IP Library Granted Patent US 10,060,784
Granted Patent B2
US 10,060,784 · App. 15/717,418 · Granted Aug 28, 2018

Balance having a load changing device and method for operating said balance

Inventors: Thomas Froehlich (Illmenau, DE); Sigo Muehlich (Bovenden, DE); Falko Hilbrunner (Ilmenau, DE); Thomas Fehling (Witzenhausen, DE); Mario Schreiber (Goesen, DE)
Assignee: Sartorius Lab Instruments GmbH & Co. KG
G01G21/23
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,060,784
App. No.
15/717,418
Granted
Aug 28, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A balance with a load changing device ( 14 ) that has a magazine table, mounted to be horizontally movable and having a plurality of vertical openings ( 26 ) arranged in groups. The balance ( 12 ) has a load cell ( 34 ) and a load receptor ( 42 ) with a carrier arrangement ( 44 ) corresponding to each of the groups of openings. The magazine table and the balance are height adjustable relative to each other. In a weighing position, a group of openings above the load receptor is penetrated by the carrier arrangement. In a changing position, the carrier arrangement is positioned lower than the openings in the magazine table. The magazine table is mounted at a fixed height relative to a base ( 16 ), and the balance is height adjustable relative to the base. The travel of the balance is upwardly limited by a stop ( 32 ), which is at a fixed height relative to the base.

Claims (43)

1. Balance device with a base, a stop and a load changing device,

wherein the load changing device comprises:

a magazine table, which is mounted to be horizontally movable and which has a plurality of vertical openings arranged into groups, and

wherein the balance comprises:

a load cell and a load receptor, which has a single carrier arrangement that corresponds to each and any of the groups of the openings in the magazine table,

wherein the magazine table and the balance are configured to adjust in height relative to each other, so that, in a weighing position, one of the groups of the openings that is positioned above the load receptor in the magazine table is penetrated by the carrier arrangement of the load receptor, and, in a changing position, the carrier arrangement of the load receptor is positioned lower than the group of the openings in the magazine table,

wherein the magazine table is mounted at a fixed height relative to the base, and the balance is configured to adjust in height relative to the base, and

wherein a travel distance of the balance is upwardly limited by the stop, which is positioned at a fixed height relative to the base.

2. Device, as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the magazine table is a turntable, which is mounted to rotate horizontally and has a surface area over which the groups of the openings are distributed.

3. Device, as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the magazine table is a sliding stage, which is mounted to move linearly and horizontally and has a surface area over which the groups of the openings are distributed.

4. Device, as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the stop, or a counter-stop that is fixed at a fixed height relative to the balance, comprises a force-measuring device.

5. Device, as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a motorized lifting device,

wherein the balance comprises or is disposed on the motorized lifting device.

6. Device, as claimed in claim 5 ,

wherein the motorized lifting device comprises a force-controlled cut-off.

7. Device, as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the magazine table comprises a motorized drive.

8. Device, as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a motorized load receptor lifting device,

wherein the load receptor is configured to adjust in height with respect to the load cell through operation of the motorized load receptor lifting device, and wherein the load receptor is decoupled from a weighing system of the load cell in a raised position and is coupled with the weighing system of the load cell in a lowered position.

9. Method for operating a balance with a load changing device,

wherein the load changing device comprises a magazine table, which is mounted to be horizontally movable and which has a plurality of vertical openings arranged into-groups,

wherein the balance comprises a load cell and a load receptor, which has a single carrier arrangement that corresponds to each and any of the groups of the openings in the magazine table, and

wherein, distributed over the magazine table, several test weights are positioned respectively over associated groups of the openings, said method comprising:

moving the magazine table until a selected test weight is positioned above the load receptor of the balance located in a changing position,

raising the balance until the carrier arrangement extends through the group of the openings associated with the test weight, and the carrier arrangement abuts the test weight,

further raising the balance together with the test weight that rests on the carrier arrangement of the load receptor, until a stop abuts a counter-stop that is fixed at a fixed height relative to the balance,

determining a weight value for the test weight, and

lowering the balance into the changing position.

10. Method for operating a balance with a load changing device,

wherein the load changing device comprises a magazine table, which is mounted to be horizontally movable and which has a plurality of vertical openings arranged into groups,

wherein the balance comprises a load cell and a load receptor, which has a single carrier arrangement that corresponds to each and any of the groups of the openings in the magazine table,

wherein, distributed over the magazine table, several test weights are positioned respectively over associated groups of the openings,

wherein the load receptor is configured to adjust in height with respect to the load cell through operation of a motorized load receptor lifting device, and

wherein the load receptor is decoupled from a weighing system of the load cell in a raised position and is coupled with the weighing system of the load cell in a lowered position, said method comprising:

moving the magazine table until a selected test weight is positioned above the load receptor of the balance located in a changing position, with the load receptor located in the raised position,

raising the balance until the carrier arrangement extends through the group of the openings associated with the test weight, and the carrier arrangement abuts the test weight,

further raising the balance together with the test weight that rests on the carrier arrangement of the load receptor, until a stop abuts a counter-stop that is fixed at a fixed height relative to the balance,

transferring the load receptor with the motorized load receptor lifting device into the lowered position,

determining a weight value for the test weight, and

lowering the balance into the changing position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2018
From: FROEHLICH, THOMAS; MUEHLICH, SIGO; HILBRUNNER, FALKO; FEHLING, THOMAS; SCHREIBER, MARIO
To: SARTORIUS LAB INSTRUMENTS GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 045064/0363 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2015 104 693 · Mar 27, 2015 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2016000355 · Mar 2, 2016
Related Publication 20180017432A1 · Jan 18, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,498,262