Weighing system and method for laboratory cages

Abstract

A weighing system adapted for application to a laboratory cage, comprising a container (1) having an opening closable by a lid (2), where the weighing system comprises a central unit (21) and one or more weighing modules (22) adapted to be mechanically connected to suspension modules (24, 25, 26, 27, 29) that can support or contain a substance to be weighed in the laboratory cage, wherein the central unit (21) and the weighing module (22) are applied to the partition plate (23; 28), a partition plate (23; 28) is adapted to be arranged inside the laboratory cage together with the central unit (21) and the weighing module (22), the container (1) being closed by the lid (2). The present specification also relates to a weighing method that can be implemented by said system and to a laboratory cage comprising said system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a weighing system for laboratory cages, in particular to a system that can be used to weigh food, beverages and / or animals in laboratory cages. The present invention also relates to a weighing method that can be implemented by the system and a laboratory cage comprising the system. Background Art

[0002] WO2014 / 118727A1 discloses a known type of rack and laboratory cages, wherein the laboratory cages can hold one or more animals for scientific experiments. During these experiments, an operator can periodically remove the cages from the racks on which the various cages are placed in order to manually and individually weigh the food, water and animals contained in the cages by means of a precision electronic scale located on the operator's operating table, after which the operator puts everything back into the cages and puts the cages back on the rack.

[0003] There are at least two problems with this weighing method. The first problem is the disturbance caused to the animals by removing the cages from the racks and handling them, which usually occurs during the day, i.e. during the animals' resting period, with the attendant risk of inducing stress in the animals and thus affecting the results of the experiment.

[0004] The second problem is the low reliability of daily weighing, which does not take into account changes in weight and water and food consumption throughout the day. In addition to weighing how much food is eaten or how much water is drunk during the day, you need to know the times of day when this happens and the weight of the animal at these times to get more detailed information about the animal's metabolism and thus obtain higher quality experimental results.

[0005] To solve these problems, the weighing systems PhenoMaster of TSE Systems and Promethion of Sable Systems include weighing modules that can be connected to the lid outside the laboratory cage to continuously and directly weigh the feeders, drinkers and animal shelters inside the cage. However, these known weighing systems are relatively bulky, the weighing modules protrude outside the cage and are connected to external devices with cables for powering the weighing modules and collecting the signals transmitted by the weighing modules. Therefore, without the weighing system, the cage cannot be inserted into the corresponding rack because it is bulky, thereby requiring a dedicated rack with fewer workstations or additional space in the laboratory.

[0006] Furthermore, cages with one of said known weighing systems cannot be connected to standard ventilation equipment, which limits the time, number and / or form of possible experiments, in particular experiments on several cages in parallel, resulting in longer time and higher costs. Furthermore, the lack of ventilation reduces the time the animals spend in the cages, since a correct recirculation of air and hazardous substances such as ammonia and carbon dioxide cannot be guaranteed, also exposing the operator to potentially infectious and allergenic substances.

[0007] Another problem with the known weighing system is that the weighing modules hooked on the cage lid are relatively complex devices and when they have to be applied to or removed from the lid, the lid needs to be opened for a relatively long time, with the risk of animals escaping from the cage.

[0008] Furthermore, the feeders of these known systems are relatively unreliable, since the fallen food is collected by a rack arranged below it, so that it cannot be guaranteed that the food remains in the feeder, thus altering the weighing phase and collecting foreign matter such as litter and paper carried by the animals. Summary of the invention

[0009] Therefore, the object of the present description is to provide a system that solves these problems. Said objects are achieved by a system, a method and a cage, the main features of which are described in the attached claims, which are considered as an integral part of the present description.

[0010] Due to its particular structure, the system provided by the present specification allows automatic and continuous weighing of food, water and animals and can be applied in any case in cages of known type, so that the cages can be inserted into their corresponding racks without making special modifications to the system, such as the cages and racks described in WO2014 / 118727A1.

[0011] The system preferably comprises an autonomous control unit powered by a battery and / or communicating with the outside world by wireless communication.

[0012] The control unit preferably comprises a control device which communicates with the weighing modules, collects their data and stores the data, processes the data and / or transmits the data to an external processor. The control unit preferably comprises a display for displaying system information and / or a power supply unit controlled by the control device.

[0013] The control unit preferably comprises one or more antennas, which are arranged on a printed circuit board and / or at a separate location within the cage, and / or if the antennas are made of metal, the antennas comprise the same partition supporting the control unit, in order to improve the quality of data transmission and / or reduce power consumption.

[0014] The system preferably comprises one or more weighing modules separate from the control unit in order to improve ventilation in the cage and to more easily manage the arrangement of the weighing modules on the partitions, thereby facilitating the use of the cage and adapting it to the requirements of the experiment in which the cage is used.

[0015] The weighing module includes a special screw mechanism that facilitates mechanical connection to a module suspended in the cage (such as a feeder, waterer, wheel and / or animal shelter).

[0016] Due to the specific mutual arrangement of the partitions, the control unit and the weighing modules, the system allows an adequate ventilation of the cages, which, through fluid dynamics simulations, is substantially equal to or even better than the ventilation of the same cages without the system but with a conventional feeder.

[0017] This special partition not only fully supports the control unit and weighing module, but also protects them from the animals in the cage without affecting the functionality of the suspension module.

[0018] The particular construction of the system also allows its application in a simple, quick and stable way to cages, even of known types, so as to simplify the preparation of the cage and limit vibrations that could affect the weighing readings, also guaranteeing that the cage is closed with its standard cover which only needs to be lifted for the short time required to insert the system into the cage.

[0019] The partitions are preferably provided with specific ventilation openings that guarantee the continuity of the air flows and their optimal distribution in the cage, adapting them to the arrangement and shape of the suspension modules used in the system.

[0020] The feeder provided with a special container with a grid is applied to the system provided by the present invention and is more reliable than the known feeders because it does not collect foreign matter and the food does not fall out of the container, thereby improving the accuracy of the weighing data.

[0021] In the system and method provided in this specification, data from the weighing module is periodically collected by the control unit, stored in the memory, and transmitted to the external processor at programmable time intervals according to the needs of the experiments conducted in the laboratory, so as to save additional power.

