Patents by Inventor Paul Luechinger

Paul Luechinger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8042711
    Abstract: A receiving device in a dosage-dispensing device, which serves to receive any insertion unit that can be inserted in the receiving device, includes a plurality of support arms that are arranged parallel to each other and extend in their lengthwise direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of gravity. At least two support arms are arranged in planes lying above one another relative to the direction of gravity. Each support arm includes at least one support location, so that, when the dosage-dispensing device is in its operating state, the insertion unit can be supported through the support locations against the force of gravity. Each support arm includes at least one protrusion which serves to position the insertion unit in a plane that extends orthogonal to the direction of gravity. The main dimension of the protrusion is directed essentially against the direction of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Luechinger, Marc Zehnder, Eduard Fringeli
  • Publication number: 20110220686
    Abstract: A dosage-dispensing head has a body with an end surface and an area that couples the head to a source container. The end surface has an outlet opening connected to the coupling area. The head also has a slider, constrained to a guided linear sliding movement parallel to the end surface. An aperture-setting member of the body turns about a rotary axis, orthogonal to the end surface, to actuate the slider. An orifice opening of the aperture-setting member is configured so that the outlet opening is always within the area of the orifice opening. A passage opening of the slider is between the body and the aperture-setting member. By turning the aperture-setting member, the slider moves in a linear path, linearly displacing the passage opening relative to the outlet opening and varying the aperture width of the dosage-dispensing head. This regulates the flow rate of the free-flowing dosage material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AG
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Sandra Ehrbar
  • Publication number: 20110204088
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a dosage includes a base frame, at least one device for receiving any dosage-dispensing unit or functional unit that is compatible to be inserted therein, a holder and at least one drive mechanism. The holder has at least one holding position for a dosage-dispensing unit or functional unit. A weighing cell arranged on a lower horizontal plane of the base frame includes a load receiver to receive a target container. A changing mechanism enables the receiving device to be moved horizontally relative to the base frame. This horizontal shift allows a dosage-dispensing unit or functional unit to be interchanged between the holding position and the receiving device. The changing mechanism also permits the receiving device, together with the drive mechanism, to be moved vertically with regard to the base frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AG
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Publication number: 20110192491
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AG
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Sandra Ehrbar
  • Patent number: 7922043
    Abstract: A dosage-dispensing device for substances in powder- or paste form is equipped with a supply container and a dosage-dispensing head which is connected or connectable to the supply container and which has a housing with an outlet orifice of circular cross-section. The dosage-dispensing head further has a delivery- and closure element, wherein the outlet orifice and the delivery- and closure element are arranged on the central lengthwise axis of the dosage-dispensing head, and the delivery- and closure element is designed to be rotatable about the central lengthwise axis in relation to the housing and to be capable of translatory displacement along the central lengthwise axis relative to the outlet orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Luechinger
  • Patent number: 7922044
    Abstract: A dosage-dispensing device for substances in powder- or paste form is equipped with a supply container and a dosage-dispensing head which is connected or connectable to the supply container and has a housing with an outlet orifice of circular cross-section. The dosage-dispensing head further has a delivery- and closure element, wherein the outlet orifice and the delivery- and closure element are arranged on the central lengthwise axis of the dosage-dispensing head, and the delivery- and closure element is designed to be rotatable about the central lengthwise axis in relation to the housing and to be capable of translatory displacement along the central lengthwise axis relative to the outlet orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Publication number: 20110036870
    Abstract: A dosage-dispensing device, which can be used for dosage materials in the form of powders or pastes, includes a housing with at least one receptacle compartment formed inside the housing for the purpose of holding the dosage material. The dosage-dispensing device further includes at least one dispensing head that comprises an elastic material and has an outlet for the dosage material. In the non-stressed condition, i.e. when there is no mechanical force or pressure acting on it, the outlet is tightly closed against the outside. When a force or pressure is applied, the outlet opens up, with the aperture width being variable, dependent on the applied force. Furthermore, inside the receptacle compartment and/or the dispensing head, there is at least one mechanical actuator element arranged through which the outlet can be opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AG
