Weight measuring device
By equiping multiple interfaces on the balance body and allowing replacement of different accessories, the shortcomings of precision balances in space occupation and cleaning are solved, and personalized assembly and function expansion on demand are achieved, reducing costs and improving flexibility.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202180028888.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2020-04-22
- Filing Date
- 2021-01-08
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-24
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-01-08
AI Technical Summary
The existing precision balances have shortcomings in space occupation and cleaning, and lack the possibility of personalized assembly on demand, making it difficult to meet the needs of different weighing tasks.
Design a weight measuring device that includes a balance body and multiple reversible fixed accessories. The wall of the balance body is equipped with multiple interfaces (optical, magnetic, tactile, radio technology, thermal, electrical, electronic interfaces) to allow the replacement of different active accessories. For rapid assembly and functional expansion.
It realizes space-saving, easy-to-clean personalized assembly on demand, reduces the number of manufacturing special parts, reduces production costs, and provides flexible functional expansion capabilities.
Smart Images
Figure CN115461597B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to a weight measuring device, which comprises a balance body and an accessory, wherein the balance body has a balance body wall and a weighing system, the accessory can be reversibly fixed on the balance body wall, and the weighing system has a load sensor penetrating the balance body wall and the accessory. Background Art
[0002] Such a weight measuring device is known from EP 3 074 736 B1.
[0003] Precision balances with different operating modes are well known. For example, precision balances with electromagnetic force compensation, strain gauges, vibrating strings, capacitive sensors or piezoresistive sensors are known. The precision balance also includes a weighed object carrier, on which the weighed object to be weighed is positioned, like other types of balances. Usually, but not necessarily, the weighed object carrier is arranged in a weighing chamber that is isolated from the surrounding environment by a weighing chamber wall, wherein the weighing chamber wall consists of a weighing chamber bottom, a weighing chamber top, a weighing chamber side wall and a front wall and a rear wall. The top, the side walls and / or the front wall are mostly configured as movable windproof elements or they contain a closable access opening so that the weighed object can be positioned in the weighing chamber. The weighed object carrier is connected to a load sensor, which usually runs through the bottom of the weighing chamber. The load sensor is part of a typically complex weighing system, i.e. a typically complex lever mechanism, which, in addition to the load sensor on the input side, also has a sensor device on the output side. The specific sensor device is not important in the context of the present invention. The weighing system is arranged in a weighing system room adjacent to the weighing room for shielding against environmental influences. In addition, such precision balances always contain a control device, which in particular drives the weighing sensor device.
[0004] EP 3 074 736 B1 of the type mentioned at the outset discloses a precision balance with a balance body and an accessory. The load sensor of the weighing system penetrates the wall of the balance body in the region forming the weighing chamber bottom. The accessory, which is arranged on the weighing chamber bottom, also has a through-opening for the load sensor. In addition, the accessory can be reversibly fastened to the weighing chamber bottom (and therefore to the balance body wall) so that it can be easily removed for cleaning and then reinstalled.
[0005] The disadvantage of this balance is that, in contrast to modern balances, it does not have additional auxiliary devices, such as cooling devices, wind protection control mechanisms, lifting devices in the weighing chamber, lighting devices or the like. The known balance also does not offer the possibility of subsequent individual assembly as required.
[0006] Modern balances with additional auxiliary devices, such as those known above, are known from the prior art. However, the disadvantage here is that the balance must already be equipped with these additional auxiliary devices in accordance with the current needs of the customer during its manufacture. Retrofitting on demand is not easy.
[0007] A balance with an auxiliary device that can be installed on demand is known from EP 1 195 584 A1, and the auxiliary device can be reversibly fixed to the rear wall of the weighing chamber by means of a track-shaped holding device. In order to fix the required auxiliary device in each required position in a specific individual case, the track-shaped holding device has different mechanical interfaces in the form of grooves, into which the auxiliary device can be inserted on demand. This system with replaceable auxiliary devices with different functions is particularly advantageous in a laboratory environment, in which one and the same balance must be used to perform different weighing tasks. The balance can then be assembled individually by the user himself according to his specific needs. Even in the case where the mechanical interface is designed to be unable to replace the auxiliary device by the user, this system is also advantageous for the manufacturer. Based on the same balance body, the balance can be preassembled for different weighing tasks by selecting the auxiliary device inserted into the receiving portion. The number of special parts to be manufactured is rapidly reduced, which significantly saves costs. However, the holding device extends into the weighing chamber in a space-consuming and easily dirty manner. Summary of the invention
[0008] The object of the present invention is to design a generic weight measuring device in such a way that it can be assembled individually as required in a space-saving manner and in a manner that is less prone to soiling or easier to clean.
