Receptacle Frame and Cover Alignment for Lab Containers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing receptacles for laboratory containers are prone to alignment errors during the placement of blister layers, leading to undesirable process errors and requiring careful and time-consuming operation by trained users.
Innovation Solution
A receptacle design featuring a rigid frame with a closed periphery and recesses for container arrangement, combined with a rigid cover with through holes aligned with the frame recesses, creating a stable cartridge-like structure that minimizes alignment errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a blister layer is placed on a frame that is an integral part of a reagent delivery apparatus, then the receptacle structure is simplified, but alignment errors occur during placement leading to process errors
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle is divided into two separate components: a frame and a cover. The frame contains recesses for receiving containers while the cover has through-holes that align with the recesses. This segmentation allows precise alignment to be built into the structure itself, eliminating placement errors while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover acts as an intermediary element that bridges the frame and the containers. By providing a cover with precisely positioned through-holes that align with the frame recesses, the system ensures accurate container positioning without requiring manual alignment during assembly.
2Reliability
If careful placement of the blister layer is performed to avoid errors, then alignment accuracy is improved, but the operation becomes time-consuming and requires trained users
Solution Approach 1:
The precise alignment features (recesses and through-holes) are pre-built into the frame and cover structure during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for careful manual placement during operation, allowing users to simply insert containers without requiring training or spending excessive time on alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle structure itself provides the alignment function through its built-in recesses and through-holes. The system serves itself by having the structure guide container placement automatically, eliminating the need for user skill or careful manual positioning.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the frame collar is made completely closed for maximum stability, then structural stability is improved, but the complexity of the structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame collar and cover collar are designed with selective openness rather than being completely closed. The collars provide stability where needed while having openings in non-critical areas, optimizing the balance between structural stability and manufacturing simplicity without requiring complex completely closed structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A receptacle for containers has a rigid frame with a frame plate with a closed periphery and several recesses for receiving the containers. The frame has a closed circumferential collar extending from the periphery of the frame plate. The receptacle has a rigid cover that is fixed to the frame. The cover has a cover plate with a closed periphery with several through holes that are aligned with the recesses of the frame. The cover also has a closed circumferential collar extending from the periphery of the cover plate fitting the frame collar. A free space is provided between the frame plate and the cover plate in which the containers can be arranged so that each container is accessible from the outside.