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Patent number: 7851712
    Abstract: A measuring instrument for the gravimetric determination of moisture has a housing with a test compartment arranged in the housing, as well as a weighing device installed in the housing. The weighing device includes a sample receiver that is disposed inside the test compartment when in the measuring position. A radiation source arranged in the test compartment which during a test process serves to heat the sample placed on the sample receiver. A suction device, arranged adjacent to the test compartment, remove moisture and any other volatiles given off by the sample during the measurement process providing a more stable flow pattern in the test compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Publication number: 20100288660
    Abstract: A draft protection device for a laboratory instrument according to the invention encloses a weighing compartment that surrounds a balance pan and includes a rear wall, a front wall, two sidewalls, a top cover with at least one opening, and a floor that is delimited by border edges. The top cover is connected at least to one of the two sidewalls and/or the front wall and/or the rear wall in an arrangement where the top cover and the walls connected thereto are vertically movable together in relation to the balance pan. In addition, the vertically movable wall(s) are vertically moveable past the adjacent border edge(s) of the floor. In any vertical position of the top cover, at least one of the sidewalls is horizontally slidable relative thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Sandra Ehrbar
  • Publication number: 20100288566
    Abstract: A draft protection device for a laboratory instrument. The device encloses a weighing compartment that surrounds a balance pan. The draft protection device includes a rear wall, a front wall, two sidewalls, a top cover, and a floor that is delimited by border edges. The draft protection device further includes at least one guiding means that is connected to the top cover and serves to guide the movement of at least one horizontally slidable sidewall, and/or a holder means that is connected to the top cover and serves to hold the front wall in place, wherein the guiding means and/or the holder means supports the weight of the at last one sidewall and/or the front wall in such a way that the wall(s) is pushed by a biasing torque against the floor of the weighing compartment. This torque is supported by the border edge facing towards the respective wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AG
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Sandra Ehrbar
  • Patent number: 7825821
    Abstract: A holding rack (101, 201, 301, 401) has individual positions or compartments for dosage units (102, 102?, 202, 302). Each of the dosage units has a supply receptacle (104, 104?, 204, 304) and a dispensing head (103, 103?, 203, 303) that are connected to each other. The holding rack (101, 201, 301, 401) is equipped with a means for active user guidance (105, 105?, 210, 305) which, in a process of dispensing measured substance quantities from the different dosage units into a receiving container (411), directs the user in taking out and returning the different dosage units that are seated in the holding rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Luechinger, Matthias Gietenbruch
  • Patent number: 7818946
    Abstract: A device connects a storage container to a working reservoir for transferring a substance from the storage container to the working reservoir. The device includes a housing which is joined to the storage container with either a fixed connection or a coupling means. A passage opening is formed on the housing, and a shutter that is movably connected to the housing serves to close the passage opening. The shutter has a connector port for each working reservoir. The shutter moves in a rotary or sliding manner relative to the housing between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the passage opening is closed off by the shutter, and in the open position the interior space of the storage container is connected through the passage opening to the interior space of the working reservoir which is seated in the at least one connector port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Luechinger
  • Publication number: 20100230178
    Abstract: A balance (100) has a balance housing (200), a balance pan (300), a weighing compartment (310) that contains the balance pan, a draft shield (400) with a fixed rear wall (210), the draft shield enclosing the weighing compartment, a system of balance electronics (500), a weighing cell (600) arranged below the weighing pan, and a weighing cell compartment (270) that encases the weighing cell. The weighing cell compartment is atmospherically connected by way of a hollow space (240) to the upper third of the weighing compartment. The balance electronics are arranged at the rear wall outside of the weighing compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Beat Lüdi
  • Patent number: 7770761
    Abstract: A dosage-dispensing device for substances in powder- or paste form is equipped with a supply container and with a dosage-dispensing head that is connected or connectable to the supply container and has a housing with an outlet orifice of circular cross-section. The dosage-dispensing head further has a delivery- and closure element, wherein the outlet orifice and the delivery- and closure element are arranged on the central lengthwise axis of the dosage-dispensing head, and the delivery- and closure element is designed to be rotatable about the central lengthwise axis in relation to the housing and to be capable of translatory displacement along the central lengthwise axis, so that the delivery- and closure element can be moved out of, as well as into, the outlet orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Siegfried Zeiss