[0022] Since the system and method can be used with known types of cages and racks, the experimental animals are not stressed by the change of environment, thereby improving the results of the experiment. Therefore, the animals can be tested without adaptation time in the new environment. In addition, since the structure of the system allows the cage to be ventilated, the time the animals spend in the cage is not limited.

[0023] Depending on the size of the laboratory, the use of known types of cages and racks can also optimize costs and space in the laboratory, providing a high degree of scalability for the arrangement of cages.

[0024] Special weigh modules facilitate installation in the system and can be quickly and easily connected to various types of suspension modules. In addition, the structure and architecture of the weigh modules guarantee high accuracy of the weighing readings and reduce noise sources such as vibrations or unexpected movements. For this purpose, the weigh modules can include specific load cells that are fixed directly to the bulkhead in a stable manner.

[0025] In particular, the control unit and the weighing module are inserted into one or more housings which are preferably separated from each other to improve ventilation and / or waterproofing, so that the mechanical, electrical and / or electronic components are protected from dust and, most importantly, the control unit and the weighing module can be sterilized with standard disinfectants.

[0026] The weighing module preferably comprises one or more specific sensors for detecting the vibrations generated by the interaction of the animal with the suspension module connected to the weighing module, so that the control unit is woken up during the weighing phase only when the animal eats, drinks, runs, enters or leaves the shelter, thus optimizing power consumption.

[0027] The control unit preferably comprises an RFID reader for reading an RFID tag containing the identification code of the cage in order to associate the weighing data with the cage. The control unit may also comprise its own RFID tag which may replace the RFID tag of the cage or even be added thereto in order to identify the control unit. Thanks to this arrangement, the operator no longer needs to be concerned with ensuring the traceability of the cage, but can insert it at any position on the shelf. Regardless of the position of the cage on the shelf, the system and method, through their communication architecture, can automatically ensure the tracking of the cage and the correspondence between the weighing data and the cage.

[0028] When the control unit is equipped with its own RFID tag, this RFID tag can also be used to transmit data from the control device of the control unit to the outside, such as weighing data, possible system alarms, battery charge status and other system information. The data written to the RFID tag of the system can be read by an RFID reader arranged in the rack, thus simplifying the communication of the system and weighing data. In addition, the RFID tag of the control unit can also receive data sent by an external RFID transmitter and send it to the control device, for example triggering the transmission of data stored in the control unit via a Wi-Fi transceiver.

[0029] Thus, the activation of the radio communication of multiple weighing systems can be managed centrally by an external computer to ensure that there are no multiple parallel communications which would risk interfering with or even causing a loss of the radio communication signal.

[0030] When the system is applied to a cage, the operator can associate the RFID tag of the control unit with the cage, so there is no need to provide an RFID tag in the lid. If instead the control unit includes an RFID antenna, the association between the cage and the control unit can be automatic. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Further advantages and features of the systems, methods and cages provided by the present specification will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of some embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not limiting examples of the claims, in which:

[0032] Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of a first embodiment of a cage incorporating the system;

[0033] Figure 2 Shown without the cover Figure 1 Cage;

[0034] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 A top view of the cage;

[0035] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 Section AA;

[0036] Figure 5 Shows Figure 3 Section BB;

[0037] Figure 6 Shows Figure 3 Section CC;

[0038] Figure 7 Shows Figure 1 Side view of the cage;

[0039] Figure 8 Shows Figure 1 An exploded view of the cage;

[0040] Fig. 9 Shows Figure 1 an axonometric view of the partitions of the cage;

[0041] Fig.10 Shows Fig. 9 A top view of a partition;

[0042] Fig.11 Shows Fig. 9 A side view of a partition;

[0043] Fig.12 Shows Fig. 9 A front view of the partition;

[0044] Fig.13 Shows Figure 1 A first axonometric view of a control unit of a cage;

[0045] Fig.14 Shows Fig.13 A second axonometric view of the control unit;

[0046] Fig.15 Shows Fig.13 A front view of the control unit;

[0047] Fig.16 Shows Fig.15 Section AA;

[0048] Fig.17 Shows Fig.13 A top view of a control unit;

[0049] Fig.18 Shows Fig.17 Section BB;

[0050] Fig.19 Shows Fig.13 Exploded view of the control unit;

[0051] Fig. 20 Shows Figure 1 A side view of a weighing module of a cage;

[0052] Fig.21 Shows Fig. 20 Bottom view of the weighing module;

[0053] Fig. 22 Shows Fig. 20 Front view of the weighing module;

[0054] Fig.23 Shows Fig. 20 A top view of the weighing module;

[0055] Fig.24 Shows Fig.23 Section AA;

[0056] Fig.25 Shows Fig.24 Section BB;

[0057] Fig.26 Shows Fig. 20 A first exploded view of a weighing module;

[0058] Fig. 27 Shows Fig. 20 Second exploded view of the weigh module with Figure 1 Feeders for cages;

[0059] Fig.28 Shows Fig. 27 Exploded view of the feeder;

[0060] Fig.29 Shows Fig. 27 Side view of the feeder;

[0061] Fig.30 Shows Fig. 27 A top view of the feeder;

[0062] Fig.31 Shows Fig. 27 A front view of a feeder;

[0063] Fig.32 Shows Fig. 20 Top view of the weighing cell with Figure 1 The wheels of the cage;

[0064] Fig.33 Shows Fig.32 Section AA;

[0065] Fig.34 Shows Fig.32 A front view of the wheel;

[0066] Fig.35 Shows Fig.32 Rear view of the wheel;

[0067] Fig.36 Shows Fig. 20 Top view of a weigh module with Figure 1 The first shelter of the cage;

[0068] Fig.37 Shows Fig.36 Section AA;

[0069] Fig.38 Shows Fig.36 Front view of the shelter;

[0070] Fig.39 Shows Fig.36 Rear view of the shelter;

[0071] Fig.40 Shows Fig. 20 Top view of a weigh module with Figure 1 The second shelter of the cage;

[0072] Fig.41 Shows Fig.40 Side view of the shelter;

[0073] Fig.42 Shows Fig.40 Front view of the shelter;

[0074] Fig.43 Shows Fig.40 Rear view of the shelter;

[0075] Fig.44 shows an axonometric view of a second embodiment of a cage incorporating the system;

