Prestressed Positioning Stops for Microtiter Plate Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in precisely positioning microtiter plates during automated filling and shaking processes due to manufacturing tolerances and the need for high positioning accuracy, especially with larger plates like those with 1536 wells, which can result in unwanted movements and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A device with prestressed positioning stops arranged diagonally on a base body, an actuating device, and a force transmission element allows for precise engagement and release of the microtiter plate, ensuring accurate positioning and stability during pipetting and shaking operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring force is increased to hold the microtiter plate in position against centrifugal force, then positioning stability is improved, but insertion difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning piece is designed with a movable positioning element that can dynamically change its position between a release position (for easy insertion) and a working position (for stable positioning during shaking). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to achieve both easy insertion and reliable positioning stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning element is pre-configured to automatically move to the release position before insertion and to the working position after insertion. This preliminary positioning action ensures that the microtiter plate can be easily inserted without resistance from the spring force, while still achieving stable positioning once in place.
2Manufacturing precision
If manufacturing tolerances are reduced to improve positioning precision, then positioning accuracy is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning piece with its movable positioning element automatically compensates for manufacturing tolerances in the microtiter plate. The spring-loaded mechanism self-adjusts to accommodate variations in plate dimensions, eliminating the need for high-precision manufacturing while maintaining accurate positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a movable positioning element that can change its position within a range, allowing it to adapt to different plate dimensions within manufacturing tolerances. This parameter adjustment capability enables accurate positioning without requiring tight manufacturing specifications.
3Ease of operation
If play is increased to accommodate manufacturing tolerances, then insertion ease is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning piece acts as an intermediary between the microtiter plate and the shaking device. It absorbs the play caused by manufacturing tolerances through its movable positioning element and spring mechanism, while still providing accurate positioning for the shaking operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable positioning element dynamically adjusts during insertion to accommodate play, then locks into a precise position for shaking. This dynamic behavior allows the system to tolerate manufacturing variations during insertion while maintaining positioning accuracy during operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides high positional accuracy and reliable operability, preventing unwanted movements and ensuring precise positioning even during orbital mixing, thus enhancing the precision and efficiency of microtiter plate handling in pharmaceutical and biological research.
Implementation Method 1
positioning stops which are prestressed (e.g. with a spring force acting in a clamping manner towards a center point of the base body)
Implementation Method 2
the generated spring force should be large enough to hold the microtiter plate in position against the centrifugal force generated by the orbital mixing movement
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (100) for positioning a sample carrier plate, wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a main body (102) for receiving the sample carrier plate, positioning stops (106, 108) which are disposed in opposing first corner regions of the main body and are prestressed for clamping the sample carrier plate and mounted displaceably, an actuating device (114) which is disposed in a second corner region of the main body and is equipped such that by actuating the actuating device (114) the positioning stops (106, 108) can be transferred between an operating state engaging the sample carrier plate and an operating state releasing the sample carrier plate, and comprises a force transmitting element (118) which is equipped to transmit an actuating force from the actuating device to the positioning stops.