RECEPTACLE FOR WEIGHING PRESCRIBED TARGET QUANTITIES OF SUBSTANCES

• US 20110192491A1
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Original Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG (Mettler-Toledo International Inc.)
• Inventors: Lüchinger, Paul, Ehrbar, Sandra
• Granted Patent: US 8,393,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/5
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/02 Means for automatically loading weigh pans or other receptacles, e.g. disposable containers, under control of the weighing mechanism

Abstract

A receptacle for the weighing-in of free-flowing substances has a fill opening, a tubular-shaped circumference wall, and a bottom part. The bottom part is connected to the tubular-shaped circumference wall, which it tightly closes off in the direction of gravity when the weighing receptacle is in its operating position. The weighing receptacle can be set on the weighing pan of a balance and can be filled like a beaker with free-flowing substances without allowing the latter to escape therefrom. The bottom part can be opened either by an outside force acting on the weighing receptacle and/or through the influence of a solvent acting on the weighing receptacle, forming an outlet orifice in the bottom part. The weighing receptacle, otherwise tightly sealed in the direction of gravity, can be flushed out with a fluid when the outlet orifice is opened.

Claims

1. A receptacle for the weighing-in of a free-flowing substance in relation to a receiving container having an inlet opening, comprising:

a tubular-shaped circumference wall;

a fill opening at one end of the tubular-shaped circumference wall; and

a bottom part, also connected to the tubular-shaped circumference wall, the bottom part tightly closing off a second end of the tubular-shaped circumference wall in the direction of gravity until an outlet orifice is opened therein by at least one of;

an outside force acting on the weighing receptacle and a solvent acting on the weighing receptacle, the outlet orifice allowing the weighing receptacle to be flushed out with a solvent when the outlet orifice is opened.

2. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein:

the outlet orifice is opened by setting the weighing receptacle onto the inlet opening of the receiving container.

3. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein:

the bottom part comprises a rubber-elastic material.

4. The receptacle of claim 1, further comprising:

a closure body in the bottom part, the closure body adapted for being opened to provide the outlet orifice.

5. The receptacle of claim 4, wherein:

the closure body comprises a magnetic bar, adapted for use with a magnetic stirrer.

6. The receptacle of claim 1, further comprising:

an area of intentional breakage in the outlet orifice, configured as a slit and designed to break open in response to a laterally acting force.

7. The receptacle of claim 6, wherein:

the outlet orifice provided by the intentional breakage opens up to a variable width based upon the lateral force imposed and closes to a variable degree upon reduction of the lateral force.

8. The receptacle of claim 6, further comprising

a means for producing a force that is at least one of:

laterally acting, shear and ripping.

9. The receptacle of claim 2, further comprising:

a catch element, arranged to retain the outlet orifice irreversibly in the open state after the weighing receptacle has been set onto the receiving container.

10. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein:

arranged in the area of the outlet orifice is at least one of;

a screening sieve, a membrane, static mixer elements, and a filter insert.

11. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein:

a smooth and/or coated surface is provided on the interior of the tubular-shaped circumference wall, the interior of the bottom part and the interior of the outlet orifice which face towards the substance.

12. The receptacle of claim 1, further comprising

a support pedestal.

13. The receptacle of claim 1, further comprising:

a lid associated with the fill opening, for opening and reclosing thereof.

14. The receptacle of claim 13, further comprising:

an inlet connector of the closure lid for fluids.

15. The receptacle of claim 1, further comprising:

a medium for storing items of electronic information, at least one of which comprises a machine-readable identification field.

16. A method for preparing a solution of a free-flowing substance in a receiving container with a dosage-dispensing device and a balance, comprising the steps of:

placing a weighing receptacle according to claim 1 on a weighing pan of the balance;

dispensing, from the dosage-dispensing device into the weighing receptacle, a prescribed quantity of the substance, the quantity of substance dispensed determined using the balance;

seating the weighing receptacle on an inlet opening of the receiving container,

opening the outlet orifice of the seated weighing receptacle, allowing the dispensed substance contained therein to flow into the receiving container, the opening step achieved by either;

imposing a force on the weighing receptacle;

or

introducing a fluid that dissolves a soluble closure body of the weighing receptacle, and

flushing any dispensed substance remaining in the weighing receptacle into the receiving container, using a fluid as the flushing medium.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

storing information that is related to the dispensed substance and information related to the dosage preparation process, by recording the information to at least one of;

an electronic storage medium of the weighing receptacle and an identification field of the weighing receptacle, and

storing the information recorded to the weighing receptacle by recording the information to at least one of;

an electronic storage medium of the receiving container and an identification field of the receiving container.