[0076] Fig.45 Shown without the cover Fig.44 Cage;

[0077] Fig.46 Shows Fig.44 A top view of the cage;

[0078] Fig.47 Shows Fig.46 Section AA;

[0079] Fig.48 Shows Fig.46 Section BB;

[0080] Fig.49 Shows Fig.46 Section CC;

[0081] Fig.50 Shows Fig.44 Side view of the cage;

[0082] Fig.51 Shows Fig.44 An exploded view of the cage;

[0083] Fig.52 Shows Fig. 20 Top view of a weigh module with Figure 1 drinking vessels for the cages;

[0084] Fig.53 Shows Fig.52 Section AA;

[0085] Fig.54 Shows Fig.52 A front view of a drinking vessel;

[0086] Fig.55 Shows Fig.52 Rear view of the drinking vessel;

[0087] Fig.56 Shows Fig.44Axonometric view of the partitions of the cage;

[0088] Fig.57 Shows Fig.56 A top view of a partition;

[0089] Fig.58 Shows Fig.56 A side view of a partition;

[0090] Fig.59 Shows Fig.56 A front view of the partition;

[0091] Fig.60 Shows Fig.13 A top view of a first printed circuit board of a control unit;

[0092] Fig.61 Shows Fig.13 A top view of a second printed circuit board of the control unit;

[0093] Fig.62 Shows Fig. 20 A side view of a printed circuit board of a weighing module;

[0094] Fig.63 Shows Fig.13 The control unit and Fig. 20 The connection diagram of the weighing module;

[0095] Fig.64 Shows Fig. 20 Block diagram of the adapter circuit of the weighing module;

[0096] Fig.65 Shown with Figure 1 A front view of the cage's rack;

[0097] Fig.66 Shows Fig.65 A magnified detail of

[0098] Fig.67 shows an axonometric view of a third embodiment of a cage incorporating the system;

[0099] Figures 68-70 Shows the known cages and Figure 1 Results of a fluid dynamics simulation performed on a cage. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0100] Figures 1 to 8A first embodiment of a laboratory cage is shown, comprising a container 1 with an opening, in particular an upper opening of a generally rectangular shape, which opening can be closed by a lid 2, the container in particular having an upper wall connected to one or more side walls, which define the lower edge of the lid 2. A gasket 3 can be arranged around the upper edge of the container 1 or in the lower edge of the lid 2 to hermetically close the gap between the container 1 and the lid 2. When the cage is closed, the lower edge of the lid 2 is arranged at a lower height than the edge of the container 1. The upper wall of the lid 2 may include a seat 4 for accommodating a drinking vessel (not shown in the figure), a valve 5 for inserting the drinking vessel spout into the cage and / or a grille 6 provided with an air filter 7 for cage ventilation. The wall of the lid 2, in particular the rear wall, may include an inlet duct 8 and / or an outlet duct 9 for cage ventilation. Preferably, the inlet duct 8 and the outlet duct 9 are parallel to each other. The container 1 may include a stopper 10, which is suitable for being inserted into a corresponding cavity 11 of the lid 2, or vice versa, to block the lid 2 on the container 1 when the cage is closed. The container 1 may also include lateral guides 12, 13 for hanging the cage on the supports of a rack of laboratory cages. The cage may be provided with its own identification code, in particular contained in an RFID tag 14, preferably arranged in the grid 6 of the lid 2, so that it can be identified when inserted into a rack comprising a plurality of stations equipped with RFID readers, as described in document WO 2014 / 118727 A1. The container 1 may include a valve 15, in particular arranged on the rear wall of the container 1, which valve 15 is suitable for coupling with an external conduit to introduce a liquid into the container 1, for example water to quench the thirst of the animals in the cage.

[0101] Preferably, the container 1 and / or the lid 2 have a substantially truncated pyramidal shape (inverted with respect to the container 1 ), in particular with rounded edges and corners, and / or are made of transparent plastic.

[0102] The weighing system of the present specification comprises a central unit 21 and one or more weighing modules 22, in particular two weighing modules 22, which are preferably adapted to be arranged in a removable manner with a partition 23 inside the cage. The partition 23 can separate the space where the central unit 21 and the weighing module 22 are arranged, in particular the space in the lid 2, from the space where the experimental animal moves in the cage. The central unit 21 is used to receive weighing data from the weighing module 22, store and / or process the received data, and send these processed data to the outside of the cage, preferably by wireless communication. The central unit 21 and the weighing module 22 are preferably arranged in a part of the space defined by the container 1 and in a part of the space defined by the lid 2, in particular between the edge of the container and the lid 2.

[0103] Preferably, the cage height H is 13-15 cm, the cage length L is greater than twice the height H, for example 30-35 cm, and / or the cage width W is greater than the height H, for example 16-18 cm. The height of the container 1 is 10-12 cm and / or the height of the lid 2 is 3-5 cm. The height of the central unit 21 and / or the weighing module 22 is 2-4 cm. The length of the central unit 21 and / or the weighing module 22 is 8-12 cm.

[0104] Preferably, the central unit 21 and / or the weighing module 22 have an elongated shape extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to a median plane of the container 1 , the cover 2 and / or the partition 23 , in particular parallel to a median plane P of the partition 23 .

[0105] The central unit 21 and the weighing modules 22 may be contained in a single housing, or arranged in several separate housings. Preferably, the central unit 21 and the weighing modules 22 are separated from each other and arranged side by side on the partition 23, so that the space between the central unit 21 and the weighing modules 22 forms a channel C (shown in dashed lines) extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to the median plane P. When the cage is closed by the lid 2, the central unit 21 and / or the weighing modules 22 are preferably spaced apart from the inner surface of the upper wall of the lid 2, so that the inlet duct 8 and / or the outlet duct 9 of the lid 2 open into one or more gaps G (shown in dashed lines) between the lid 2 and the central unit 21 and / or the weighing modules 22. The central unit 21 and / or the weighing modules 22 are preferably spaced apart from the edge of the partition 23 so as to form one or more passages D (shown in dashed lines) around the central unit 21 and / or the weighing modules 22 between the lid 2 and the partition 23 for the circulation of air coming from the inlet duct 8 and / or leaving the outlet duct 9. The channels C, the gaps G and / or the passages D are preferably connected to one another so as to form air paths on the partitions 23 around the central unit 21 and / or the weighing modules 22 .

