DOSING DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED BALANCE AND CLIMATE MODULE

• US 20160252386A1
• Filed: 05/09/2016
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sartorius Lab Instruments GmbH & Co. KG (Sartorius AG)
• Original Assignee: Sartorius Lab Instruments GmbH & Co. KG (Sartorius AG)
• Inventors: BAUMFALK, Reinhard, KIRCHHOFF, Rainer, BERTOLDI, Jean-Claude
• Granted Patent: US 10,281,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/021 Pipettes, i.e. with only one conduit for withdrawing and redistributing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/04 for weighing fluids, e.g. gases, pastes
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/303 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/22 Weigh pans or other weighing receptacles; Weighing platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/286 with windshields
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/01 Testing or calibrating of weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/48 Temperature-compensating arrangements G01G1/14, G01G1/42, G01G3/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 9/26 by measuring pressure differences
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/00 Control of flow ratio control of chemical or physico-chemical variables, e.g. pH-value, G05D21/00; control of humidity G05D22/00; control of temperature by varying the mixing ratio of two fluids having different temperatures G05D23/13; control of viscosity G05D24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67 Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere processes per se H01L21/30, H01L21/46, H01L23/00; simple temporary support means, e.g. using adhesives, electric or magnetic means H01L21/68, H01L21/302; apparatus for manufacturing arrangements for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies and for methods related thereto H01L24/74;

Abstract

A dosing device with a balance, which includes a weighing chamber (16); a processor (32); a climate module (34), which is disposed in the weighing chamber (16); a data transmission path, over which data is exchanged between the climate module (34) and the processor (32); and a mixing formulation display (30). Also disclosed are a climate module configured to electrically couple to a dosing device in a detachable manners, wherein the climate module (34) forms a self-contained modular unit and includes various sensors (52, 54, 62) and a path over which data is transmitted to a processor external to the climate module, and a method for mixing a formulation, using a dosing device, wherein ambient conditions are detected during dosage of the substances to be combined, and the mixing ratio is adjusted in accordance with the detected ambient conditions.

Claims

1. Dosing device configured to combine liquid and/or solid substances in a defined mixing ratio and comprising:

a balance, which comprises a weighing chamber, a processor, a climate module, which includes an air pressure sensor, an air humidity sensor and an air temperature sensor, and which is detachably disposed in the weighing chamber;

a data transmission path, over which data is exchanged between the climate module and the processor; and

a display unit.

2. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data transmission path comprises an electrical plug-in connection or a wireless transmission path.

3. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the balance is a precision balance and further comprises a draft shield which surrounds the weighing chamber.

4. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weighing chamber comprises a light sensor, which is coupled to the data transmission path.

5. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, configured to be controlled electronically.

6. The dosing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a treatment device configured to treat at least one of the substances to be combined.

7. Climate module electrically coupled to the dosing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the climate module comprises:

a self-contained modular unit comprising an air pressure sensor, an air humidity sensor and an air temperature sensor,

a data transmission path configured to transmit data from the modular unit to a processor external to the climate module, and

a mounting mechanism configured to secure the climate module detachably to the dosing device.

8. The climate module as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an electronic memory configured to store calibration values and correction values for the climate module and to be read by a reader of an electronic system that is external to the climate module.

9. The climate module as claimed in claim 7, configured as a stand-alone unit that is external to the dosing device and configured to connect to a computer.

10. Method for mixing a formulation using a dosing device as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

detecting ambient conditions during dosage of substances to be combined, and

adjusting a mixing ratio of the substances to be combined in accordance with the detected ambient conditions.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising correcting a further dosing parameter of the substances to be combined in accordance with the detected ambient conditions.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising treating at least one of the substances to be combined prior to the substances being combined, in accordance with the detected ambient conditions.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising further adjusting the formulation to application conditions of the substances subsequent to the substances being combined.