Self-Centering Vial Clamp With Synchronized Jaws for Secure Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vial handling systems face inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for manual manipulation and potential breakage of glass vials during handling and testing, as well as improper placement leading to material spillage or damage to instruments.
Innovation Solution
A self-centering vial clamp with a clamp body, jaw slots, lever arms, and interacting gears that apply a predetermined clamping force to center and hold vials of varying sizes, reducing the need for user intervention and minimizing vial damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual manipulation is used to place and hold vials, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but processing time increases and user attention is diverted from measurements or tests
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp device automatically centers and clamps vials without requiring manual positioning or adjustment by the user. The self-centering mechanism with multiple jaws and lever arms performs the placement function autonomously, reducing both processing time and user manipulation requirements simultaneously.
2Reliability
If improper placement and alignment of vials occurs, then handling speed may be maintained, but material spillage, vial damage, and instrument damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp device performs preliminary centering action automatically as the vial is placed, ensuring proper alignment before the actual clamping force is applied. This preliminary self-centering action guarantees accurate placement without requiring additional time for manual adjustment or verification.
3Reliability
If glass vials are handled manually, then adaptability to different vial sizes and shapes is maintained, but vial breakage risk increases due to user error or improper handling
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp device is segmented into multiple independent jaws (at least three), each capable of independent movement and contact with the vial. This segmentation allows the complex mechanism to adapt to various vial sizes and shapes while maintaining reliable grip and preventing breakage through distributed contact forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp mechanism employs dynamic lever arms that can pivot and adjust their position automatically based on the vial's placement. This dynamic capability allows the complex device to adapt to different vial configurations while maintaining consistent clamping force, thereby protecting vial integrity.
4Productivity
If automated handling systems are used for large streams of vials, then processing efficiency is maximized, but cost-effectiveness decreases for non mass-production situations
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp device is designed as a universal mechanism that can handle various vial sizes, shapes, and materials through its multiple adjustable jaws and self-centering capability. This multi-functionality allows a single device to serve both manual and automated handling scenarios, maintaining processing efficiency without requiring complex specialized automation systems for each application.
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 self-centering vial clamp enables efficient and secure handling of vials by automatically centering and clamping them, reducing processing time, minimizing vial breakage, and preventing material spillage, thus enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
interacting lever gears formed on the lever arms, with the lever gears constraining the two or more lever arms and the two or more clamp jaws to move substantially in unison
Implementation Method 2
a biasing device configured to place a predetermined clamping force on the two or more clamp jaws and to urge the two or more clamp jaws toward a normally-closed central position
Data Source
AI summary
A self-centering vial clamp (100) is provided. The self-centering vial clamp (100) includes a clamp body (101) including a vial aperture (110) and two or more jaw slots (111) spaced around the vial aperture (110), two or more clamp jaws (211) spaced around the vial aperture (110), with a clamp jaw (211) including a vial contact face (213) and one or more jaw projections (231) configured to engage a jaw slot (111) of the clamp body (101), and two or more lever arms (220) coupled to the two or more clamp jaws (211). A lever arm (220) is configured to be manually pivoted, wherein the lever arm translates the pivoting motion into a sliding motion of the corresponding clamp jaw (211). Interacting lever gears (224) formed on the lever arms (220) constrain the two or more clamp jaws (211) to move substantially in unison.