[0106] The weighing module 22 may be mechanically connected, preferably by screw fastening means, to one or more suspension modules which may support or contain the material to be weighed by the weighing module 22. The suspension module may include, for example, a feeder 24 which may contain food for the animals in the cage, or a wheel 25 which may contain the animals to be rotated by the latter.

[0107] Also refer to Figure 9-12, the partition 23 may comprise a plate 30 provided with one or more seats 31, 32 to partially or completely accommodate the control unit 21 and / or the weighing module 22. In particular, the control unit 21 is inserted into its seat 31 without being fixed to the plate 30, while the weighing module 22 is preferably fixed in its seat 32 by one or more screws, in particular two screws 33, each screw passing through a hole in the weighing module 22 and a hole 34 in the plate 30. The plate 30 may comprise one or more windows 35 for mechanical connection between the weighing module 22 and a suspension module, such as a feeder 24 or a wheel 25. The partition 23 may also comprise one or more ventilation openings 36 and / or one or more lateral supports 37, in particular tabs protruding from the edge of the partition 23, to rest the partition 23 on one or more edges of the container 1, so that the partition 23 partially or completely covers the opening of the container 1 and is blocked by the lid 2 when the cage is closed. The vents 36 are preferably arranged beside the seats 31 and / or 32 of the plate 30, so that the vents 36 lead to one or more channels C and / or passages D arranged around the control unit 21 and / or the module weighing plate 22. In particular, the vents 36 are arranged one after another along one or more axes parallel to and / or perpendicular to the middle plane P of the partition 23. The plate 30 may comprise a grille 38 protruding upwards, i.e. towards the lid 2, so that the grille 38 divides the space contained in the lid 2 into two parts. The plate 30 may comprise one or more side walls 39 protruding downwards, i.e. towards the container 1, to improve the stability of the partition 23 when the partition 23 is placed in the container 1.

[0108] Also refer to Figure 13-19The control unit 21 may comprise a housing 40, preferably waterproof, in particular with a protection level of at least IP43, which contains one or more printed circuit boards 41, 42 on which electrical and electronic components are mounted for processing the weighing data transmitted by the weighing module 22. The housing 40 may also contain a power supply unit 43, preferably a power supply unit with one or more batteries 44, and / or an output device 45, preferably an electronic ink display, and / or an input device 46, preferably one or more buttons, and / or one or more connectors 47, 48, preferably USB connectors, for electrical connection with the weighing module 22 and / or an external device for power supply or data transmission via a cable (not shown) of the control unit 21. The output device 45, the input device 46 and / or the connectors 47, 48 are preferably mounted on the same printed circuit board 41. In particular, the housing 40 comprises two printed circuit boards 41, 42, which are connected together by a connector 49 and are arranged alternately on two parallel planes, the power supply unit 43 being arranged next to the first printed circuit board 41 and below the second printed circuit board 42. The housing 40 has a generally parallelepiped shape, in which the upper portion is arranged with the second printed circuit board 42 and the power supply unit 43. The housing 40 may include a door 50 for accessing the power supply unit 43. The connectors 47, 48 are preferably protected by a removable cap 51 applied to the housing 40 when they are not connected to a cable.

[0109] Also refer to Figure 20-26The weigh module 22 may comprise a housing 60, preferably waterproof, containing a printed circuit board 61 on which are mounted electrical and electronic components for acquiring weighing data, and a load cell 62, which is provided with one or more strain gauges 63, connected to the printed circuit board 61 by a cable 64. Preferably, the load cell 62 is arranged beside the printed circuit board 61 and / or is provided with one or more threaded holes 65 for screws 33, which are used to fix the weigh module 22 to the partition 23 through the holes 34, so that the load cell 62 can be directly fixed to the partition 23. A flanged bushing 66 can be arranged in a hole formed under the waterproof housing 60 so as to be passed through by the screw 33. Further screws 67 can be screwed into the threaded holes 65 of the load cell 62 to fix the housing 60 to the load cell 62. The arm 68 is fixed to the load cell 62, in particular by means of a screw 69 screwed into a threaded hole formed in the load cell 62, on the opposite side of the threaded hole 65 of the screw 33, and comprises means suitable for mechanically connecting the suspension module to the weighing module 22. The mechanical connection means are preferably screw fixing means, in particular comprising a screw 70 which can rotate freely in a bushing 71 of a first shape fixed to the arm 68 and which can have a knurled head 72 arranged outside the housing 60 to manually rotate the screw 70 without tools. The housing 60 may also contain a connector 73, preferably a USB connector mounted on the printed circuit board 61, for connecting the weighing module 22 and the control unit 21. The weighing module 22 preferably comprises one or more sensors 74, 76 for detecting the movement of the suspension module mechanically connected to the weighing module 22. The sensors 74, 76 may comprise a piezoelectric sensor arranged on the arm 68 at the shaped bushing 71 and / or a magnetic sensor 76 mounted on an extension of the printed circuit board 61 arranged beside the arm 68. In alternative embodiments, the sensors 74, 76 may also be applied to the suspension module. The connector 73 is preferably protected by a removable cap 77 applied to the housing 60 when it is not connected to a cable.

[0110] Also refer to Fig. 27 , the suspension module, for example the feeder 24, comprises a second shaped bushing 75 which is threaded and has a shape complementary to the first shaped bushing 71 of the weighing module 22, so that the shaped bushings 71 and 75 cannot rotate relative to each other when they are connected by means of a screw 70 screwed into the arm 68 of the second shaped bushing 75. In this way, the screw 70 can pass through the first shaped bushing 71 and the window 35 obtained in the plate 30 of the partition 23 (shown in dotted lines) to screw into the second shaped bushing 75 and stably fix the suspension module to the weighing module 22.

