ELECTRONIC METERING APPARATUS FOR METERING LIQUIDS

• US 20070276546A1
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eppendorf Se
• Original Assignee: Eppendorf AG
• Inventors: Molitor, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,096,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/087 Ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/027 Digital display, e.g. LCD, LED
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0227 Details of motor drive means B01L3/0231, B01L3/0234 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0237 Details of electronic control, e.g. relating to user interface

Abstract

An electronic metering apparatus for metering liquids with a drive with an electric motor, at least one displacer device with a displacer element, which is connected and/or connectable to the drive, an electric mode key and an electric parameter key for changeover between different menus, a pair of electric control keys, arranged next to each other, for navigation in the menus, setting of parameters and controlling the dislocation of the displacer element, wherein the two control keys control the navigation in the menus, the setting of parameters and the dislocation of the displacer element in different directions, an electronic display device for displaying menus and parameters, an electric control unit, which is connected to the electric motor, the electric mode key, the electric parameter key, the electric control keys and the electric display device, and which controls the display of menus and parameters by the display device as well as the dislocation of the displacer element corresponding to the actuation of the mode key, the parameter key and the control keys, and an electric power supply.

Claims

1. An electronic metering apparatus for metering liquids with a drive (7) with an electric motor (8), at least one displacer device (9, 10) with a displacer element (10), which is connected and/or connectable to the drive (7) an electric mode key (18) and an electric parameter key (19) for changeover between different menus, a pair of electric control keys (20, 21), arranged next to each other, for navigation in the menus, setting of parameters and controlling the dislocation of the displacer element (10), wherein the two control keys (20, 21) control the navigation in the menus, the setting of parameters and the dislocation of the displacer element (10) in different directions, an electronic display device (16) for displaying menus and parameters, an electric control unit (22), which is connected to the electric motor (8), the electric mode key (18), the electric parameter key (19), the electric control keys (20, 21) and the electric display device (16) and which controls the display of menus and parameters by the display device (16) as well as the dislocation of the displacer element (10) corresponding to the actuation of the mode key (18), the parameter key (19) and the control keys (20, 21), and an electric power supply (23).

2. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (22) controls the display by the display device (16) of submenus concerning certain modes of operation of the metering apparatus and of a main menu, comprising plural modes of operation, corresponding to the actuation of the mode key (18) and the parameter key (19).

3. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein upon actuation of the mode key (18), the control unit (22) controls the changeover from a submenu concerning one certain mode of operation of the metering apparatus into a main menu concerning plural modes of operation of the metering apparatus and/or the changeover from the aforementioned main menu into a submenu concerning a certain mode of operation of the metering apparatus with selectable menu items and/or the changeover from the aforesaid submenu into a submenu concerning the same mode of operation, in which the parameter of a selected menu item can be set, and/or the changeover with transfer of a set parameter from the aforesaid submenu into the submenu concerning the same mode of operation with selectable menu items.

4. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (22) controls the display of submenus concerning certain modes of operation of the metering apparatus (1′

) corresponding to the actuation of a setting button (25).

5. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein upon actuation of the parameter key (19), the control unit (22) controls the changeover from a submenu concerning one certain mode of operation of the metering apparatus into a submenu concerning the same mode of operation with selectable menu items and/or the start of metering processes in the mode of operation of the aforesaid submenu and/or the start of metering processes in a mode of operation which corresponds to a selected menu item of the main menu.

6. A metering apparatus according to claim 4, wherein upon actuation of the mode key (18), the control unit (22) controls the changeover from a submenu concerning one certain mode of operation of the metering apparatus with selectable menu items into a submenu concerning the same mode of operation, in which the parameter of a selected menu item is settable, and/or the changeover with transfer of a set parameter from the aforesaid submenu into the submenu concerning the same mode of operation with selectable menu items.

7. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein upon actuation of the control keys (20, 21), the control unit (22) controls the movement of a pointer (24) to different menu items in the main menu, and/or the movement of the pointer to different menu items in a submenu concerning a certain mode of operation with selectable menu items, and/or the adjustment of the parameter in a submenu in which the parameter of a selected menu item is settable, and/or the movement of the displacer element (9) after the start of a metering process.

8. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control keys (20, 21) are realised as rocker keys.

9. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (22) controls the display of the respective function of the mode key (18) and/or the parameter key (19) and/or the control keys (20, 21) by means of the display device (16).

10. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (22) controls the dislocation of the displacer element (9) of the displacer device (9, 10) as long as the push at one of the control keys (20, 21) lasts and it stops the dislocation of the displacer element (9) as long as the control keys (20, 21) are released.

11. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the two electric control keys (21) has a second switching point, the electric control unit (22) ordering the execution of an overblow stroke by the displacer element (10) when the second switching point is reached.

12. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacer device (9, 10) comprises a cylinder (9) with a plunger (10) arranged to be movable alongside thereof.

13. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, with at least one holding device (5) for a pipette point (6) or -syringe.

14. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, with a pipette point (6) or -syringe.

15. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, which is a single or multi channel metering apparatus.

16. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, which is a handheld metering apparatus.

17. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, which has a display device (16) in the housing head (4) of a housing (3) and the electric mode key (18) and/or the electric parameter key (19) and/or the electric control keys (20, 21) below the display device (16).

18. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, which has a longitudinal housing shaft (3) and a housing head (4) angled with respect to the former.

19. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode key (18) and the parameter key (19) are arranged next to each other, and/or the control keys (20, 21) are arranged on top of each other.

20. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one control key (20, 21) is arranged between the mode key (18) and the parameter key (19).

21. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discarder key (13) is arranged below the mode key (18) and/or the parameter key (19) and/or the control keys (20, 21).

22. A metering apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the mode key (18), the parameter key (19) and the control keys (20, 21) are arranged on the topside of a connecting region between the longitudinal housing shaft (3) and the housing head (4) angled with respect to the same.

23. A metering apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the discarder key (13) is arranged in the connecting region between the housing shaft (3) and the housing head (4).

24. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein that control key (21) which is arranged next to the holding device (5) has the second switching point for triggering the overblow stroke.