US4789034A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Analytical balance
Assignee: Mettler Toledo Schweiz GmbH
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Filing: 1988-01-26
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Granted: 1988-12-06
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Expires: 2008-01-26
Abstract
Abstract The moving housing parts of an analytical balance are couplable with drive apparatus, which receives the appropriate control commands for opening or closing, for instance, from sensors operating in a contactless fashion. Proximity sensors or voice control sensors can be utilized as sensors. The mechanical process of the opening-or closing movement occurs by means of a drive housed in the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Luchinger
- 👤 Heinz Rutishauser
- 👤 Hanspeter Wachter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G21/00; G01G21/28; G01G21/286; G01G21/283; G01G21/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
In an analytical balance with a weighing space which can be closed by moving housing parts, the improvement comprising that the balance includes a drive and a sensor and that at least one of the moving housing parts is couplable with said drive, wherein the drive can be controlled by said sensor, said sensor operating in a contactless fashion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
In an analytical balance with a weighing space which can be closed by moving housing parts, the improvement comprising that the balance includes a drive and a sensor and that at least one of the moving housing parts is couplable with said drive, wherein the drive can be controlled by said sensor, said sensor operating in a contactless fashion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An analytical balance according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is a proximity sensor, which if an object or the hand of the operator approaches a movable housing part, sends a control sequence for opening or closing of the housing part or the housing parts to a computer or a drive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An analytical balance according to claim 1, wherein the operating range of the sensor is limited spacewise to affect a sector S in the area of a movable housing part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An analytical balance according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is a voice control sensor that recognizes specific spoken word commands and sends an appropriate control sequence for opening or closing of a movable housing part or the housing parts to a computer or the drive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An analytical balance according to claim 4, wherein the sensor includes means for recognizing spoken word commands for triggering an appropriate control sequence for the tare operation of the balance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An analytical balance according to claim 4 or 5, wherein internal structure of the speech recognition word base recognizes the spoken command in several languages and/or that the spoken command can be preset by the operator prior to beginning work with the balance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An analytical balance according to claim 1, including means for decoupling the drive from the housing part when not in operation or during the weighing and for coupling the drive to the housing part for opening or closing of the housing parts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An analytical balance according to claim 7, wherein the drive comprises an electric motor that is couplable to the housing parts for displacing the housing parts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
An analytical balance according to claim 8, wherein the electromotor is supported in a V-shaped guidance slit and is displaceable in the guidance slit by a friction wheel attached to the rotor shaft of the electric motor in such a way that a friction wheel attached to the rotor shaft can be pressed against the housing part with an O-ring 34 installed on the friction wheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An analytical balance according to claim 9, wherein the electromotor is suspended pivotably by a spring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An analytical balance according to claim 1, wherein the sensor operates in a contactless fashion and includes means for entering sensor information into storage states of a computer and also includes means for interrogating said storage states in accordance with a preset program.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-12-06 | 1992-06-06 | 1992-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-12-06 | 1996-06-06 | 1996-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-12-06 | 2000-06-06 | 2000-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |