Sample Rack With Movable Leg For Horizontal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sample racks for autosamplers often suffer from poor airtightness during temperature control, leading to condensation issues and instability when drawn out, causing the sample plate to become inclined and risking liquid spillage, especially when using microwell plates with large liquid volumes.
Innovation Solution
A sample rack design featuring a leg portion that automatically adjusts between a protruding and storage posture, supported by an elastic member, maintains the sample rack horizontal when drawn out and ensures airtightness by contacting the insertion opening edge, eliminating the need for additional handling during insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the handle portion is configured to ensure airtightness by contacting the rack insertion opening periphery, then the airtightness of the rack insertion opening is improved, but the handle portion protrudes downward and the sample rack cannot maintain horizontal posture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable leg portion that can dynamically adjust its position between a protruding state (when inserted) and a retracted state (when removed). This dynamic structure allows the handle portion to maintain horizontal posture during removal while ensuring airtight contact with the rack insertion opening during insertion, resolving the contradiction between airtightness and horizontal posture maintenance.
2Reliability
If the sample rack is drawn out with the handle portion protruding downward, then the airtightness structure is maintained, but the sample rack becomes inclined and workability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The leg portion is designed to automatically change its posture based on the insertion/removal state. When the sample rack is drawn out, the leg portion protrudes downward to support the handle portion and maintain horizontal posture, improving workability. When inserted, it retracts to allow the packing to contact the rack insertion opening periphery, maintaining airtightness structure.
3Quantity of substance
If the micrawell plate contains large amount of liquid, then the sample storage capacity is improved, but the liquid spills when the plate becomes oblique
Solution Approach 1:
By ensuring the sample rack maintains horizontal posture through the movable leg portion support, the micrawell plate remains level even when containing large amounts of liquid. This prevents the plate from becoming oblique and spilling liquid, while still allowing high liquid storage capacity.
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
The sample rack maintains the sample plate in a horizontal position, improving workability and preventing liquid spillage, while ensuring airtightness during temperature control and insertion.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member configured to bias the leg portion in a direction to make the leg portion protrude from the lower surface of the placement table
Implementation Method 2
a packing is provided on a handle portion provided at the proximal end of the sample rack so that the packing of the handle portion is brought into contact with the periphery of the edge of the rack insertion opening
Implementation Method 3
The temperature in a sample storage is controlled by a heater, a Peltier element, or the like
Implementation Method 4
The temperature in a sample storage is controlled by a heater, a Peltier element, or the like
Implementation Method 5
since condensation is likely to occur when the outside air enters the sample storage
Data Source
AI summary
A sample rack includes a placement table having an upper surface for placing at least one sample plate thereon, a handle portion holding a proximal end portion of the placement table, the handle portion having a lower end portion positioned lower than a lower surface of the placement table when the upper surface is leveled, and a leg portion attached to the placement table to take a protruding posture in which the leg portion is protruded downward from the lower surface and a storage posture in which the leg portion is not protruded downward from the lower surface. The leg portion is configured to support the sample rack to maintain the upper surface substantially horizontally in cooperation with the lower end portion of the handle portion when the sample rack is placed on a substantially horizontal surface with the leg portion taking the protruding posture.