Vial Handling Equipment With Resilient Neck Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic arm systems for handling vials of different sizes require complex adjustments and additional instrumentation to prevent damage, often resulting in tilting movements that complicate barcode reading and restrict the use of conventional syringes for injection or extraction.
Innovation Solution
The equipment employs transverse and supplementary supporting means with resilient components to securely hold vials by their necks, preventing tilting and allowing perpendicular alignment, while maintaining access for syringe use through a central opening, ensuring vials are supported without obstructing labels or caps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vials are supported by their bodies using motorised tongs, then the vials can be held securely, but complex programming and additional instrumentation are required to detect vial size and prevent damage
Solution Approach 1:
A vial adapter serves as an intermediary component that interfaces between the vial and the supporting mechanism. The adapter includes a conical outer surface that fits into a corresponding conical recess in the support base, providing mechanical guidance and stabilization without requiring complex detection systems. This mediator translates the varied geometries of different vial sizes into a standardized interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The support mechanism utilizes resilient means (springs) that can adjust their force characteristics based on the vial size and weight. The resilient means provide adaptive supporting forces that automatically accommodate different vial parameters without requiring active control programming or size detection instrumentation.
2Reliability
If vials are supported by their bodies, then they can be held stably, but the supporting structure may cover the bar codes preventing them from being read
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the support base with resilient means provides stabilization from below, while the adapter extends upward to hold the vial. This segmentation allows the barcode reading area on the vial body to remain exposed and accessible to external reading devices while the support structure remains positioned lower.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adapters are located on the heads and necks of vials to standardize size, then the base can support them uniformly, but conventional syringes cannot be used to inject or extract liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter acts as an intermediary that provides mechanical standardization for support purposes while being transparent to syringe operations. The adapter fits onto the vial neck to provide uniform geometric characteristics for the support base, but includes openings or passages that allow syringe needles to pass through and access the vial contents without removing the adapter.
4Reliability
If vials are supported by the neck, then they can be held, but tilting movements occur that complicate barcode reading and require complex image processing
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter provides localized geometric features (conical outer surface) at the interface with the support base that ensure proper alignment and perpendicular positioning. This localized quality control at the support interface prevents tilting movements without requiring active correction systems or complex image processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient means (springs) provide beforehand cushioning that compensates for variations in vial weight and center of gravity. This pre-compliance mechanism prevents tilting movements before they occur by providing adaptive support forces that maintain vertical alignment, eliminating the need for post-positioning image correction.
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 effectively stabilizes vials during rotation, enabling accurate barcode reading and allowing the use of conventional syringes, reducing the need for complex image processing and pre-adapter preparation, and accommodating vials of various sizes without additional modifications.
Implementation Method 1
resilient means for opening and closure
Data Source
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AI summary
Equipment for the handling of vials (100) which comprises: a base on which at least part of the vials being handled is located and transverse supporting means for the vials in which the transverse supporting means apply a force in a substantially transverse plane to the necks of the vials, which comprise supplementary supporting means for the vials; these supplementary supporting means applying a second force in a plane that is substantially inclined with respect to the plane in which the transverse supporting means apply the first force.