Shielding Member Reduces Drying Time in Automatic Analyzer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzers face challenges in reducing the time from washing to drying of probes due to the need for large air suction, which increases drying time, and require a large waste liquid reservoir, making the washing tank bulky.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a shielding member, such as a ball, that reduces the amount of air sucked during vacuum suction by blocking the waste liquid flow path, allowing for efficient discharge of washing liquid and reducing the size of the washing tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large amount of air is sucked to blow off washing liquid from the probe, then the washing liquid is removed effectively, but the drying time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The washing tank is divided into a washing liquid discharge region and a probe drying region by a partition wall. This segmentation allows washing liquid to be discharged through a dedicated flow path without requiring large amounts of air suction, while the probe drying region uses only the necessary air flow to remove adhered washing liquid, thereby reducing overall drying time.
Solution Approach 2:
The function of washing liquid discharge is extracted from the general air suction process and implemented through a separate dedicated flow path. This extraction allows the drying process to use minimal air flow only for removing adhered washing liquid, rather than using large amounts of air to discharge all washing liquid, thus reducing drying time while maintaining effectiveness.
2Loss of substance
If a waste liquid reservoir is provided to store washing liquid, then washing liquid can be collected, but the washing tank size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The washing liquid discharge function is extracted from the main tank volume and implemented through a separate dedicated flow path that leads to an external waste liquid reservoir. This extraction allows the washing tank to be compact without needing to include a large internal reservoir, as the waste liquid is routed outside the main tank structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste liquid reservoir is positioned externally to the washing tank rather than being contained within it. This spatial reorganization in another dimension allows the washing tank to maintain a compact size while still providing effective washing liquid collection and discharge through the external reservoir system.
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 solution reduces the drying time and the size of the washing tank by minimizing air suction and enabling efficient discharge of washing liquid, thereby improving operational efficiency and space utilization.
Implementation Method 1
it is necessary to suck a large amount of air drawn from a nozzle insertion opening by blocking a waste liquid flow path in the inside of a washing tank and sucking the inside of the washing tank under vacuum
Implementation Method 2
it is necessary to blow off the external washing water adhered to the side surface of the probe by utilizing the wind speed at which a large amount of air is sucked
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
With the increase in the speed of operation of a device, it is necessary to perform washing to drying for a wide range of a probe in a short time. A probe, a washing nozzle which ejects a washing liquid, a vacuum nozzle which sucks air, a washing tank, which is connected to the washing nozzle and the vacuum nozzle, and in which washing and drying of the probe is performed by ejecting the washing liquid from the washing nozzle and then sucking air by the vacuum nozzle, a waste liquid flow path, which is connected to the washing tank, and into which the washing liquid is discharged, and a shielding member 100 which shields a flow path between the washing tank and the waste liquid flow path after the washing liquid is ejected from the washing nozzle.