IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,959,576
Granted Patent B2
US 10,959,576 · App. 15/738,387 · Granted Mar 30, 2021

Device with wireless module for processing a medium

Inventor: Axel Kaufmann (Neuenburg, DE)
Assignee: IKA-Werke GmbH & CO. KG
A47J43/046B01F7/162B01F15/0022B01F15/0024B01F15/00162B01F15/00175B01F15/00305B01F15/00896B02C25/00H04Q9/00H04B5/0056H04Q2209/47H04W76/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,959,576
App. No.
15/738,387
Granted
Mar 30, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a device ( 1 ) having a base station ( 2 ) and at least one processing unit ( 3 ) that can be detached from the base station ( 2 ), having a tool ( 4 ) for processing a medium, wherein the processing unit ( 3 ) is provided with a vessel ( 5 ) for receiving the medium, a closure unit ( 6 ) for closing the vessel ( 5 ) and a sensor device ( 13 ) for measuring at least one parameter of the medium, wherein the sensor device ( 13 ) is disposed in and/or on the vessel ( 5 ) in a stationary manner such that a reliable measurement of a parameter can be carried out simultaneously with processing of the medium, and in that the device ( 1 ) has a wireless module ( 7 ) for producing a wireless connection between the base station ( 2 ) and the processing unit ( 3 ) at least for transmitting data.

Claims (25)

1. A device ( 1 ) having a base station ( 2 ) and a plurality of processing units ( 3 ) that can be selectively attached and detached from the base station ( 2 ), each having a different tool ( 4 ) for processing a medium, wherein each of the processing units ( 3 ) is provided with a vessel ( 5 ) for receiving the medium, a closure unit ( 6 ) for closing the vessel ( 5 ) and a sensor device ( 13 ) for measuring at least one parameter of the medium, wherein, at least a portion of the sensor device ( 13 ) is provided with the vessel ( 5 ) in a stationary manner such that a measurement of a parameter can be carried out simultaneously with processing of the medium, and in that the device ( 1 ) has a wireless module ( 7 ) for producing a wireless connection and at least for transmitting data between the base station ( 2 ) and the processing units ( 3 ) when attached to the base station ( 2 ),

wherein, each of the processing units ( 3 ) includes a transponder unit ( 12 ) having an associated memory, having stored thereon by coding, a specific identification signal so that the base station ( 2 ) can identify the respective processing unit ( 3 ) attached to the base station ( 2 ),

wherein, the base station ( 2 ) includes a program memory having a plurality of processing programs assigned to each of the processing units ( 3 ) such that, in response to receipt of the specific identification signal, a specific processing program is automatically selected from the program memory to define at least one of a processing time and a processing intensity for the respective processing unit ( 3 ) attached to the base station ( 2 ),

wherein, the base station is configured to automatically start the selected specific processing program,

wherein, maximum operating periods are defined on the transponder units ( 12 ) of the processing units ( 3 ) which are readable by the base station ( 2 ), the base station ( 2 ) monitoring operation of the processing units ( 3 ) when attached to the base station ( 2 ) to determine when the respective maximum operating periods have elapsed, and,

wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), the associated memory of the transponder unit ( 12 ) is updatable to update the respective maximum operating period.

2. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, the base station ( 2 ) includes a receiving unit ( 11 ), wherein an electronic coupling can be established between the transponder unit ( 12 ) of the processing unit ( 3 ) attached to the base station ( 2 ) and the receiving unit ( 11 ) for at least one of sending data from the receiving unit ( 11 ) to the transponder unit ( 12 ) and receiving data sent from the transponder unit ( 12 ) to the receiving unit ( 11 ).

3. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, the receiving unit ( 11 ) is configured to supply energy to the transponder unit ( 12 ) of the respective processing unit ( 3 ) attached to the base station ( 2 ) by transmitting radio waves.

4. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, the receiving unit ( 11 ) is disposed on a base ( 20 ) of the base station ( 2 ) used to position the respective processing unit ( 3 ) on the base station ( 2 ) when attached thereto.

5. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 4 , wherein, the receiving unit ( 11 ) is disposed in an aperture formed in a top of the base ( 20 ).

6. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, the receiver unit ( 11 ) is configured as an RFID receiver.

7. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 6 , wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), the transponder unit ( 12 ) is configured as an RFID transponder ( 12 ).

8. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), the transponder unit ( 12 ) is disposed on an outer side ( 26 ) of the vessel of the respective processing unit ( 3 ).

9. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), the sensor device ( 13 ) is electrically connected to the transponder unit ( 12 ) of the respective processing unit ( 3 ) to be configured together as a transponder-sensor unit.

10. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), the transponder unit ( 12 ) is thermally insulated from at least a portion of the sensor device ( 13 ) of the respective processing unit ( 3 ).

11. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), at least a portion of the sensor device ( 13 ) is coated.

12. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, the base station ( 2 ) is provided with a drive ( 8 ) configured to drive the tool ( 4 ) of the respective processing unit ( 3 ) attached to the base station ( 2 ).

13. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), the transponder unit ( 12 ) is configured as an RFID transponder ( 12 ).

14. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 13 , wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), the transponder unit ( 12 ) includes a memory and an antenna.

15. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), the sensor device ( 13 ) is provided with one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of: temperature sensor, pH sensor, moisture sensor and pressure sensor.

16. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, each of the processing units ( 3 ) is configured as a unit selected from the group consisting of: blender unit, grinder unit, mixing unit and kneading unit.

17. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), the sensor device ( 13 ) includes a sensor pin configured to contact the medium inside the vessel ( 5 ) of the respective processing unit ( 3 ).

18. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), the sensor device ( 13 ) includes a sensor pin disposed in an internal space ( 23 ) of the vessel ( 5 ) of the respective processing unit ( 3 ).

19. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), the sensor device ( 13 ) includes a sensor pin configured to pass through an opening in a wall of the vessel ( 5 ) to extend into an internal space ( 23 ) of the vessel ( 5 ) of the respective processing unit ( 3 ).

20. The device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for each of the processing units ( 3 ), the transponder unit ( 12 ) is enclosed by a layer of plastic.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2017
From: KAUFMANN, AXEL
To: IKA-WERKE GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 044450/0984 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2015 008 412 · Jul 2, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180184847A1 · Jul 5, 2018