Specimen Holder Orientation Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The management of specimen containers in automation systems is complex due to orientation changes during conveyance, requiring alignment of identification labels for reading, especially when switching between holders and racks, leading to increased complexity in the reading and moving processes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of holder orientation adjustment mechanisms, including a stopper mechanism and a holder rotation mechanism, ensures the specimen container holders are properly aligned, maintaining the orientation of individual identification labels for efficient reading and conveyance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a holder conveys one specimen container, then the specimen container can be conveyed individually, but the orientation of the holder changes due to friction during contact with conveyance line structures, requiring alignment work for reading the identification label
Solution Approach 1:
The holder orientation adjustment mechanism adjusts the orientation of the holder before the specimen container is loaded, ensuring that the identification label is already in the correct reading position. This preliminary adjustment eliminates the need for subsequent alignment work during the reading process, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces manual alignment operations with an automated holder orientation adjustment mechanism that uses a motor to rotate the holder to the correct orientation. This substitution of mechanical manual alignment with an automated mechanical system reduces operational complexity while maintaining ease of reading
2Productivity
If specimen containers are loaded on a specimen container rack, then multiple containers can be conveyed, but it is necessary to load the containers such that the individual identification information is exposed at the position of the slit, requiring appropriate adjustment of the orientation of the specimen container
Solution Approach 1:
The holder orientation adjustment mechanism performs preliminary orientation adjustment of the holder before the specimen container is transferred to the rack. This ensures that when the container is loaded onto the rack, the identification label is already positioned correctly relative to the slit, eliminating the need for additional orientation adjustment during the moving process and maintaining productivity while reducing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The holder orientation adjustment mechanism acts as an intermediary between the holder and the rack, standardizing the orientation of the holder before transfer. This intermediary adjustment ensures that regardless of how the container is initially positioned, it will be in the correct orientation when transferred to the rack, simplifying the overall moving process while maintaining multi-container conveyance capacity
Data Source
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AI summary
A specimen inspection automation system includes holder orientation adjustment mechanisms 40a and 40b that adjusts the orientations of specimen container holders 10 that each holds one specimen container 1. The holder orientation adjustment mechanisms 40a and 40b are each includes: a stopper mechanism 41 that is disposed above a conveyance line 202a and 202b that conveys a specimen container holder 10 and restricts the downstream movement of the specimen container holder 10 by abutting, at the same height as a notched part 12a provided on one side of a base 12 of the specimen container holder 10, an outer circumferential part other than the notched part 12a in the circumferential direction of the base 12; and a holder rotation mechanism 42 that restricts the movement of the specimen container holder 10 away from the stopper mechanism 41 and rotates the specimen container holder 10 in the circumferential direction. As a result, it is possible to appropriately adjust the orientation of a specimen container in which a specimen is accommodated and reduce work complexity.