Abstract
A gravimetric measuring device (10, 10′, 10″, 10′″) includes a balance base body (12) and a top unit (14, 14′, 14″, 14′″), wherein the balance base body (12) has a balance base body wall (20), to which the top unit (14, 14′, 14″, 14′″) can be reversibly fixed, and a weighing system with a load receptor (22) passing through the balance base body wall (20) and the top unit (14, 14′, 14″, 14′″). A plurality of optical, magnetic, tactile, radio, thermal, electrical and/or electronic interfaces (201) coupled to a balance electronics are arranged on the balance base body wall (20), at least one of which interfaces is connected to a corresponding interface of the top unit (14, 14′, 14″, 14′″) to form an optical, magnetic, tactile, radio, thermal, electrical or electronic connection between the top unit (14, 14′, 14″, 14′″) and the balance electronics.
Claims
1. Gravimetric measuring device system, comprising: a balance base body, a weighing system, and a plurality of top units configured to provide alternative, different gravimetric measuring devices, wherein each of the measuring devices comprises the balance base body, the weighing system and one of the top units, wherein each of the top units is configured to be reversibly fixed on a balance base body wall of the balance base body, wherein the weighing system comprises a load receptor configured to pass through the balance base body wall and respectively through the top units, and wherein a plurality of optical, magnetic, tactile, radio, thermal, electrical and/or electronic interfaces coupled to a balance electronics are arranged on the balance base body wall, at least one of which interfaces is connected to a corresponding interface of at least one of the top units to form an optical, magnetic, tactile, radio, thermal, electrical or electronic connection between the one top unit and the balance electronics, while others of the plurality of interfaces are not connected to corresponding interfaces of the one top unit.
2. Gravimetric measuring device system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the interfaces on the balance base body wall is a plug or a socket and the corresponding interface of the top unit is correspondingly a socket or a plug configured to mate with the at least one interface on the balance body.
3. Gravimetric measuring device system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the interfaces on the balance base body wall as well as the corresponding interface of the top unit are formed as contact plates which lie with respective surfaces thereof against each other when a connection is formed.
4. Gravimetric measuring device system according to claim 3, wherein the interface formed as a contact plate on the balance base body wall and the interface formed as a contact plate on the top unit are spring-loaded against each other when a connection is formed therebetween.
5. Gravimetric measuring device system according to claim 1, wherein at least one interface on the balance base body wall is configured as an information transmitting and/or information receiving interface.
6. Gravimetric measuring device system according to claim 1, wherein at least one interface on the balance base body wall is configured as a power supply interface.
7. Gravimetric measuring device system according to claim 1, wherein the top unit is reversibly fixed to the balance base body wall with a detachable snap-in connection.
8. System, comprising: a single balance base body comprising a weighing system with a sensor system and a load receptor and balance electronics and a base body interface, and a plurality of accessory units each configured to connect detachably to and interchangeably with the single base body, wherein each of the units comprises a respective accessory unit interface and is configured to provide a respectively unique gravimetric function, and wherein the base body interface is configured to connect to the accessory unit interfaces and thereby to establish at least one of an optical, magnetic, tactile, mechanical, radio, thermal, electrical and electronic connection between the base body interface and selected ones of the accessory unit interfaces.
9. System according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of accessory units is configured to physically attach to the load receptor of the balance base body.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] In particular, these drawings show in:
[0026] FIG. 1: a schematic representation of a basic balance body according to the invention;
[0027] FIG. 2: a schematic representation of a gravimetric measuring device according to the invention, comprising the balance base body of FIG. 1 as well as a first top unit and a draft shield;
[0028] FIG. 3: a schematic representation of a second top unit designed as an automatic internal windbreak;
[0029] FIG. 4: a schematic representation of a gravimetric measuring device according to the invention, comprising the basic balance body of FIG. 1 as well as the top unit of FIG. 3 and a draft shield;
[0030] FIG. 5: a schematic representation of a third top unit designed as an automatic pipette calibration module;
[0031] FIG. 6: a schematic representation of a gravimetric measuring device according to the invention, comprising the balance base body from FIG. 1 and the top unit from FIG. 5;
[0032] FIG. 7: a schematic representation of a fourth top unit designed as an RFID reader, and
[0033] FIG. 8: a schematic representation of a gravimetric measuring device according to the invention, comprising the basic balance body of FIG. 1 as well as the top unit of FIG. 7 and a draft shield.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Identical reference signs in the figures indicate identical or analogous elements.
[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a gravimetric measuring device according to the invention without a top unit, i.e., a basic balance body 12 according to the invention. The basic balance body 12 essentially comprises a weighing system compartment 16 in which the weighing system is arranged, a weighing chamber 18 and a balance electronics in the form of an electronic unit 28. In the embodiment shown, the electronic unit 28 comprises a large-format display and an input device. It may additionally include a control device. It is true that this can also be arranged at another location on the balance base body 12. However, it is considered advantageous if the control unit is thermally isolated from the weighing chamber 18 as well as from the weighing system compartment 16. The specific structure of the weighing system is not important in the context of the present invention. However, in any case, it comprises a load receptor 22 which penetrates the balance base body wall 20. In the embodiment shown, the load receptor 22 penetrates the balance base body wall 20 in the region that forms the weighing chamber floor of the weighing chamber 18 adjacent to the weighing system compartment 16. In addition, a plurality of optical, magnetic, tactile, radio, thermal, electrical, and/or electronic interfaces 201 are disposed in the region of the balance base body wall 20 that forms the weighing chamber floor and are coupled to the electronic unit 28. These interfaces 201 could instead be arranged in another region of the balance base body wall 20. In particular, but not exclusively, the area of the balance base body wall 20 that forms the rear wall of the weighing chamber is an interesting alternative for the arrangement of the interfaces 201.
