Pipette-Tip Connector Tilt Alignment for Automated Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automation equipment struggles with precise alignment of pipette-tips to pipettes, leading to manual and time-consuming replacement processes due to slight deviations in connection paths, making automated pipette-tip replacement difficult.
Innovation Solution
A pipette-tip connecting device with a base, first and second positioning mechanisms, a connecting seat, a pipette-fixing seat, and a tilt actuator, allowing for tilted insertion and realignment of pipette-tips to ensure accurate connection without precise center alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automated equipment moves the pipette along a fixed path, then automation capability is improved, but alignment precision between tip connector and pipette-tip deteriorates due to inability to correct deviations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the rigid fixed-path movement into a dynamic adjustable system. The connecting seat is made movable relative to the base through a positioning mechanism, allowing real-time adjustment of the pipette's position and angle during the connection process. This enables the system to adapt to actual alignment needs while maintaining automation, resolving the contradiction between automation capability and alignment precision.
2Reliability
If outer diameter of tip connector is very close to inner diameter of mount opening to ensure tight connection, then connection reliability is improved, but alignment difficulty increases requiring precise center alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary alignment actions before the final connection. The positioning mechanism pre-adjusts the pipette's position and orientation to ensure the tip connector is properly aligned with the mount opening before insertion occurs. This preliminary positioning action makes the subsequent connection process easier and more reliable, resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and alignment difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting seat serves as an intermediary component between the pipette and the positioning mechanism. It provides a stable mounting interface while allowing controlled movement and adjustment. This intermediary structure facilitates precise alignment by decoupling the positioning function from the connection function, making both tight connection and easy alignment achievable.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment is used through vision and hand feeling, then alignment precision is improved, but labor requirement and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the manual mechanical alignment process (vision and hand feeling) with an automated positioning system. The positioning mechanism uses controlled mechanical movement to achieve alignment, substituting human sensory and manual operations with automated actuation. This maintains alignment precision while dramatically improving replacement speed and reducing labor requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipette-tip connecting device has a base, a first positioning mechanism, a second positioning mechanism, a connecting seat, a pipette-fixing seat, and a tilt actuator. The first positioning mechanism extends along a first direction. The second positioning mechanism is linked to the first slider and extending upward and downward along a second direction. The connecting seat is mounted on the second slider such that positions of the connecting seat along the first direction and the second direction are controlled by the first positioning mechanism and the second positioning mechanism respectively. The pipette-fixing seat is mounted on the connecting seat and is pivotal relative to the connecting seat. The pipette-fixing seat has a pipette-tip connector which moves in the first direction and the second direction when the pipette-fixing seat pivots. The tilt actuator controls a relative angle between the pipette-fixing seat and the connecting seat.