Spacer Plate for Stackable Pipette Tip Racks Without Tip Adherence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stackable tip racks for large-volume pipette tips face issues with adherence due to increased vertical movement, leading to tips sticking together, especially in automated systems, and there is a need for improved stackability and space-saving solutions.
Innovation Solution
A spacer plate is introduced between successive racks to delimit upward-directed movement of pipette tips, preventing adherence by fixing the narrow ends of tips in a stacked configuration, using openings that are smaller in diameter than the tip crowns to maintain stability and prevent wobbling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the height of the space between successive racks is reduced to prevent tip movement, then tip adherence is prevented, but the rack structure becomes more complex and harder to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer plate is introduced as an intermediary component between successive racks. The spacer plate includes a delimiter that protrudes into the space between racks, physically preventing tips from moving vertically and adhering to each other. This mediator component simplifies the overall structure by providing a dedicated element for limiting tip movement rather than requiring complex modifications to the rack itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the rack structure for holding tips and the spacer plate for limiting tip movement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the rack for tip holding and the spacer plate for movement limitation - thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Volume of moving object
If the rack is designed to be stackable and nestable to save space, then space efficiency is improved, but tips are more prone to adhering to each other during vertical movements
Solution Approach 1:
The racks are designed to be nested within each other in a compact configuration, with the spacer plate positioned between successive racks to prevent tip adherence. This nesting arrangement maximizes space efficiency while the spacer plate ensures that tips remain stable and do not adhere to each other during the nested stacking process.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer plate acts as an intermediary barrier between nested racks, preventing tips from contacting each other during vertical movements inherent in nesting. This mediator allows the racks to be stackable and nestable for space savings while simultaneously preventing the harmful effect of tip adherence.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the openings in the spacer plate are made smaller to stabilize tips, then tip stability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer plate openings are designed with specific local dimensions that provide adequate stability for the tips. By optimizing the opening size locally at the critical interface between racks, the design achieves tip stability without requiring excessively high manufacturing precision across the entire rack structure. The openings are sized to comfortably accommodate the tip crown while limiting vertical movement.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spacer plate for a rack for disposable pipette tips, the rack comprising: a tip plate comprising openings, the openings being adapted for holding a first set of disposable pipette tips. The rack is stackable on another rack adapted for holding a second set of disposable pipette tips, to a nested and stacked configuration; wherein: the spacer plate is configured to be fixed under the tip plate; the spacer plate comprises a plurality of openings, the openings being adapted to receive narrow ends of the disposable pipette tips held by the tip plate; and in the nested and stacked configuration of the rack, the spacer plate is configured to delimit upward-directed movement of disposable pipette tips held by the another rack.