Removable Transport Unit Segmentation for Analyzer Hygiene

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing test piece analyzers face issues with sample residue adhering to the mounting body, leading to malodors and difficulty in discarding the test pieces, and struggle with compactness due to the connected transport unit and mounting body, which limits the compactness of the analyzer.

Innovation Solution

The transport unit is designed to be readily removable and features independently attached test piece mounting bodies on an endless belt, allowing for easy washing and reducing the size of the transport unit, thereby making the analyzer more compact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the transport unit is made compact, then the analyzer size is reduced, but sample residue adheres to the mounting body causing malodors and difficulty in discarding test pieces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalyzer sizeVSAvoidsample residue adhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transport unit is divided into separate test piece mounting bodies that are independently attached to the endless belt. Each mounting body can be easily removed and cleaned separately, preventing sample residue adhesion problems while maintaining a compact overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The test piece mounting bodies are extracted as removable components from the transport unit. This allows the mounting bodies to be easily detached for cleaning or replacement, eliminating the harmful effect of sample residue accumulation while keeping the main analyzer body compact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of repair

If the transport unit is made readily removable for cleaning, then maintenance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning accessibilityVSAvoidtransport unit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transport unit is segmented into modular test piece mounting bodies that can be independently removed for cleaning. This segmentation simplifies maintenance procedures while the modular design actually reduces overall device complexity compared to a monolithic structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The test piece mounting bodies are designed as disposable or easily replaceable components. This approach simplifies the cleaning process by allowing users to simply remove and discard contaminated mounting bodies, eliminating complex cleaning mechanisms while reducing long-term operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Volume of moving object

If the test piece mounting bodies are independently attached to the endless belt, then the transport unit size is reduced, but the reliability of test piece transport may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport unit sizeVSAvoidtest piece transport stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple test piece mounting bodies are independently attached to the endless belt at regular intervals. This segmentation allows each mounting body to be small and lightweight, reducing the overall transport unit size, while the distributed arrangement ensures reliable and stable test piece transport through redundancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3163308B1Test piece analyzer
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 SYSMEX CORP
  • EP3163308B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3163308B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3163308B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A test piece analyzer capable of easily washing a transport device to which the sample (urine sample) has adhered is provided. A test piece analyzer is provided with a transport unit having a transport device to transport a test piece, a drive part to drive the transport device, an imaging unit to image the test piece, and a casing to house the transport unit, imaging unit, and drive part. The transport unit is removable relative to the casing.