  • Publication number: 20100170723
    Abstract: A carrier for objects to be sequentially weighed is designed for connection to a load receiver of a weighing cell. The carrier has a supporting structure and a multi-compartment weighing tray. The supporting structure has an element for coupling the supporting structure to the load receiver and an element for connecting the weighing tray to the supporting structure in a guided and constrained manner. The weighing tray is seated or slid into place, leaving it free to perform a defined linear, swiveling, or rotary movement relative to the supporting structure. The weighing tray has at least two receiving compartments, arranged so that each can be sequentially moved into a defined loading position, fixed relative to the supporting structure. A positioning device, arranged between the supporting structure and the weighing tray, precisely aligns with the loading position the receiving compartment that is next to be moved into the loading position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Patent number: 7735355
    Abstract: A measuring instrument for gravimetric moisture determination of a sample has a radiator, a weighing cell, and a sample receiver which can be connected to the weighing cell. The sample receiver allows the sample to be placed on or removed from the sample receiver. The radiator is positioned either above or below the sample, or both above and below, relative to the load direction of the weighing cell. A rotatably mounted heat conductor whose axis of rotation is orthogonal to the plane in which the sample or the sample receiver extends is positioned between the radiator and the sample. The heat conductor absorbs at least part of the radiation that impinges upon it and releases the absorbed radiation to the sample through at least one radiation-releasing surface. Through its ability to rotate, the heat conductor irradiates the entire sample surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Publication number: 20100051648
    Abstract: A dispensing head for a powder or paste dosage material has a housing with an outlet opening, a bearing- and passage area, and at least one socket connected to a source container. A feeder chute is formed inside the housing. A closure shaft is in the bearing- and passage area, free to rotate about and to slide along its central longitudinal axis. The closure shaft is connected to a closure element arranged near the outlet opening. Moving the closure shaft in the axial direction controls the volume flow of the dosage material through the outlet opening. A limit stop restricts the displacement of the closure shaft along its central longitudinal axis. In the feeder chute, an opposing stop defines the closed position where the limit stop rests in direct contact against the opposing stop and the outlet opening is closed off by the closure portion of the closure element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Sandra Ehrbar, Marc Zehnder
  • Patent number: 7617717
    Abstract: An instrument for gravimetrically determining the moisture content of a sample has a housing with a weighing device therein. The weighing device has a load-receiving portion and a sample receiver, the latter designed for connection to the load-receiving portion. The housing also contains a test compartment. When set in position to perform a measurement, the sample receiver is disposed inside the test compartment. One embodiment of a means arranged in the test compartment for heating a sample placed on the sample receiver has first and second radiation sources, with the sample receiver arranged therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Patent number: 7591169
    Abstract: A measuring instrument for gravimetric moisture determination of a sample includes a radiator, a weighing cell, and a sample receiver which can be connected to the weighing cell. The sample receiver is configured to allow the sample to be placed on or removed from the sample receiver. The radiator has a radiation-releasing surface directed at the sample and that covers substantially the entire surface of the sample with a uniform radiation intensity. The radiator is arranged above the sample, relative to the direction of the load, and spans over the entire sample. The measuring instrument also includes a means for removing the moisture emitted from the sample during the operation of the instrument device from the space between the sample and the radiation-releasing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Publication number: 20090159153
    Abstract: A laboratory instrument with a dosage-dispensing device for the delivery of measured doses of a dosage material in the form of a powder, paste or granulate into at least one target container is equipped with dosage material funneling device which is arranged between an outlet opening of the dosage-dispensing device and the target container. The dosage material funneling device includes an agitating means and at least one funnel holder arranged on the agitating means, wherein the funnel holder serves to receive an exchangeable funnel which in its installed condition in the laboratory instrument, when the latter is ready for operation, presents a profile which decreases in width in the direction of gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Luechinger