Integrated Maintenance Guide Screen for Parallel Analyzer Servicing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In large-sized automatic analysis apparatuses with multiple connected analysis units, performing maintenance becomes complex and time-consuming due to the need to switch between guide screens for different units, leading to potential confusion and increased risk of errors.

Innovation Solution

The automatic analysis apparatus features a maintenance guide screen that displays guidance for all connected analysis units simultaneously, allowing operators to perform maintenance in parallel by following independent guidance for each unit, thereby simplifying the maintenance process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple analysis units are connected to increase processing capability, then the analysis capacity and versatility are improved, but the maintenance complexity and time required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis capacityVSAvoidmaintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the maintenance guide screens for multiple analysis units into a single integrated display. The operation unit shows maintenance guides for all connected analysis units simultaneously, allowing operators to view and perform maintenance for multiple units without switching between separate screens or devices. This consolidation reduces the operational complexity associated with managing multiple separate maintenance interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If conventional separate maintenance guides are used for each analysis unit, then the guidance accuracy for each unit is maintained, but the time required for maintenance and the risk of operator error increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance accuracyVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system combines multiple unit-specific maintenance guides into a single comprehensive display that shows all guides simultaneously. Each analysis unit's maintenance guide maintains its specific instructions and accuracy, while the merged display allows operators to access all guides at once, eliminating the time required to switch between separate screens and reducing the risk of errors from improper switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Area of stationary object

If the apparatus size is reduced to decrease space occupation, then the space efficiency is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases making maintenance more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus areaVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The operation unit serves multiple functions: it displays operational information, provides maintenance guides for multiple analysis units, and consolidates control functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated devices for each function, thereby decreasing the overall apparatus area while the integrated software interface compensates for the increased mechanism complexity through simplified user interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3961221B1Automatic analysis device and maintenance guide method in automatic analysis device
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP3961221B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3961221B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3961221B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are an automatic analysis apparatus in which plurality of units are connected and which can perform maintenance on any unit in parallel, and a maintenance guide method for the automatic analysis apparatus. The control unit 114 causes a display unit 116 to display a maintenance guide screen 201 in which maintenance guidance (a display region for sampler module 231, a display region for second analysis module 230, and a display region for first analysis module 232) independent of analysis modules 107, 207 and a sampler module 200 is arranged in the same screen.