Sample Nozzle Elastic Contact Control for Dispensing Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzers face challenges in maintaining dispensing accuracy due to individual differences in reaction containers and sample nozzles, leading to variations in the distance between the nozzle tip and the container bottom, sample adhesion, and potential vibration affecting the dispensing process, especially in microscale dispensing.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system that measures the elastic contact moving distance using a capacitance detector and stop position detector to adjust the arm's movement, ensuring consistent positioning of the sample nozzle at the elastic contact starting point, regardless of nozzle and container variations, thereby stabilizing the dispensing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sample nozzle is synchronized with the pump operation and ascends while dispensing, then sample adhesion to the nozzle side surface is prevented, but control difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an elastic body as an intermediary between the sample nozzle and the driving mechanism. This elastic body absorbs the synchronization requirements between the nozzle and pump operations, allowing the nozzle to ascend while dispensing without requiring complex real-time coordination. The elastic deformation of the intermediary element provides passive compliance that resolves the control difficulty while maintaining dispensing accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle tip distance to container bottom is reduced for microscale dispensing, then dispensing accuracy is improved, but sample adhesion to the nozzle tip increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic positioning of the sample nozzle by controlling its ascent during the dispensing process. Instead of maintaining a fixed static distance, the nozzle dynamically adjusts its position relative to the container bottom. This dynamic approach allows the system to achieve microscale dispensing accuracy while preventing sample adhesion through the upward movement, as the sample is discharged while the nozzle is ascending rather than stationary at the closest point.
3Measurement precision
If the arm stops descending by stop position detector for consistent positioning, then nozzle positioning is improved, but individual differences in reaction container rigidity cause variation in actual stop position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the stop position detector as a feedback mechanism to detect when the arm has reached the predetermined stop position. The detector provides feedback signal that triggers the arm to cease descending, ensuring consistent positioning across different operations. This feedback loop compensates for individual differences in reaction container rigidity by using the detected stop position as the control criterion rather than relying solely on predetermined mechanical stops, allowing the system to adapt to varying container characteristics.
4Reliability
If the sample nozzle ascends while discharging sample, then sample adhesion to nozzle side surface is prevented, but vibration of the sample nozzle affects dispensing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an elastic body that provides beforehand cushioning for the sample nozzle during its ascending operation. The elastic body is pre-configured to absorb and dampen vibrations that occur during the ascent and dispensing process. By providing this cushioning effect in advance through the elastic element's inherent damping properties, the system prevents vibration from adversely affecting dispensing accuracy while still maintaining the beneficial ascending motion that prevents sample adhesion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for reliable wetting and spreading of the sample on the reaction container bottom, reducing adhesion and vibration, and ensuring consistent dispensing accuracy across different reaction containers and nozzles.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitance detector 48 that detects a change in capacitance of the sample nozzles 13a and 14a
Implementation Method 2
a stop position detector 46 that detects a stop position detection plate 45
Implementation Method 3
an elastic body 47 that elastically supports the sample nozzles 13a and 14a
Implementation Method 4
a pump for a sample 21 connected to the sample nozzles 13a and 14a
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
An automatic analyzer capable of controlling an interval between the tip of a sample nozzle and the bottom of a reaction container regardless of individual differences between reaction containers and sample nozzles and suppressing adhesion of a sample to the sample nozzle is realized. Sample nozzles 13a and 14a are moved toward the bottom surface of a reaction container 2, the movement of the sample nozzles is stopped at a point in time when a stop position detector 46 detects a stop position detection plate 45, the sample nozzles are ascended from the stop position to a position where the stop position detection plate 45 separates from a detection range of the stop position detector 46, and an arm 44 is moved upward by a moving distance stored in a memory. It is possible to stop the sample nozzles 13a and 14a and discharge the sample in a state where the tips of the sample nozzles 13a and 14a are brought into contact with the bottom surface of the reaction container 2 and bending of the sample nozzles 13a and 14a is suppressed.