cleaning and storage of heavy glassware. The container is discarded after use, saving time on cleaning and reducing breakage risks. The added reusable funnel component provides the transfer efficiency previously associated with glass boats, while the disposable nature of the base eliminates maintenance requirements.
4Ease of manufacture
If flat weighing paper is used, then cost is reduced, but sample capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The reusable funnel component adds vertical dimension and three-dimensional structure to the otherwise flat paper container. This dimensional enhancement increases the effective sample capacity without requiring more expensive or complex disposable containers, as the funnel provides additional volume while the flat paper base remains simple and inexpensive.
Data Source
AI summary
A laboratory weighing kit comprises two layers: a disposable paper-structured weighing boat in the upper layer and a corresponding-shaped weighing base in the lower layer. The weighing boat has a sample loading portion in the rear to carry chemicals or samples, and a funnel portion in the front to transfer samples. In order to consolidate storage space, either the front funnel can be opened to two portions or the back wall of the weighing boat is opened. The weighing boat can be creased to form a permanent fold. The weighing boat in the upper layer can be either removable from or permanently attached to the weighing base in the lower layer.