[0111] Also refer to Figure 28-31The feeder 24 may include a container 81 suitable for containing animal food, the container being provided with a grid for allowing the experimental animal to eat the food contained in the container 81. The grid comprises a first portion 82 connected to a second portion 83, wherein the angle formed between the two portions 82, 83 is greater than 60°, in particular 80-100°, so that the lower portion 81a of the container 81 protrudes from the rest of the container 81 and is arranged below the second portion 83 of the grid. In particular, the first portion 82 is vertical and the second portion 83 is horizontal. The upper wall of the container 81 is connected to the second forming bushing 75. Preferably, the grids 82, 83 close an opening formed in a lid 84 having an L-shaped profile, which in turn is suitable for closing a corresponding opening formed in the container 81 for placing food. Preferably, the container 81 and / or the lid 84 are formed by a formed and folded metal sheet. The lid 84 is provided with a protrusion 85, which is suitable for being inserted into a corresponding cavity 86 formed along the opening edge of the container 81. The lid 84 may include an opening 87 that may cooperate with a tool to facilitate removal of the lid 84 from the container 81 .

[0112] Also refer to Figure 32-35 The wheel 25 may include a rotating element 91 which can rotate relative to a support 92 via a bearing 93. Preferably, the rotating element 91 is substantially truncated cone-shaped, with its axis inclined at an angle of 0-10° relative to the horizontal plane. The second shaped bushing 75 of the wheel 25 is connected to the upper wall of the support 92.

[0113] Also refer to Figure 36-39 , a suspension module, in particular an alternative to wheels 25, may comprise a first shelter 26 for experimental animals, comprising a tubular body 101 suitable for accommodating experimental animals. Preferably, the tubular body 101 is transparent and / or has a substantially cylindrical shape, with its axis inclined 0-10° relative to the horizontal plane. The tubular body 101 is connected to a support 102 having an upper wall provided with a second shaped bushing 75 for mechanical connection of the shelter 26 to the weighing module 22.

[0114] Also refer to Figure 40-43 , the suspension module, in particular the wheel 25 or the alternative of the first shelter 26, may comprise a second shelter 27 for laboratory animals, which in turn comprises a box-like body 111 suitable for accommodating laboratory animals and provided with a door 112. Preferably, the box-like body 111 has a substantially parallelepiped shape. The box-like body 111 is connected to a support 113 having an upper wall provided with a second shaped bushing 75 for the mechanical connection of the shelter 27 to the weighing module 22.

[0115] Figure 44-51A second embodiment of a laboratory cage is shown, which is similar to the first embodiment in that it comprises a container 1 with an opening which can be closed by a cover 2. However, in this embodiment, the weighing system comprises a central unit 21 and three weighing modules 22 applied to a partition 28 which can completely cover the opening of the container 1. In particular, the central unit 21 and the two weighing modules 22 are arranged in seats 31, 32 formed by a rear portion 28a of a partition 28 which is substantially identical to the partition 23 of the first embodiment, without a grid 38, and the third weighing module 22 is arranged in a seat 32 formed by a front portion 28b of the partition 28 which is not in the partition 23 and extends to the front of the cage. The third weighing module 22 can be mechanically connected to a suspension module which comprises a drinker 29 suitable for containing a liquid, such as water, for drinking water for the animals in the cage. Therefore, the cover 2 can be free of seats and valves for a drinker arranged outside the cage.

[0116] Also refer to Figure 52-55 The drinker 29 comprises a support structure 115 having an upper wall provided with a second shaped bushing 75 for mechanical connection of the drinker 29 to the weighing module 22. The support structure 115 of the drinker 29 supports a bottle 116 which is preferably tilted downwards by 30-60° and comprises a nipple 117 facing a vertical plane passing through the centre of the partition 28. The bottle 116 is removably inserted into the support structure 115 so that an empty bottle can be replaced by a full bottle without removing the drinker 29 from the weighing module 22.

[0117] Also refer to Figure 56-59 The partition 28 is similar to the partition 23 of the first embodiment in that it comprises a plate 30 provided with one or more seats 31, 32 for partially or completely accommodating the control unit 21 and / or the weighing module 22, and one or more windows 35 for mechanical connection between the weighing module 22 and a suspension module, such as a feeder 24, a wheel 25, a shelter 26, 27 or a drinker 29. The seat 32 for the third weighing module 22 is arranged substantially in the center of the front part 28b of the partition 28. The ventilation openings 36 in the rear part 28a of the partition 28, i.e. the part adjacent to the inlet duct 8 and the outlet duct 9, occupy a total area that is smaller than the total area of ​​the ventilation openings 36 in the front part 28b of the partition 28.

[0118] Also refer to Figure 60-63, the control unit 21 comprises a control device 121, in particular an ARM ultra-low power microcontroller with a real-time clock (RTC), such as an STM32L431RCTx microcontroller, which is suitable for controlling the entire system. The control device 121 is connected to a transceiver 122, in particular a Wi-Fi module, more particularly a Wi-Fi microcontroller such as an ESP8266EX microcontroller, to transmit a radio signal containing digital data (for example at a frequency of 2.4 GHz) via an antenna 123 to an external transceiver 124, in particular a Wi-Fi router placed on a shelf of the laboratory cage or nearby. The control device 121 is connected to a display 45, which is arranged on the printed circuit board 41 through a spacer 126, in particular having a substantially truncated cone shape. The control device 121 is connected to a non-volatile memory 127, in particular a FRAM memory (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory), such as an MB85RC1MT memory, for storing data received from the control device 121. The transceiver 122 may be connected to a non-volatile memory 128, in particular a flash memory, such as a W25Q64JVSSIMCT memory for storing parameters of the transceiver 122. The control device 121 is also connected to an input device 46 to receive commands or parameters from an operator, such as turning the system on or off. The control device 121 is also connected to a connector 47 for receiving data from the weighing module 22 via one or more cables (not shown).

[0119] The input device 46 , the connectors 47 , 48 and / or 49 , the control device 121 , the transceiver 122 , the antenna 123 , the connector 125 , the pad 126 and / or the memory 127 and / or 128 are preferably arranged on a first printed circuit board 41 of the control unit 21 .

