Waste Chute Segmented Louvers for Analyzer Contamination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current waste disposal systems in automatic analysis devices are prone to contamination, require excessive force for consumable transfer, and have a high susceptibility to errors, leading to increased costs and reduced system availability.

Innovation Solution

A waste disposal system with a waste chute featuring self-resetting slats forming at least two slat rings, spaced apart to allow consumables to stack and be pushed into the waste container with minimal force, reducing contamination and error susceptibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple slat rings are arranged close together in the waste chute, then consumables are contained better, but the force required to push consumables through the waste chute becomes excessively high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination riskVSAvoidforce required for consumable transfer
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The waste chute is segmented into distinct sections by spacing the first slat ring and second slat ring at different positions along the waste chute, creating intermediate space for consumable stacking while maintaining containment functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from arranging slat rings in a densely packed configuration to spacing them apart along the longitudinal dimension of the waste chute, utilizing the available space more efficiently to reduce resistance while maintaining containment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a complex multi-part electric gripper is used for cuvette transfer, then gripping functionality is improved, but device complexity and error susceptibility increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecuvette transfer capabilityVSAvoidgripper system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the complex multi-part electric gripper from the waste delivery system, replacing it with a simpler mechanism that achieves the same functional goal of transferring consumables to the waste container

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The waste delivery system is designed to automatically push consumables into the waste container using the spaced slat ring configuration, eliminating the need for complex electric gripper mechanisms and reducing system dependency on sophisticated actuation systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If slat rings are positioned close together, then consumable containment is improved, but contamination risk inside the waste chute increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsumable containmentVSAvoidcontamination inside waste chute
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The waste chute is divided into functional zones by positioning the first slat ring for initial containment and the second slat ring for final containment before the waste container, with spaced intermediate region that reduces contamination pressure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spaced region between the first slat ring and second slat ring acts as an intermediary zone that allows controlled consumable movement and stacking while preventing direct contact and contamination between consumables and the waste chute walls

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3699599B1Waste transport system
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 SIEMENS HEALTHCARE DIAGNOSTICS PRODS
  • EP3699599B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3699599B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3699599B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Waste shipment system (1) for transferring consumables through a waste chute (3) into a waste container (4), the waste shipment system (1) comprising a waste chute (3) with a first opening (4) and a second opening (5), wherein the first opening (4) is located outside the waste container and wherein the second opening (5) opens towards the waste container, wherein the first opening (4) and the second opening (5) are arranged at a first distance (6) from each other, wherein the waste chute (3) comprises a plurality of self-resetting louvers (7) for partially or completely closing the openings (5, 6), wherein the louvers (7) form at least two louver rings (8, 8') arranged one above the other at a second distance (9), wherein at least a first louver ring (8) closes the first opening (4) and wherein at least a second louver ring (8') closes the second opening (5),wherein the second distance (9) between the lamellar rings (8, 8') is at least one third, preferably at least half, particularly preferably at least three quarters of the first distance (6).