Shared Camera Mounting for Multi-Unit Automated Analyzers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzers require multiple cameras for each dispensing mechanism, leading to increased manufacturing costs without ensuring analysis performance.
Innovation Solution
An automatic analyzer with a rod-shaped member and measuring instrument mounting units that allow a single measuring instrument to be shared across multiple processing units, reducing the need for multiple cameras.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera is provided for each dispensing mechanism to confirm nozzle operations, then measurement accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single camera is designed to serve multiple dispensing mechanisms through the measuring instrument mounting unit, which enables one camera to capture images of nozzles from different dispensing mechanisms by positioning it to measure stop positions of rod-shaped members across multiple units
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the measurement functions for multiple dispensing mechanisms into a single camera system, merging what would traditionally require separate cameras for each mechanism into one shared imaging device that reduces overall system cost
2Reliability
If multiple cameras are used to monitor multiple dispensing mechanisms, then operation monitoring is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera mounted on the measuring instrument mounting unit is designed to monitor operations of multiple dispensing mechanisms sequentially or simultaneously, making a single device perform multiple monitoring functions that would otherwise require separate cameras
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a single camera to create images that represent the stop positions of rod-shaped members in multiple dispensing mechanisms, effectively copying the monitoring capability across different mechanisms through one imaging device
Data Source
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AI summary
The purpose of this invention is to provide an automated analyzer that is capable of photographing operations at a plurality of processing units while suppressing manufacturing cost growth. This automated analyzer comprises a plurality of processing units for carrying out operations related to analysis, a plurality of measurement instrument mounting parts that are disposed in each of the plurality of processing units and upon which a measuring instrument for measuring the operations of the plurality of processing units can be mounted, and a control unit for controlling the plurality of processing units. The plurality of measurement instrument mounting parts are configured such that the measuring instrument can be removed from each of the measurement instrument mounting parts and such that after being removed from one measurement instrument mounting part, the measuring instrument can be mounted on another measurement instrument mounting part.