Automated solution dispenser

• US 10,578,634 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2017
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accroma Labtec Limited
• Original Assignee: LabMinds Ltd.
• Inventors: Lehtonen, Ville, Wozny, Michal, Klingelhoefer, Jochen
• Primary Examiner(s): Jellett, Matthew W
• Application Number:
  US15/667,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20180080952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/23 Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/53 using driven stirrers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/452 using independent floating stirring elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/1452 using fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2112 Level of material in a container or the position or shape of the upper surface of the material
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2115 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2132 Concentration, pH, pOH, p(ION) or oxygen-demand B01F35/2133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2207 Use of data, i.e. barcodes, 3D codes or similar type of tagging information, as instruction or identification codes for controlling the computer programs, e.g. for manipulation, handling, production or compounding in mixing plants B01F33/848 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7547 using valves, gates, orifices or openings
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/92 for heating the outside of the receptacle, e.g. heated jackets or burners
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/04 Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/26 Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00534 Mixing by a special element, e.g. stirrer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00891 Displaying information to the operator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/009 alarms, e.g. audible
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0091 GUI [graphical user interfaces]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00722 Communications; Identification
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1016 Control of the volume dispensed or introduced
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/135 : by sensing at least one property of the mixture G05D11/139 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 21/02 : characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

Provided herein are methods and systems of the invention that include the use of an automated solution dispenser to form a solution according to at least one target characteristic. A controller may be operatively connected to the automated solution dispenser, wherein the controller is programmed to direct mixing of one or more solids and one or more liquids to produce the solution. At least a portion of the solution can be dispensed into one or more containers.

Claims

1. A system for preparing a solution, comprising:

a. a mixing chamber;

b. an automated solution dispenser that directs at least one solid selected from a plurality of solids and at least one liquid selected from a plurality of liquids in the mixing chamber to form the solution having a target volume;

c. a bottle handling sub-system, wherein the bottle handling sub-system is configured to manipulate one or more containers between a storage position and a dispensing position, wherein said one or more containers are selected from a plurality of containers having different volumes based on said target volume, wherein said one or more containers are configured to receive at least a portion of said solution from said mixing chamber;

d. a sensor configured to detect a volume of said one or more containers; and

e. a controller that is operably coupled to the automated solution dispenser, the sensor, and the bottle handling sub-system,

wherein the controller is programmed to (i) direct mixing of the at least one solid and the at least one liquid in the mixing chamber to form the solution, (ii) direct the bottle handling sub-system to manipulate at least a subset of the one or more containers from the storage position to the dispensing position, and (iii) dispense at least the portion of the solution from the mixing chamber into the one or more containers based on said volume of said one or more containers detected by said sensor when the one or more containers are at the dispensing position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operably coupled to a user interface that is programmed to receive an input from a user at a remote location, and wherein at least part of the solution is dispensed into the one or more containers according to the input.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to (i) receive one or more inputs from the sensor and (ii) compare the one or more inputs to a safety value associated with a safety regulation.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller receives the safety value, the safety regulation, or a combination thereof from a user via a user interface operably coupled to the controller.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is programmed to present an alarm when the one or more inputs i) exceeds the safety value, ii) is within about 20% of the safety value, iii) violates the safety regulation, or iv) any combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is programmed to present the alarm when the one or more inputs is within about 10% of the safety value.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the alarm is a visual alert, an audible alert, a tactile alert, or any combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is programmed to discontinue preparing the solution when the one or more inputs i) exceeds the safety value, ii) is within about 20% of the safety value, iii) violates the safety regulation, or iv) any combination thereof.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more inputs is a solution volume.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller directs the automated solution dispenser to dispense at least a portion of the solution into the one or more containers at the dispensing position not to exceed 100% of the volume detected.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a weight sensor, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a barcode sensor, an apriltag sensor, a material composition sensor, or any combination thereof.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects an emission of light, a reflection of light, an absorption of light, a sound emission, or any combination thereof.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor identifies said volume independent of an external container shape of the one or more containers.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the solution is dispensed into a first container of said one or more containers until the sensor detects that a dispensed solution volume is within about 10% of a volume of the first container, after which at least a portion of the solution is then dispensed into a second container of said one or more containers.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to receive one or more inputs from the sensor, wherein the one or more inputs comprise (a) an amount of dispensed solution, (b) an amount of solution remaining to be dispensed, (c) a portion of the volume of the one or more containers that is filled with the dispensed solution, (d) a portion of the volume of the one or more containers that is unfilled, or (e) any combination thereof, and wherein the solution is dispensed into the one or more containers according to the one or more inputs.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned within the one or more containers.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned adjacent an opening of the one or more containers.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is two sensors.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more containers include two or more containers, and wherein at least two of the two or more containers have a different external container shape.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein during use, the bottle handling sub-system selects a number of the one or more containers to receive the solution.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein a selection of the number is based on an input received by the controller from a user via a user interface operably coupled to the controller.