ELECTRONIC METERING APPARATUS FOR METERING LIQUIDS

• US 20080034898A1
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eppendorf Se
• Original Assignee: Eppendorf AG
• Inventors: Schmidt, Peter, Molitor, Peter, Andres, Karl-Friedrich
• Granted Patent: US 8,028,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/864.16
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/14 Process control and prevention of errors
• 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: G01N 35/1016 Control of the volume dispensed or introduced

Abstract

An electronic metering apparatus for metering liquids, with a longitudinal, handleable housing, a drive, arranged in the housing, with an electric motor, at least one displacer device, arranged in the housing or being capable to be arranged on the same, with a displacer element, which is connected to the drive and/or connectable to the same, at least one holding device on the bottom end of the housing for holding a pipette point or a syringe, at least one electric operational control in or on the housing, at least one electric information device in or on the housing, an electric control unit arranged in the housing, which is connected to the electric motor, the electric operational control and the electric information device, and which controls the information device depending on the position and/or previous changes of the position of the displacer element, in order to put out an information concerning the next reasonable dislocation of the displacer element, and an electric power supply.

Claims

1. An electronic metering apparatus for metering liquids, with a longitudinal, handleable housing (2), a drive (7), arranged in the housing (2), with an electric motor (8), at least one displacer device (9, 10), arranged in the housing (2) or being capable to be arranged on the same, with a displacer element (10), which is connected to the drive (7) and/or connectable to the same, at least one holding device (5) on the bottom end of the housing (2) for holding a pipette point (6) or a syringe, at least one electric operational control (18 to 21) in or on the housing (2), at least one electric information device (25, 26) in or on the housing (2), an electric control unit (22) arranged in the housing (2), which is connected to the electric motor (8), the electric operational control (18 to 21) and the electric information device (25, 26), and which controls the information device (25, 26) depending on the position and/or previous changes of the position of the displacer element (10), in order to put out an information concerning the next reasonable dislocation of the displacer element (10), and an electric power supply (23).

2. 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 therein.

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

4. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information device (25, 26) comprises at least one electric-optic unit.

5. A metering apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information device (25, 26) comprises at least one electric light source.

6. A metering apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information device (25, 26) comprises electric light sources arranged consecutively one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the housing shaft (3).

7. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric-optic device (25, 26) is arrow-shaped and points into the longitudinal direction of the housing (2).

8. A metering apparatus according to claim 7, wherein two arrow-shaped electric-optic devices (25, 26) are directed away from each other.

9. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric information device (25, 26) is arranged at the bottom end of the housing (2).

10. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, which has an electric-optic display device (16) with a display surface observable from the outside.

11. A metering apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the information device is the display device.

12. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric information device (25, 26) is arranged on the outer side of the housing (2) on which the electric operational control (18 to 21) and/or the electric display device (16) is/are arranged.

13. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, which has an angled housing head (4) on the upper end of a longitudinal housing shaft (3) and which has the electric operational control (18 to 21) and/or the electric display device (16) on the housing head (4).

14. A metering apparatus according to claim 1, with 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 electric display device (16) for displaying menus and parameters, wherein the electric control unit (22) is connected to the electric mode key (18), the electric parameter key (19), the electric control keys (20, 21) and the electric display device (16), and 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).

15. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the control unit (22) controls the indication 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).

16. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, 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.

17. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, 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.

18. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, 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.

19. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the control keys (20, 21) are realised as rocker key.

20. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, 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).

21. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, 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.

22. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, 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.

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

24. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, which has a display device (16) in a housing head (4) of the 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).

25. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, 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.

26. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least one control key (20, 21) is arranged between the mode key (18) and the parameter key (19).

27. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, 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).

28. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, 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.

29. A metering apparatus according to claim 28, in wherein the discarder key (13) is arranged in the connecting region between the housing shaft (3) and the housing head (4).

30. A metering apparatus according to claim 14, wherein that control key (21) which is arranged next to the holding device (5) has the second switching point for triggering the overblow stroke.