[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a gravimetric measuring device 10 according to the invention, comprising the basic balance body 12 from FIG. 1 and a first top unit 14. In the embodiment shown, the weighing chamber 18 is shielded from the surroundings by a weighing chamber wall. The weighing chamber wall is composed of a motorized draft shield 26, which forms a weighing chamber cover, weighing chamber side walls, a front wall and a rear wall, as well as the top unit 14. A sample carrier 24, on which the sample is positioned for weighing, is arranged at the free end of the load receptor 22, which penetrates both the balance base body wall 20 in the area that forms the weighing chamber base and the top unit 14. The top unit 14 is reversibly fixable to the balance base body wall 20, more precisely to the weighing chamber base. In addition to a mechanical interface for fixing to the balance base body 12, the top unit 14 has at least one optical, magnetic, tactile, radio, thermal, electrical and/or electronic interface (both not shown) that contacts one of the interfaces 201 on the balance base body wall 20 to form a connection. This may be, for example, an electrical or electronic interface configured as a power supply interface that is used to supply power to the motorized draft shield 26 and/or a lighting device disposed on the top unit 14.
[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a second top unit 14′ designed as an automatic internal draft shield. The top unit 14′ has a fastener for reversible fixing to a balance base body wall 20, in particular to a weighing chamber floor, of a balance base body 12 according to the invention, as well as at least one interface (both not drawn) which, when the top unit 14′ is installed on a balance base body 12, corresponds with a corresponding interface 201 on its balance base body wall 20. In particular, the top unit 14′ may include a motor for driving the automatic interior draft shield, a motion sensor for detecting an approach or removal from the sensing space of the sensor, an electrical or electronic interface configured as a power supply interface, and an electrical or electronic interface configured as an information sending and receiving interface.
[0038] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a gravimetric measuring device 10′ according to the invention, comprising the balance base 12 from FIG. 1 and the top unit 14′ from FIG. 3 and a draft shield 26. The at least one interface on the top unit 14′ is connected to a corresponding interface 201 on the weighing chamber base 20, forming a contact. As a result, the information registered by the motion sensor about the approach or removal of an object to or from the detection space of the sensor can be transmitted from the top unit 14′ to the weighing electronics via the interface designed as an information receiving interface, which is arranged on the base body wall of the balance. Thereupon, a command to open or close the automatic interior draft shield can be transmitted from the balance electronics to the top unit via the interface designed as an information transmission interface, which is arranged on the balance base body wall, whereby the automatic interior draft shield 14′ can draw energy from the energy supply system of the balance base body 12 via the energy supply interface on the balance base body wall 20, via which, for example, the motor of the top unit 14′ is supplied with energy. Thus, the automatic interior draft shield 14′ can be motorized to open when an object approaches or to close again when the object is removed, the control being provided by the electronic unit 28.
[0039] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a third top unit 14″ designed as an automatic pipette calibration module. This top unit 14″ also has a fastener for reversible fixing to a balance base body wall 20 of a balance base body 12 according to the invention, as well as at least one interface (both not drawn) which, when the top unit 14″ is installed on a balance base body 12, corresponds with a corresponding interface 201 on its balance base body wall 20. This top unit 14″ may in particular have a thermal interface.
[0040] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a gravimetric measuring device 10″ according to the invention, comprising the balance base body 12 from FIG. 1 and the top unit 14″ from FIG. 5. The at least one interface on the top unit 14″ is connected to a corresponding interface 201 on the balance base body wall 20, forming a contact. Thus, the pipette calibration module 14″ can be controlled by the electronic unit 28 via the thermal interface 201 on the balance base body wall 20 and the temperature of the pipette calibration module 14″ can be kept constant and cooled or heated as required.
[0041] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a fourth top unit 14′″ designed as an RFID reader. For reversible fixing to a balance base body wall 20 of a balance base body 12 according to the invention, this top unit 14′″ also has an affixation mechanism (not shown). Furthermore, the top unit 14′″ has at least one interface (also not shown) which, when the top unit 14′″ is installed on a balance base body 12, corresponds to a corresponding interface 201 on its balance base body wall 20. In particular, the top unit 14′″ can have a radio interface designed as an information transmission interface.
[0042] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a gravimetric measuring device 10′″ according to the invention, comprising the basic balance body 12 from FIG. 1 and the top unit 14′″ from FIG. 7 and a draft shield 26. The at least one interface on the top unit 14′″ is connected to a corresponding radio interface 201 on the wall of the basic balance body 20, which is designed as an information receiving interface, forming a contact. In this way, for example, information about the identity of the top unit 14′″, information about the material to be weighed, for example a batch number, or the like can be transmitted from the top unit to the electronic unit 28.
[0043] The embodiments discussed in the specific description and shown in the figures are only illustrative examples of embodiments of the present invention. The person skilled in the art is provided with a wide range of possible variations in light of the present disclosure.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0044] 10, 10′, 10″, 10′″ gravimetric measuring device [0045] 12 balance base body [0046] 14, 14′, 14″, 14′″ top unit [0047] 16 weighing system compartment [0048] 18 weighing chamber [0049] 20 balance base body wall [0050] 201 interfaces [0051] 22 load receptor [0052] 24 sample carrier [0053] 26 draft shield [0054] 28 electronic unit
