Pharmaceutical Sample Rack Layout for High-Capacity Case Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultramicrotubes have reduced sample capacity due to their shape, leading to space inefficiency in storage racks, and the small grate dimensions make it difficult to manufacture and handle the racks without sample loss during inversion.
Innovation Solution
The design includes rectangular, hollow cases with tapered bottoms and chamfered corners, a grate-shaped bottom portion with supporting pins, and case locking protrusions and concave portions to secure the cases within the rack, ensuring they do not fall when inverted and allowing for higher accuracy and efficiency in sample storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional ultramicrotubes with reduced bottom surface size are used, then the storage rack dimensions are reduced, but the sample capacity is decreased to 1/4 of standard microtubes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention places multiple ultramicrotubes (384 tubes) within a single storage rack by implementing a nested arrangement where tubes are organized in a matrix pattern with efficient space utilization. The case structure accommodates multiple tubes in a compact configuration, allowing the storage rack to hold 384 ultramicrotubes while maintaining reduced dimensions compared to conventional designs.
2Ease of manufacture
If cases are inserted into square partitioned portions of a grate, then storage rack manufacturing cost is reduced, but cases fall out when the rack is turned upside down causing enormous sample loss
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary anti-action by providing protrusions on the inner side surfaces of the grate partitions that extend into the cases before the rack is inverted. These protrusions create a mechanical interlock that prevents cases from falling out, countering the gravitational force that would otherwise cause cases to detach when the rack is turned upside down during transportation or handling.
3Ease of manufacture
If the storage rack frame has less dimensional accuracy to reduce manufacturing cost, then production cost is reduced, but picking accuracy of cases from the rack is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by concentrating high dimensional accuracy requirements specifically on the grate partitions and protrusions that interface with the cases, while allowing the outer rack frame to have lower dimensional accuracy. This localized precision ensures accurate case positioning and picking (within ±0.05mm) without requiring the entire rack frame to be manufactured with high precision, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining picking accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A pharmaceutical sample storage system in which the accommodation volume of a case is increased is disclosed and claimed. The molding of the storage rack is easy. The cases in the storage rack are locked in place and will not fall out even if the storage rack is turned upside down. Placing and removing cases from the storage rack is highly accurate. The sample storage system is sealed and the storage rack vertically accommodates a plurality of cases in a matrix. The cases are rectangular in cross-section and are hollow. The cases are tapered toward the bottom portion of the case and the outer surfaces of the cases are chamfered. The storage rack has a lower grate-shaped bottom portion which is partitioned by cross members. The bottom portion of the case being fitted into one partitioned portion of the grate-shaped bottom portion and has case supporting pins vertically provided upward from each intersection of gratings or cross members of the grated bottom portion.