Rack Tray Claw Guard Mechanism for Orientation Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sample test automation systems face higher costs and operator cumbersome tasks due to manual handling in offline operations, with issues such as sample droppings and collisions when rack trays are not properly aligned or oriented, lacking sensors or actuators for detection.
Innovation Solution
A sample container loading/storing unit with a claw portion and claw guard mechanism that ensures the rack tray is only installed when full and correctly oriented, preventing reverse installation without additional sensors or actuators, using a combination of mechanical protrusions and positioning pins for alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual handling is used in offline operations, then operator flexibility is maintained, but operator tasks become cumbersome and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack tray is designed to automatically verify its own installation state through the claw guard mechanism. The system performs self-checking by attempting to install the rack tray, which triggers the claw portion to detect whether the rack is present and correctly oriented. This self-service verification eliminates the need for manual checking and reduces operator burden while maintaining operational flexibility.
2Manufacturing precision
If sensors or actuators are added to detect rack presence and orientation, then installation accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic sensors and actuators with a purely mechanical detection system. The claw portion, which is part of the mechanical installation mechanism, directly engages with the rack tray to detect its presence and orientation. This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for additional sensors while maintaining high installation accuracy through the physical interaction between the claw and rack tray components.
Solution Approach 2:
The claw portion serves multiple functions: it is used both for installing the rack tray and for detecting its presence and orientation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate detection components, thereby simplifying the overall system structure while ensuring accurate rack installation.
3Ease of operation
If rack trays are allowed to be installed without verification, then ease of operation is maintained, but harmful factors such as sample droppings and collisions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification through the claw guard mechanism before allowing the rack tray installation to proceed. The claw portion checks whether the rack is present and correctly oriented in advance, preventing incorrect installations that could lead to sample droppings or collisions. This preliminary anti-action ensures safety without complicating the operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a sample container loading or storing unit that is not additionally provided with a sensor or an actuator, not capable of being installed on a device unless a rack is full on a rack tray, and not capable of being installed in the rack tray unless a rack orientation is normal, and an sample test automation system including the same. The sample container loading or storing unit (201 or 202) includes a sample rack tray (301) and a sample rack tray installation portion (302) on which the sample rack tray (301) is installed, the sample rack tray installation portion (302) includes a claw portion (305) that moves in a contact direction with a sidewall portion (313) of the sample rack tray (301), the sample rack tray (301) includes a claw guard portion (308) provided on the sidewall portion of the sample rack tray (301), and the claw guard portion (308) is configured to be separated from the sidewall portion (313) of the sample rack tray (301) by being pushed by a sample rack (303).