[0009] This technical problem is solved by the following weight measuring device system, which includes a balance body and a plurality of different accessories for alternatively constructing different weight measuring devices, wherein the weight measuring devices respectively include the balance body and one of the accessories, wherein the balance body has a balance body wall and a weighing system, wherein the accessory is reversibly fixed to the balance body wall, and the weighing system has a load sensor that passes through the balance body wall and the accessory, and wherein a plurality of optical, magnetic, tactile, radio-technical, thermal, electrical and / or electronic interfaces connected to the balance electronics are arranged on the balance body wall, at least one of these interfaces is connected to a corresponding interface of the accessory to form an optical, magnetic, tactile, radio-technical, thermal, electrical or electronic connection between the accessory and the balance electronics.
[0010] The present invention has preferred embodiments.
[0011] According to the invention, the balance body wall of the balance is provided with a plurality of interfaces which are connected to the balance electronics and provide various accessories with active auxiliary devices which can be replaced (by the manufacturer and / or the user), that is, so-called active accessories, which each have one or more corresponding interfaces which are necessary for their respective function. Thus, the balance can be assembled as required by simply replacing the accessories.
[0012] The balance electronics connected to the interface includes a control device for controlling the operation of the system, which can include, for example, a storage unit, an identification unit and / or a cooling unit. The interface at the balance body wall can be arranged there in every conceivable area. It is particularly advantageous that they are arranged in the area forming the bottom of the weighing chamber or the rear wall of the weighing chamber. It is possible, but not necessary, that all interfaces are arranged in the same area of the balance body wall. The interface at the balance body wall can be optical, magnetic, tactile, radio technology, heat, electrical and / or electronic, that is, they can cooperate with the corresponding interface to form an optical, magnetic, tactile, wireless technology, heat, electrical and / or electronic connection. The corresponding interface is arranged at the attachment, so that this attachment is connected to the balance electronics in the state of being assembled at the balance body wall. The contact of the interface at the balance body wall with the corresponding interface at the attachment is preferably automatically completed when the attachment is fastened to the balance body. It is not necessary to make all interfaces at the balance body wall contact with the interface at the attachment when forming a connection. Rather, it is sufficient if the accessory has at least one interface which corresponds to an interface of the wall of the balance body and this interface is contacted during the installation of the accessory to produce the connection.
[0013] Since the accessory can be reversibly fixed to the wall of the balance body, it can be easily, that is to say without great effort, exchanged with other accessories which are also designed to be reversibly fixed to the wall of the balance body. By providing a plurality of interfaces on the wall of the balance body, various active accessories with different functions and different corresponding interfaces can be fixed to the wall of the balance body. In this way, different balances can be assembled for different applications with the help of various accessories with different functions. The gravimetric measuring device can thus be equipped or retrofitted with further functions quickly and uncomplicatedly by replacing the accessories. Here, purely by way of example: a motorized inner draft shield; a density determination kit with an integrated temperature sensor; a pipette calibration kit with an integrated temperature sensor, an air pressure sensor and an air humidity sensor and an evaporation trap with a motor-driven locking mechanism; an RFID reader; a load converter for mass comparator applications; an electric field sensor; a magnetic field sensor; a motorized lifting device or a metering device. This means that when it is necessary to equip or retrofit the balance according to the invention with new functions, the balance body can be retained and only the accessories need to be replaced, since the balance body is designed to form an effective weight measuring device in combination with various accessories with very different functions. The design of the balance body with multiple interfaces on the balance body wall also makes it possible to provide new functions in the future in the form of new accessories that are compatible with the balance body. A weight measuring device is thus obtained that is particularly flexible in terms of assembly of the balance. By designing the balance body with multiple interfaces on the balance body wall, the number of special parts to be manufactured for the accessories is also reduced at the same time, which significantly saves costs during production and proves to be particularly sustainable.
[0014] At least one interface on the balance body wall is preferably designed as a plug or a socket and the corresponding interface of the accessory is correspondingly designed as a socket or a plug. The accessory and the balance body wall can thus be connected to one another via a plug connection, wherein a plug arranged on the balance body wall or on the accessory can be plugged into a socket arranged correspondingly on the accessory or on the balance body wall when the connection is established. A plug connection is a simple and easily operable option for connecting an accessory to the balance body and to the balance electronics.
