Upside-Down Pipette Storage with Stacking Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The handling and storage of small pipettor consumables for liquid handling processes are complicated due to their small size and orientation requirements, making accurate transportation and presentation challenging in automated systems.

Innovation Solution

A storage device with an array of accommodation seats configured to hold pipettor consumables upside-down, equipped with positioning and stacking elements for precise alignment and stacking, allowing easy access and orientation for use in liquid handling systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If pipettor consumables are stored in conventional containers, then storage is possible, but accurate transportation and presentation in correct orientation becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation accuracyVSAvoidhandling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional storage approach by storing pipettor consumables upside-down in the accommodation seats. This inversion ensures that when the storage device is placed on the carrier, the consumables are automatically oriented correctly for use, eliminating the need for complex orientation mechanisms during handling and transportation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage device is designed to automatically present consumables in the correct orientation through its structural design. The accommodation seats are positioned and oriented such that the consumables self-align when placed in the device, requiring no additional manual intervention or complex mechanisms to ensure correct presentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Quantity of substance

If multiple storage devices are stacked, then storage capacity increases, but positioning and stacking accuracy becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidstacking accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements nesting by stacking multiple storage devices one on top of another, with each device containing multiple accommodation seats. This nested arrangement maximizes storage capacity while maintaining compact dimensions, allowing multiple consumables to be stored in a space-efficient manner.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage device is designed with universal positioning elements that enable it to function both as a single-unit storage device and as part of a stacked multi-unit system. The same structural features that provide positioning for single devices also facilitate accurate stacking when multiple devices are combined, eliminating the need for separate positioning mechanisms for stacked configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4368291A1Storage device, corresponding assemblies, and method of use

Publication Date: 2024.05.15 TECAN TRADING AG

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AI summary

A storage device 1 for storing one or more pipettor consumables 2. The storage device 1 comprises a storage plate 10 having an upper side 11 and a lower side 12, and, on the upper side 11, a number of accommodation seats 13 arranged in an array. Each accommodation seat 13 is configured to receive a pipettor consumable 2 in an upside-down orientation. The storage device 1 comprises one or more positioning elements 14 for positioning the storage device 1 in relation to a carrier 3, and/or one or more stacking elements 19 for stacking the storage device 1 with another storage device 1.