Component Rack Separation Mechanism for Automated Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing automatic analysis device's component-rack supply mechanism is prone to positional deviations due to tilted or asymmetric stacking, leading to instability in separating the uppermost component rack, which can result in delays or failures in supplying consumable items like nozzle tips and reaction containers, potentially causing losses of specimen samples.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a consumable-item supply system with a platform that holds stacked consumable-item racks, a driving unit for vertical movement, and a pair of separation mechanisms with movable support and stationary correction portions to ensure stable separation of the uppermost rack, maintaining horizontal alignment and correcting for positional deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If component racks are stacked in multiple stages to increase supply capacity, then the quantity of consumable items available increases, but positional deviation occurs causing separation instability
Solution Approach 1:
The separation mechanism is divided into two independent functional parts: support portions that provide upward support force and correction portions that provide lateral positioning. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction by maintaining separation stability even when racks are stacked in multiple stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The correction portions act as intermediary elements between the support portions and the component racks. These correction portions laterally support the flanges of the racks, mediating the interaction to prevent positional deviation and ensure stable separation throughout the stacked configuration.
2Device complexity
If a single separation mechanism is used to simplify the device structure, then device complexity is reduced, but separation reliability deteriorates due to positional deviation
Solution Approach 1:
Each separation mechanism is segmented into support portions and correction portions with distinct functions. The support portions handle vertical separation while correction portions handle lateral positioning, allowing the mechanism to achieve high reliability without requiring multiple separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the separation mechanism have different functional qualities: support portions are positioned to provide upward force while correction portions are positioned to provide lateral support. This local differentiation of quality allows a single mechanism to reliably handle both aspects of separation stability.
3Device complexity
If claws grip the component rack at a single point to enable separation, then the separation mechanism is simple, but separation fails when positional deviation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping function is segmented into two independent actions: upward support by the support portions and lateral positioning by the correction portions. This segmentation ensures that even if positional deviation occurs, the correction portions can laterally support the flanges while the support portions provide the necessary upward force for separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The correction portions serve as intermediary elements that laterally support the flanges between the claws and the rack body. This intermediary support prevents positional deviation from causing separation failure, maintaining high reliability without complicating the overall mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an automatic analysis device and an automatic specimen processing system having a component-rack supply mechanism that, in a state where a plurality of component racks each having a disposable component mounted thereon are stacked, separates only a component rack at the leading stage of the stack from the other component racks, and supplies the separated component rack to the automatic analysis device or the automatic specimen processing system. Specifically, the automatic analysis device and the automatic specimen processing system have a supply mechanism including a separation mechanism that, in a state where a plurality of component racks are stacked, separates only a component rack at the leading stage of the stack from the other component racks, where the separation mechanism includes a movable mechanism having a pair of downward-movement prevention members that can separate the leading stage from the second stage of the stacked component racks; and a correction mechanism having a pair of correction members that correct a positional deviation of the component racks in order to avoid an influence of the positional deviation of the stacked component racks.