[0015] In addition or alternatively, at least one interface at the wall of the balance body can be designed as a contact plate, like the corresponding interface of the accessory, which contacts each other with their faces when the connection is formed. This design of the interface is also easy to implement in terms of construction technology and provides a simple feasible solution to connect the accessory to the balance body and to the balance electronics without complexity and without great expenditure. When installing an accessory with an interface designed as a contact plate, contact with the corresponding interface arranged at the wall of the balance body is automatically achieved in the following way, that is, the two contact plates contact each other, that is to say, their plate-shaped faces facing each other touch each other. The design of the interface as a contact plate is particularly suitable, but not only suitable for forming a thermal interface between the accessory and the balance electronics.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the interface on the balance body wall, which is designed as a contact plate, and the interface on the accessory, which is designed as a contact plate, are spring-loaded toward each other when the connection is established. The spring prestressing of the two contact plates toward each other ensures that the two contact plates come into contact when the accessory is mounted. The contact area of the two contact plates is thereby maximized.
[0017] In addition, at least one interface at the balance body wall can be configured as an information transmission and / or information reception interface. The balance electronics can therefore transmit and / or receive information via the interface at the balance body wall. If the accessory, for example, has an identification unit, the information about the identity of the accessory can be conveyed from the accessory to the balance electronics via the interface configured as an information reception interface at the balance body wall. If the accessory, for example, has a motorized internal windshield, the instruction for opening or closing the internal windshield can be conveyed from the balance electronics to the accessory via the interface configured as an information transmission interface at the balance body wall. This embodiment is also very interesting, for example, for the following situation, that is, the accessory is configured as a pipette calibration module, which has a motor-driven locking mechanism and a motion or proximity sensor, and the detection space of the motion or proximity sensor covers the area around the locking mechanism. Therefore, the information recorded by the sensor about the object, such as the pipette tip approaching or moving away from the area around the locking mechanism, is conveyed from the accessory to the balance electronics via the interface configured as an information reception interface at the balance body wall. The command for opening or closing the locking mechanism of the pipette calibration module can then be transmitted from the balance electronics to the accessory via the interface designed as a communication interface on the balance body wall.
[0018] At least one interface at the wall of the balance body is further preferably configured as an energy supply interface. This is necessary when the accessory is configured such that it requires energy to realize the provided function. The accessory can then obtain the required energy from the energy supply system of the balance body via the energy supply interface at the wall of the balance body, the accessory contacting the energy supply interface while forming an energy-conducting connection.
[0019] The accessory is advantageously reversibly fastened to the balance body wall by means of a removable snap-in connection. The use of a removable snap-in connection for fastening the accessory to the balance body wall makes it possible to easily install and remove the accessory. When the accessory is snap-in to the balance body wall, the accessory is securely held on the balance body wall and thus on the balance body. Furthermore, the snap-in connection is designed to be removable so that the accessory can be removed from the balance body in a simple and tool-free manner. Apart from the weight measuring device, the balance body without the accessory and the accessory itself are interesting commercial units.
[0020] In this case, such an accessory can be used to expand the gravimetric measuring device with new functions. The accessory according to the invention for the gravimetric measuring device according to the invention comprises a fastening device for reversibly fixing to the wall of the balance body and is characterized in particular by at least one optical, magnetic, tactile, radio, thermal, electrical and / or electronic interface. By means of this interface, the accessory can be connected to a corresponding interface on the balance body wall of the balance body in order to form an optical, magnetic, tactile, radio, thermal, electrical and / or electronic connection between the accessory and the balance electronics.
[0021] The balance body for the measuring device according to the invention comprises a balance body wall and a weighing system, which has a load sensor that penetrates the balance body wall and is particularly distinguished by the fact that a plurality of optical, magnetic, tactile, radio-technical, thermal, electrical and / or electronic interfaces connected to the balance electronics are arranged on the balance body wall.
[0022] Further details and advantages of the invention emerge from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] In the figure:
[0024] Figure 1 : A schematic diagram showing a balance body according to the present invention;
[0025] Figure 2 : A schematic diagram of a weight measuring device according to the present invention is shown, which comprises Figure 1 The balance body, the first attachment and the windproof part;
[0026] Figure 3 : A schematic diagram showing a second accessory configured as an automatic internal windshield;
[0027] Figure 4 : A schematic diagram of a weight measuring device according to the present invention is shown, which comprises Figure 1 The balance body and Figure 3 Accessories and windshields;
[0028] Figure 5 : A schematic diagram showing a third accessory configured as an automatic pipette calibration module;
[0029] Figure 6 : A schematic diagram of a weight measuring device according to the present invention is shown, which comprises Figure 1 The balance body and Figure 5 Attachments;
[0030] Figure 7 : A schematic diagram showing a fourth accessory configured as an RFID reader; and
[0031] Figure 8 : A schematic diagram of a weight measuring device according to the present invention is shown, which comprises Figure 1 The balance body and Figure 7 Accessories and windshields. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] The same reference numbers in the drawings identify the same or similar elements.