[0120] The control device 121 is connected via a connector 49 to an RFID reader 131, in particular a multi-protocol transceiver such as a CR95HF transceiver, which is suitable for reading the RFID tag 14 via an RFID antenna 132. Alternatively or additionally to the RFID tag 14 and / or the RFID reader 131, the control unit 21 may include its own RFID tag 133, in particular a programmable RFID transceiver, such as an M24SR02-Y RFID transceiver, which is connected to the control device 121 so that the RFID tag 133 can be used to send an alternative or supplementary identification code, data or signal, such as a parameter or an alarm, from the control device 121 to an external RFID reader, in particular an RFID reader mounted on a shelf of a laboratory cage. The power supply unit 43 may include a charger 134, in particular a PWM (pulse width modulation) charger, such as an LT1510 charger, which is connected to the connector 48 to charge the battery 44 via an external power source 135, such as a USB charger. The power supply unit 43 supplies power to the components of the control unit 21 and / or the weighing module 22. The control device 121 may be connected to the power supply unit 43 via a charge meter 136 , in particular a multi-battery meter for measuring current, voltage and / or temperature, such as an LTC2943 meter, suitable for measuring the charge level of the battery 44 .

[0121] The RFID reader 131 , the RFID antenna 132 , the RFID tag 133 , the charger 134 and / or the charging meter 136 are preferably arranged on the second printed circuit board 42 of the control unit 21 .

[0122] The weighing module 22 may comprise an ADC 141, in particular a programmable analog-to-digital converter with a temperature sensor, such as an AD7124-4TRUZ-EP converter, which is suitable for receiving the analog signal transmitted by the weighing sensor 62, converting it into a digital signal and transmitting it to the control device 121 via the connector 73. A stabilizer 142, in particular a voltage regulator equipped with a filter, is connected to the connector 73 of the weighing module 22 to receive electrical energy from the power supply unit 43 of the control unit 21 and to provide stabilized and filtered electrical energy to the components of the weighing module 22. The ADC 141 may be connected to a non-volatile memory 143, in particular a flash memory, such as an M95040-WMN6TP memory, to store calibration, tare and / or compensation data of the weighing sensor 62.

[0123] Also refer to Fig.64, the sensor 74 and / or 76 is connected to a matching circuit 144, which includes an impedance match 145, a filter 146, an amplifier 147, an envelope detector 148 and / or a threshold comparator 149, which are connected to each other, in particular in series. The impedance match 145 receives the output signal from the sensor 74 or 76 and maximizes the power transmission of the signal. The filter 146, preferably a bandpass filter of 10-300 Hz, filters the output signal from the impedance match 145 to filter out the signal of accidental vibration from the actual vibration signal of the suspension module, after which the output signal from the filter 146 is amplified by the amplifier 147, in particular with an operational amplifier, processed by the envelope detector 148 and / or compared with a threshold value by the threshold comparator 149 before the signal is transmitted from the adapter circuit 144 to the control device 121 of the control unit 21 through the connector 73 to start the control unit 21.

[0124] The components of the ADC 141 , the stabilizer 142 , the memory 143 and / or the matching circuit 144 are preferably arranged on a printed circuit board 61 of the weighing module 22 .

[0125] Also refer to Figures 65-66 , a rack 151 for laboratory cages comprises a plurality of stations 152 in which laboratory cages can be placed, in particular laboratory cages provided by the present specification. The stations 152 are provided with RFID readers 153, which are preferably arranged above the location of the cages so as to be suitable for reading the RFID tags 14 arranged in the lid 2 of the cages and / or the RFID tags 133 arranged in the control unit 21. The operator's computer 154 can receive data sent by the control unit 21 of the weighing system applied to the laboratory cages through the Wi-Fi router 124. The height of the stations 152 is preferably 16-20 cm, so that up to 10 cages according to the present invention can be arranged one above the other in the rack 151 and can be picked up manually by the operator without using ladders or steps. The stations 152 are provided with outlet ducts 155 and inlet ducts 156, which can be connected to the inlet duct 8 and the outlet duct 9, respectively, for ventilation of the cages.

[0126] Fig.67 A third embodiment of a laboratory cage is shown, which is similar to the second embodiment, but includes one or more antennas 161, preferably suitable for operating in "diversity" mode, the antennas 161 being arranged outside the control unit 21, in particular on the front part 28b of the partition 28, and in addition to or alternatively to the antenna 123 in the control unit 21, the antenna 161 is connected to the transceiver 122 of the control unit 21 via a coaxial cable (not shown in the figure).

[0127] A fourth embodiment of the laboratory cage (not shown in the figures) is similar to the one of the first three embodiments, but includes an antenna formed by the partition 23 or 28, which is made of metal and is connected to the transceiver 122 of the control unit 21 via a cable, as a supplement or alternative to the antenna 123 in the control unit 21 and / or the antenna 161 arranged outside the control unit 21.

[0128] Figures 68-70 The air streamlines in a known cage NC are shown on the left, and the air streamlines in a cage SC are shown on the right, which cage SC includes a first embodiment of the system and has substantially the same shape and size as the known cage NC. The cages NC and SC are connected to ventilation ducts, such as the ventilation ducts of the rack 151, which introduce incoming air I and exhaust air O at substantially the same flow rate. The results of these fluid dynamic simulations show that the air streamlines in the cages NC and SC are substantially the same, although the cage SC with the system also has a wheel 25 that is not present in the known cage NC.

[0129] In use, according to the preparatory procedure of the method of the present description, the operator first prepares the weighing system by applying the control unit 21 and the weighing module 22 to the partition 23 or 28 and fixing the suspension modules 24, 25, 26, 27 and / or 29 to the weighing module 22, after which the operator places the partition 23 or 28 in the cage, in particular the container 1. The drinker 29 (if present) and the feeder 24 contain liquid and food for the animals in the cage, respectively. Once the cage is used, the operator can start and initialize the system by interacting with the input device 46 and the output device 45. During the initialization of the system, the weighing module 22 is calibrated by the control device 121, resetting the value obtained from the load cell 62 so as to memorize the initial weight of the suspension module 24, 25, 26, 27 and / or 29. Before applying the partition 28, or even after the partition 23 has not closed the container 1, the animal is placed in the cage. The control unit 21 can be applied to the partition 23 or 28 even after the partition 23 or 28 is placed above the container 1 with the weighing module 22 .

[0130] Before closing the cage with the lid 2, the operator activates the control unit 21 with the input device 46 so that the control unit 21 reads a first RFID tag close to it, in particular the RFID tag 14 in the lid 2. When the cage is closed by the lid 2, the control unit 21 reads the identification code of the RFID tag 14 and stores it in the memory 127, after which the control unit 21 deactivates the RFID reader 131 to save energy. If the control unit 21 includes an RFID tag 133, the operator reads the identification code of the RFID tag 133 with the RFID reader before closing the lid 2, in particular connected to the processor 154, in order to associate the cage or the control unit 21 with the identification code.

