Reaction Vessel Gripper Abnormal Movement Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic analyzers face risks of component breakage and sample loss due to operation abnormalities, particularly when external forces are applied to the vessel gripping arm of the transfer mechanism section.

Innovation Solution

The automatic analyzer incorporates a gripping mechanism with a sensing section that detects abnormal rotational movements of the arm when moved downward, featuring a main body with a horizontal arm and a sensing unit to prevent damage by detecting unexpected forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sensor is added to detect external forces on the vessel gripping arm, then the reliability of the transfer mechanism is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of transfer mechanismVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A sensing section is introduced as an intermediary component between the vessel gripping arm and the control system. This sensor detects abnormal rotational movements caused by external forces and transmits signals to stop the downward movement, preventing component breakage and sample loss while maintaining system reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensing section performs preliminary detection of abnormal forces before they can cause damage. By detecting unusual rotational movements in advance and triggering a stop command, the system prevents harmful effects from occurring, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex post-damage repair mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the arm is designed to detect abnormal rotational movement, then the risk of component breakage is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverisk of component breakageVSAvoidmanufacturing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical protection mechanisms with a sensing-based detection system. Instead of using robust mechanical designs that require high manufacturing precision to withstand abnormal forces, the system uses a sensor to detect rotational movement and electronically control the stop mechanism, thereby reducing the risk of component breakage without imposing stringent manufacturing precision requirements on the mechanical structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4653874A1Automatic analysis device and gripping device

Publication Date: 2025.11.26 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP

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AI summary

An automatic analyzer and a gripping apparatus are provided which include a gripping mechanism with reduced risks of breakage of components and a sample loss when reaction vessels filled with samples and reagents are transferred. An automatic analyzer 101 includes: a main body; an arm horizontally extending out from the main body and having a gripping unit located at a leading end thereof to grip a reaction vessel 122; and an abnormal downward movement sensing sensor 214 and an abnormal downward movement sensing plate 213 that detect whether the arm has caused a rotational movement vertically upward when the arm together with the main body moves downward.