[0033] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a weight measuring device according to the invention, that is to say a balance body 12 according to the invention, without accessories is shown. The balance body 12 essentially comprises a weighing system chamber 16 in which a weighing system is arranged, a weighing chamber 18 and balance electronics in the form of an electronics unit 28. In the embodiment shown, the electronics unit 28 comprises a large-format display and input means. The electronics unit can additionally contain a control device. This control device can also be arranged at other locations of the balance body 12. However, it is considered advantageous that the control device is arranged thermally insulated from the weighing chamber 18 and the weighing system chamber 16. The specific structure of the weighing system is not important in the context of the present invention. However, it comprises a load sensor 22 that penetrates the balance body wall 20 in any case. In the embodiment shown, the load sensor 22 penetrates the balance body wall 20 in the region of the weighing chamber bottom of the weighing chamber 18 adjacent to the weighing system chamber 16. Furthermore, a plurality of optical, magnetic, tactile, radio-technical, thermal, electrical and / or electronic interfaces 201 are arranged in the region of the balance body wall 20 forming the weighing chamber bottom, which interfaces are connected to the electronics unit 28. These interfaces 201 can alternatively also be arranged in other regions of the balance body wall 20. The region of the balance body wall 20 forming the rear wall of the weighing chamber is an interesting alternative for the arrangement of the interfaces 201 in particular, but not exclusively.
[0034] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a weight measuring device 10 according to the invention is shown, which comprises Figure 1The balance body 12 and the first attachment 14. In the embodiment shown, the weighing chamber 18 is isolated from the surrounding environment by a weighing chamber wall. The weighing chamber wall is composed of a motor-type windshield 26 and the attachment 14, and the windshield forms the weighing chamber top, the weighing chamber side walls, the front wall and the rear wall.
[0035] At the free end of the load cell 22, which penetrates both the balance body wall 20 and the attachment 14 in the region forming the bottom of the weighing chamber, a weighed object carrier 24 is arranged, on which the weighed object is positioned for weighing. The attachment 14 can be reversibly fixed to the balance body wall 20, more precisely to the bottom of the weighing chamber. In addition to the mechanical interface for fixing to the balance body 12, the attachment 14 also has at least one optical, magnetic, tactile, radio-technical, thermal, electrical and / or electronic interface (neither of which is shown), which contacts one of the interfaces 201 at the balance body wall 20 when a connection is formed. This can be, for example, an electrical or electronic interface designed as a power supply interface, via which the motor wind shield 26 and / or the lighting device arranged at the attachment 14 can be powered.
[0036] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a second accessory 14' designed as an automatic inner draft shield is shown. The accessory 14' has fastening means for reversibly fixing to the balance body wall 20 of the balance body 12 according to the invention, in particular to the weighing chamber bottom, and at least one interface (both not shown), which corresponds to a corresponding interface 201 on the balance body wall 20 thereof when the accessory 14' is mounted on the balance body 12. The accessory 14' may include, in particular, a motor for driving the automatic inner draft shield, a motion sensor for detecting approach or departure from the detection space of the sensor, an electrical or electronic interface designed as an energy supply interface, and an electrical or electronic interface designed as an information transmission and information reception interface.
[0037] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a weight measuring device 10 ′ according to the invention is shown, which comprises Figure 1 The balance body 12 and Figure 3The attachment 14' and the windshield 26 are connected. At least one interface at the attachment 14' is connected to the corresponding interface 201 on the weighing chamber bottom 20 in a contacting manner. As a result, the information recorded by the motion sensor about the object approaching or moving away from the detection space of the sensor can be conveyed from the attachment 14' to the balance electronics via an interface arranged at the balance body wall and configured as an information receiving interface. The instructions for opening or closing the automatic internal windshield can then be conveyed by the balance electronics to the attachment via an interface arranged at the balance body wall and configured as an information sending interface, wherein the automatic internal windshield 14' can obtain energy from the energy supply system of the balance body 12 via an energy supply interface at the balance body wall 20, and the motor of the attachment 14' is powered, for example, via this interface. The automatic internal windshield 14' can therefore be opened by a motor when an object approaches or closed again when the object moves away, wherein the control is performed by the electronic device unit 28.