[0131] The operator then closes the cage with the lid 2 and inserts it into the station 152 of the rack 151. When the cage is inserted into the rack 151, the RFID reader 153 of the station 152 reads the identification code of the RFID tag 14 or RFID tag 133 and sends it to the processor 154, which associates the cage with the identification code, so that the processor 154 associates the signal containing the weighing data and the same identification code with the same cage.

[0132] During weighing according to the method of the present description, the control device 121 of the control unit 21 performs a weighing step in which the control device 121 reads the weighing data from the weighing sensor 62 of the weighing module 22 and stores the data in the memory 127, preferably associating them with the current time t, after which the control device 121 enters a standby state for a given time t1, for example one hour. At the end of time t1, the control device 121 is awakened and performs a new weighing phase. When the control device 121 is in the standby state, if one of the sensors 74, 76 detects the movement of the suspension module, the control device 121 is reactivated by the sensor and performs an additional weighing phase, after which it enters the standby state. After one or more weighing phases, in particular after a time t2, for example one day, the control device 121 is awakened and transmits the weighing data in the memory 127 via the transceiver 122, after which it erases the memory 127 and enters the standby state.

[0133] Those skilled in the art may make changes or additions to the above described and illustrated embodiments, all within the scope of the appended claims. In particular, further embodiments may include the technical features of one of the claims, as well as one or more technical features described in the text or shown in the drawings, each technical feature and their equivalent features existing alone or in any way combined with each other.

[0134] In addition, the terms "one / an / an", "two", etc. in the specification and claims mean "at least one / an / an", "at least two", etc., respectively, unless otherwise stated. Similarly, unless otherwise stated, the angles, proportions and values ​​mentioned herein and / or shown in the drawings include a tolerance of at least 5%.

Claims

1. A weighing system suitable for a laboratory cage, comprising a container (1) having an opening closable by a lid (2), wherein the weighing system comprises a central unit (21) and one or more weighing modules (22), the weighing modules being adapted to be mechanically connected to suspension modules (24, 25, 26, 27, 29) which can support or contain a substance to be weighed in the laboratory cage, characterized in that The central unit (21) and the weighing module (22) are applied to a partition (23; 28) which is suitable for being arranged inside the laboratory cage together with the central unit (21) and the weighing module (22), the container (1) being closed by the lid (2).

2. A weighing system according to the preceding claim, wherein: The central unit (21) and / or the weighing module (22) have an elongated shape extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to a median plane (P) of the partition (23; 28).

3. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The central unit (21) and the weighing module (22) are separated from each other and arranged side by side on the partition (23; 28) so that the space between the central unit (21) and the weighing module (22) forms a channel (C) extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to the middle plane (P) of the partition (23; 28).

4. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, the weighing system being arranged in a laboratory cage closed by a lid (2), the lid being provided with an upper wall, an inlet duct (8) and / or an outlet duct (9) for ventilation of the laboratory cage, wherein the central unit (21) and / or the weighing module (22) are spaced apart from the inner surface of the upper wall of the lid (2) so that the inlet duct (8) and / or the outlet duct (9) of the lid (2) lead to one or more gaps (G) between the lid (2) and the central unit (21) and / or the weighing module (22).

5. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The central unit (21) and / or the weighing module (22) are separated from the edge of the partition (23; 28), thereby forming one or more passages (D) for air circulation around the central unit (21) and / or the weighing module (22).

6. A weighing system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein: The channels (C), the gaps (G) and / or the passages (D) are interconnected to form air paths on the partitions (23; 28) around the central unit (21) and / or the weighing modules (22).

7. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The partition (23; 28) comprises one or more seats (31, 32) for partially or completely accommodating the control unit (21) and / or the weighing module (22), and one or more windows (35) for mechanical connection between the weighing module (22) and the suspension module (24, 25, 26, 27, 29).

8. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The partition (23; 28) comprises ventilation openings (36) arranged one after another along one or more axes parallel and / or perpendicular to the median plane (P) of the partition (23, 28).

9. A weighing system according to claim 8 as dependent on claim 7, wherein the ventilation opening (36) is arranged next to the seat (31, 32) for the control unit (21) and / or the weighing module (22), so that the ventilation opening (36) leads to one or more channels (C) and / or passages (D) arranged around the control unit (21) and / or the weighing module (22).

10. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The partition (23; 28) comprises one or more lateral supports (37) protruding from the edge of the partition (23; 28) to place the partition (23; 28) on one or more edges of the container (1) of the laboratory cage so that the partition (23; 28) partially or completely covers the opening of the container (1) and when the laboratory cage is closed by the lid (2), the partition (23; 28) is blocked by the lid (2).

11. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The control unit (21) comprises a housing (40), which contains one or more printed circuit boards (41, 42), on which are mounted electrical and electronic components for processing weighing data transmitted by the weighing module (22), as well as a power supply unit (43, 44), an output device (45), an input device (46) and / or one or more connectors (47, 48), wherein the connectors (47, 48) are used for electrical connection with the weighing module (22) and / or an external device (135) for power supply or data transmission via a cable of the control unit (21).

12. A weighing system according to the preceding claim, wherein: The housing (40) comprises two printed circuit boards (41, 42), which are connected to each other via a connector (49) and arranged alternately on two parallel planes, wherein the power supply units (43, 44) are arranged beside the first printed circuit board (41) and below the second printed circuit board (42).

13. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The weighing module (22) comprises a housing (60) containing a printed circuit board (61) on which are mounted electrical and electronic components for collecting weighing data, and a load cell (62) provided with one or more strain gauges (63) connected to the printed circuit board (61) via a cable (64).

14. A weighing system according to the preceding claim, wherein: The load cell (62) is provided with one or more threaded holes (65) for screws (33), and the threaded holes (65) are suitable for fixing the weighing module (22) to the partition (23; 28), so that the load cell (62) can be directly fixed to the partition (23; 28).

15. A weighing system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein: An arm (68) is fixed to the load cell (62) and comprises a device (71) suitable for mechanically connecting a suspension module (24, 25, 26, 27, 29) to the weighing module (22).

