Ultrasonic Cleaner Temperature Stabilization for Automatic Analyzer Nozzles
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Solution Overview
Problem
The ultrasonic cleaner in automatic analyzers faces challenges in maintaining consistent cleaning effectiveness due to temperature fluctuations, which affect the vibration amplitude and lead to scattering of the cleaning solution, potentially causing stains on the device.
Innovation Solution
The automatic analyzer incorporates a controller that performs a heating operation by driving the ultrasonic transducer at a different drive condition than the cleaning operation, ensuring the ultrasonic transducer is heated separately from the nozzle cleaning process to stabilize its temperature and maintain consistent cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ultrasonic transducer is driven at high power to achieve effective cleaning in short time, then the cleaning effect is improved, but the vibration amplitude becomes unstable due to temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by heating the ultrasonic transducer before the cleaning operation to stabilize its temperature. The controller performs a heating operation that drives the ultrasonic transducer at a condition different from cleaning operation to raise its temperature in advance, ensuring stable vibration characteristics during the subsequent high-power cleaning process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the ultrasonic transducer by using different drive conditions for heating versus cleaning operations. The controller adjusts the drive parameters (such as power level or frequency) to optimize both the heating phase and cleaning phase, allowing the transducer to reach optimal operating temperature and maintain stable vibration amplitude during cleaning.
2Reliability
If the cleaning time is extended to improve cleaning effectiveness, then the cleaning effect is improved, but the throughput of the automatic analyzer decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state or parameters of the cleaning solution by heating it to an appropriate temperature before or during the cleaning operation. This temperature increase enhances the cleaning effectiveness by improving the solubility and cleaning action of the solution, allowing for shorter cleaning times while maintaining or improving cleaning quality.
3Reliability
If the ultrasonic transducer is heated to stabilize temperature, then the vibration stability is improved, but additional heating time and energy are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating function with the existing ultrasonic transducer system by utilizing the transducer itself as the heating element. The same ultrasonic transducer that performs cleaning also serves to heat the cleaning solution through its operation, eliminating the need for separate heating equipment and reducing overall system complexity and time requirements.
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 enables the ultrasonic cleaner to achieve a consistent cleaning effect regardless of the operating temperature environment, preventing scattering of the cleaning solution and ensuring reliable nozzle cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic cleaner to clean the nozzle, wherein the ultrasonic cleaner includes a cleaning bath, an ultrasonic transducer, and a vibration head
Implementation Method 2
the vibration head is resonated and vibrated in the cleaning solution to generate a large displacement, thereby obtaining a cavitation effect around the nozzle
Implementation Method 3
a piezoelectric device is sandwiched between metal blocks
Implementation Method 4
The controller performs a heating operation of driving the ultrasonic transducer to heat the ultrasonic transducer under drive condition
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an automated analyzer comprising an ultrasonic cleaner capable of obtaining a consistent cleaning effect regardless of the operating temperature environment. This automated analyzer comprises: a dispensing mechanism having a nozzle for dispensing a sample or reagent; an ultrasonic cleaner 26 for cleaning the nozzle; and a control unit 28. The ultrasonic cleaner comprises: a cleaning tank 206; an ultrasonic vibrator 205; and a vibration head 209 that extends from the ultrasonic vibrator to the cleaning tank and has a distal end part that is inserted into the cleaning tank. The control unit inserts the nozzle into the cleaning tank and carries out a heating operation for heating the ultrasonic vibrator by driving the ultrasonic vibrator according to a driving condition different from that for a cleaning operation for cleaning the nozzle by driving the ultrasonic vibrator.