Sample Holder Conveyor Trolley With Friction-Free Gripping Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biological sample processing systems face issues with friction between container supports and guide elements, leading to noise, increased power consumption, reduced battery life, and suboptimal positioning, which affect reliability and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A self-propelled conveyor trolley with gripping arms that lift and move container supports, avoiding friction by grasping them from transverse faces, ensuring optimal positioning and reducing noise and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a self-propelled conveyor trolley moves a container support along the guide path, then conveying capacity is improved, but friction between the container support and support guide element generates noise and increases power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying capacityVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element (the conveyor trolley's gripping mechanism) that mediates between the container support and the guide path. Instead of direct contact friction, the trolley grasps the container support and transports it, eliminating the harmful friction-based noise while maintaining conveying capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If a self-propelled conveyor trolley moves a container support along the guide path, then conveying capacity is improved, but friction increases power consumption and reduces battery life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying capacityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor trolley acts as an intermediary that eliminates direct friction between the container support and guide path. By grasping the container support and transporting it without sliding contact, the system significantly reduces power consumption, thereby extending battery life while maintaining high conveying capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If a container support is transferred by the self-propelled conveyor trolley from the guideway to a receiving location, then conveying capacity is improved, but the container support is likely to tilt vertically due to friction, impairing positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying capacityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor trolley's gripping mechanism serves as an intermediary that prevents direct friction between the container support and guide path during transfer. This eliminates the tilting effect caused by friction, ensuring the container support remains vertically stable and achieves precise positioning in the receiving location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Device complexity

If a simple trolley guide element is used to define the conveying path, then device complexity is reduced and reliability is improved, but friction between container support and guide element causes noise and energy loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveyor system complexityVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains the simplicity of the trolley guide element while introducing the conveyor trolley as an intermediary that grasps the container support. This simple intermediary mechanism eliminates friction-based noise and energy loss without complicating the overall conveyor system structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4327107B1System for treating biological samples, comprising a system for conveying holders for biological sample containers
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 ARTEION
  • EP4327107B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4327107B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4327107B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

Disclosed is a system for treating biological samples, comprising a conveyor system (2) which has: a conveyor unit (4) having a carriage guiding element (23) defining a conveyor path, and a self-propelled conveyor carriage (24) which is movable along the conveyor path and is configured to move a container holder (3) along a movement path; and a plurality of receiving locations (8) along the movement path. The self-propelled conveyor carriage (24) has two gripping arms (31) which are mounted so as to be movable between a gripping position, in which the gripping arms (31) are configured to grip and lift a container holder (3) arranged in one of the receiving locations (8), and a release position, in which the gripping arms (31) are configured to release the container holder (3) and deposit the container holder (3) in one of the receiving locations (8). At least one analysis and/or measurement device (5) is arranged along the conveyor unit and is configured to perform blood tests.