16. A weighing system according to the preceding claim, wherein: The device (71) for mechanically connecting the suspension module (24, 25, 26, 27, 29) to the weighing module (22) is a screw fixing device, which includes a screw (70) that can rotate freely in a first shaped bushing (71) fixed to the arm (68).

17. A weighing system according to the preceding claim, further comprising a suspension module (24, 25, 26, 27, 29), the suspension module comprising a second forming bushing (75), the second forming bushing (75) having a thread and having a shape complementary to the shape of the first forming bushing (71) of the weighing module (22), wherein the forming bushings (71, 75) of the weighing module (22) and the suspension module (24, 25, 26, 27, 29) cannot rotate relative to each other when they are connected by the screw (70) screwed into the arm (68) of the second forming bushing (75).

18. A weighing system according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein: The housing (40) of the control unit (21) and / or the housing (60) of the weighing module (22) is a waterproof housing.

19. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The weighing module (22) comprises one or more sensors (74, 76) adapted to detect the movement of the suspension module (24, 25, 26, 27, 29) mechanically connected to the weighing module (22) and to send an activation signal to the control unit (21).

20. A weighing system according to the preceding claim, wherein: The one or more sensors (74, 76) include a piezoelectric sensor (74) and / or a magnetic sensor (76).

21. A weighing system according to the preceding claim, wherein: One of the one or more sensors (74, 76) is connected to the control unit (21) via a matching circuit (144), the matching circuit comprising an impedance match (145), a filter (146), an amplifier (147), an envelope detector (148) and / or a threshold comparator (149), wherein the impedance match (145) is adapted to receive an output signal from the sensor (74, 76) and maximize its power transfer, wherein the filter (146) is adapted to filter the output signal from the impedance match (145), wherein the amplifier (147) is adapted to amplify a signal output from the filter (146), wherein the envelope detector (148) is adapted to process the signal output from the amplifier (147), and the threshold comparator (149) is adapted to compare the signal with a threshold value output from the envelope detector (148).

22. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a suspension module (24) provided with a container (81), the container (81) being suitable for containing food for animals and being provided with a grille suitable for allowing animals to eat the food contained in the container (81), wherein the grille comprises a first part (82) connected to a second part (83), wherein the angle between the two parts (82, 83) is greater than 60°, so that the lower part (81a) of the container (81) protrudes from the rest of the container (81) and is arranged below the second part (83) of the grille.

23. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a suspension module (29) provided with a support structure (115) supporting a bottle (116) tilted downwards by 30-60° and comprising a nipple (117), wherein the bottle (116) is removably inserted into the support structure (115).

24. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The partition (28) comprises seats (31, 32) for the central unit (21) and two weighing modules (22) at the rear (28a) of the partition (28), and a seat (32) for a third weighing module (22) at the front (28b) of the partition (28).

25. A weighing system according to the preceding claim, wherein: The rear portion (28a) of the partition (28) includes one or more vents (36), and the total area occupied by the one or more vents is smaller than the total area of ​​the one or more vents (36) formed in the front portion (28b) of the partition (28).

26. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The central unit (21) comprises a control device (121) adapted to be connected to the weighing module (22) to receive weighing data from the weighing module (22), to store the weighing data and / or to transmit the weighing data to the outside of the laboratory cage.

27. A weighing system according to the preceding claim, wherein: The control device (121) is connected to a transceiver (122) to transmit weighing data to a transceiver (124) outside the laboratory cage via one or more antennas (23; 28; 123; 161).

28. A weighing system according to the preceding claim, wherein: The one or more antennas (23; 28; 123; 161) are arranged inside and / or outside the central unit (21) and / or comprise the partition (23, 28) made of metal.

29. A weighing system according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein: The control device (121) is connected to an RFID reader (131) adapted to read the RFID tag (14) via an RFID antenna (132), and / or to a programmable RFID tag (133) to send data or signals to an external RFID reader (153).

30. A weighing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The central unit (21) and the weighing modules (22) are powered by a power supply unit (43) having one or more batteries (44).

31. A laboratory cage comprising a container (1) having an opening closed by a lid (2), wherein a weighing system according to any of the preceding claims is arranged in the laboratory cage below the lid (2).

32. A laboratory cage according to the preceding claim, wherein: The central unit (21) and the weighing module (22) are arranged in a part of the space defined by the container (1) and in a part of the space defined by the cover (2).

33. A weighing method for weighing one or more suspension modules (24, 25, 26, 27, 29) capable of supporting or containing a substance to be weighed in a laboratory cage, the laboratory cage comprising a container (1) having an opening which can be closed by a lid (2), characterized in that The steps include: One or more weighing modules (22) are applied to a partition (23; 28) adapted to be arranged together with the weighing modules (22) in a laboratory cage; Each suspension module (24, 25, 26, 27, 29) is mechanically connected to a weighing module (22); The partition (23; 28) is placed in the laboratory cage; Before or after the partition (23; 28) is placed in the laboratory cage, a central unit (21) is applied to the partition (23; 28) and is electrically connected to the weighing module (22); The container (1) of the laboratory cage is closed with the lid (2); The central unit (21) and the one or more weighing modules (22) perform one or more weighing steps, wherein the weighing module (22) transmits the weighing data of the suspension modules (24, 25, 26, 27, 29) to the central unit (21).

34. Weighing method according to the preceding claim, wherein: During the weighing step, the laboratory cage was ventilated with incoming air (I) and outgoing air (O).

35. The weighing method according to claim 33 or 34, wherein: The control unit (22) is connected to a transceiver (124) outside the laboratory cage via a transceiver (122) and one or more antennas (23; 28; 123; 161).

36. A weighing method according to any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein: During the weighing step, after the control unit (21) stores the weighing data received from the weighing module (22) in a memory (127), the control unit enters a standby state for a given time (t1).

37. Weighing method according to the preceding claim, wherein: After a plurality of weighing steps, the control unit (21) transmits the weighing data stored in the memory (127).

38. A weighing method according to any one of claims 33 to 37, wherein: The control unit (21) reads the RFID tag (14) close to it through the RFID reader (131), after which it deactivates the RFID reader (131).

39. A weighing method according to any one of claims 33 to 38, wherein the operating steps of the method are performed by a system according to any one of claims 1 to 30.

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