[0038] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a third accessory 14" configured as an automatic pipette calibration module is shown. This accessory 14" also has a fastening device for reversibly fixing to the balance body wall 20 of the balance body 12 according to the present invention and at least one interface (neither of which is shown), which corresponds to a corresponding interface 201 on the balance body wall 20 thereof when the accessory 14" is mounted on the balance body 12. This accessory 14" can in particular have a thermal interface.
[0039] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a weight measuring device 10" according to the invention is shown, which comprises Figure 1 The balance body 12 and Figure 5 Accessory 14". At least one interface at the accessory 14" is connected to a corresponding interface 201 at the balance body wall 20 while forming contact. The pipette calibration module 14" can thus be controlled by the electronics unit 28 via the thermal interface 210 at the balance body wall 20 and the temperature of the pipette calibration module 14" can be kept constant and cooled or heated when necessary.
[0040] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a fourth accessory 14'" configured as an RFID reader is shown. In order to be reversibly fixed to the balance body wall 20 of the balance body 12 according to the present invention, this accessory 14'" also has a fastening device (not shown). In addition, the accessory 14'" has at least one interface (also not shown), which corresponds to a corresponding interface 201 on the balance body wall 20 thereof when the accessory 14'" is installed on the balance body 12. The accessory 14'" can especially have a radio technology interface configured as an information sending interface.
[0041] Figure 8A schematic diagram of a weight measuring device 10"' according to the invention is shown, which comprises Figure 1 The balance body 12 and Figure 7 The accessory 14"' and the wind shield 26. At least one interface at the accessory 14"' is connected to a corresponding radio technology interface 201 configured as an information receiving interface at the balance body wall 20 while forming contact. In this way, for example, information about the identity of the accessory 14"', information about the object to be weighed, such as a batch number, or similar information can be conveyed from the accessory to the electronic device unit 28.
[0042] The embodiments discussed in the detailed description and shown in the drawings are of course only illustrative examples of the present invention. A wide range of variations are possible for those skilled in the art based on the teachings of the disclosure herein.
[0043] Reference numerals list
[0044] 10, 10', 10", 10"' weight measuring device
[0045] 12 Balance body
[0046] 14, 14', 14", 14"' Accessories
[0047] 16 Weighing system room
[0048] 18 Weighing Room
[0049] 20 Balance body wall
[0050] 201 Interface
[0051] 22 Load sensor
[0052] 24 Object carrier
[0053] 26 Wind Protection Department
[0054] 28 Electronics Unit
Claims
1. A weight measuring device system, comprising a balance body and a plurality of different accessories, for alternatively constructing different weight measuring devices (10, 10', 10", 10"'), wherein the weight measuring devices each comprise the balance body (12) and one of the accessories (14, 14', 14", 14"'), wherein: The balance body (12) has a balance body wall (20) and a weighing system, the accessories (14, 14', 14", 14"') are reversibly fixed to the balance body wall (20), and the weighing system has a load sensor (22) that penetrates the balance body wall (20) and the accessories (14, 14', 14", 14"'), and a plurality of optical, magnetic, tactile, radio, Thermal, electrical and / or electronic interfaces (201), at least one of which is connected to a corresponding interface of the accessory (14, 14', 14", 14'") to form an optical, magnetic, tactile, radio-technical, thermal, electrical or electronic connection between the accessory (14, 14', 14", 14'") and the balance electronics, while the other of these interfaces are not contacted by the corresponding interface of the accessory (14, 14', 14", 14'") 2. The weight measuring device system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that At least one of the interfaces (201) on the balance body wall (20) is configured as a plug or a socket, and the corresponding interface of the accessory (14, 14', 14", 14'") is correspondingly configured as a socket or a plug.
3. A weight measuring device system according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that At least one of the interfaces (201) on the balance body wall (20) is designed as a contact plate like the corresponding interface of the attachment (14, 14', 14", 14'"), which contact plates bear against each other with their surfaces when forming the connection.
4. The weight measuring device system according to claim 3, It is characterized in that The interface (201) configured as a contact plate on the balance body wall (20) and the interface (201) configured as a contact plate on the attachment (14, 14', 14", 14'") are spring-loaded toward each other when the connection is established.
5. The weight measuring device system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that At least one interface (201) on the balance body wall (20) is configured as an information sending and / or information receiving interface.
6. The weight measuring device system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that At least one interface (201) on the balance body wall (20) is configured as a power supply interface.
7. The weight measuring device system according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The attachment (14, 14', 14", 14'") is reversibly fixed to the balance body wall (20) by means of a detachable latching connection.