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: 6633007
    Abstract: A balance (1) has a balance housing (21) and an operator panel (4). The operator panel (4) cooperates with the balance housing (21) and is connected, or connectable, to the latter in such a manner that the operator panel (4) can be folded up from a working position into a rest position (4′) by rotation about a pivot axis (A) that runs essentially parallel to the balance housing (21). The mechanical connection is made through a pivoting arrangement which allows the operator panel (4) to rest firmly on a supporting surface, independent of the level adjustment of the balance housing (21). Furthermore, the operator panel (4) is configured to be completely detachable from the balance housing (21). Electrical signals are transmitted either through a cable or by a wireless mode of communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Beat Meister, Alfred Schillig
  • Patent number: 6603081
    Abstract: A balance (1) has a weighing compartment (3) and a balance housing (4), which contains a weighing cell (15) and forms a rear wall (13) and a floor (8) for the weighing compartment (3). A weighing-load carrier (2) is arranged on a cantilever arm (30) of the weighing cell (15). The rear wall (13) of the weighing compartment is equipped with a stationary holder system (21) that allows a variety of weighing-compartment accessories to be releasably installed at different levels above the floor (8) of the weighing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Patent number: 6557391
    Abstract: A balance (1) has a weighing compartment (3) and a balance housing (4). The balance housing (4) contains a weighing cell (15) and forms a rear wall (13) and a floor (8) for the weighing compartment (3). A weighing-load carrier (2) is arranged on a cantilever arm (30) of the weighing cell (15). The cantilever arm (30) also holds a weight-receiving element (6) for calibration weights (7) of a calibration device (5). The weighing-load carrier (2) is releasably attached to a coupling arrangement (11) protruding from the cantilever arm (30) through passage openings (12) in the rear wall (13). The floor (8) extends without openings between the weight-receiving element (6) for the calibration weights (7) and the weighing-load carrier (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Patent number: 6501032
    Abstract: A support device for a weighing cell is mounted on one or more support posts resting on support springs that are connected to a stationary chassis and are pre-tensioned with an upward force. In case of a downward-directed shock, the support springs will yield to the inertial shock force and allow the weighing cell to move downward. The support posts can lift off from their resting places on the support springs, but are constrained by guide members to a limited range of upward vertical movement. A balance equipped with the support device has a low profile height and protects the weighing cell from downward- as well as upward-directed shocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Eduard Fringeli, Siegfried Zeiss
  • Patent number: 6354339
    Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for granular or powdery bulk materials includes a balance (15) to weigh the doses of material being dispensed, a reservoir container (1), and a cover (2) to close the downward-facing opening of the storage container (1). Integrated in the cover (2) is a conveying and delivering device with a vertically movable, rotary conveyor body (5) designed so that it can substantially close off the dispensing outlet (14) for the bulk material. The conveyor body has a ring-shaped bottom (6) sweeping a ring-shaped conveyor channel (7) that is recessed in the cover (2). The outlet (14) is arranged in the ring-shaped channel (7) and is designed to deliver a directed and locally concentrated stream of bulk material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Patent number: 5345043
    Abstract: A weighing scale housing has a top cover wall removably fastened to the housing rear wall, whereby after the top wall has been unfastened and removed from the rear wall, the transparent side and front walls of the housing may be removed from the housing base for cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Luechinger, Eduard Fringeli
  • Patent number: 5298688
    Abstract: A top or side wall of a weighing scale housing includes a plurality of relatively movable segments that are slidably displaceable between closed and open positions, thereby to afford access to a weighing chamber defined within the housing, at least the longitudinal edge portions of the segments being in continuous overlapping relation. The end portions of the segments are guided within guide grooves formed in the housing wall on opposite sides of an access opening contained therein. Catch devices connected with the longitudinal edges of successive segments are engaged upon displacement of a first segment relative to the housing, thereby to effect corresponding displacement of a second segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Luechinger, Eduard Fringeli
  • Patent number: 5285021
    Abstract: Weighing apparatus of the windscreen type including a housing having a pair of vertical side walls that are movable between opened and closed positions relative to the housing, thereby to afford access to a weighing pan contained within the housing weighing chamber, characterized by the provision of a lever arrangement for opening either or both of the side walls. A pair of operating levers (77,79) arranged generally end-to-end transversely beneath the housing extend at their remote ends beyond opposite sides of the housing for selective connection with the associated side wall, respectively, the adjacent ends of the levers being movably connected with the housing, the levers also being connected with each other by a coupling plate (89) that is slidably connected for displacement forwardly and rearwardly of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Luechinger
  • Patent number: 5264667
    Abstract: A weighing scale housing (9) includes a base (21), vertical front (19), rear (17), and side (23,25) walls cooperating with the base to define a weighing chamber (3) containing a movable weighing pan (5), characterized in that at least one of the side walls includes a plurality of planar side wall segments (27, 29; 31, 33) arranged at an obtuse angle, the one side wall being mounted for movement along an arcuate path between an open position affording access to the weighing pan, and a closed position closing the weighing chamber. When in the open position, the side wall is adjacent the rear wall, and when in the closed position, the forward vertical edge (51,53) of one segment engages the rear surface of the front wall, and the rear vertical edge portion (55, 57) of the other segment engages an end portion of the rear wall, thereby tightly sealing the weighing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Luechinger, Eduard Fringeli
  • Patent number: 5092416
    Abstract: Electronic weighing apparatus is provided including a force transmitting lever (17) pivotally suspended from a crossbar (33) that is connected for adjustment relative to the apparatus frame (9). An adjusting screw (45) adjusts the vertical position of the bar relative to a pillar portion (31) of the frame, and a fastening screw (37) serves to rigidly connect the crossbar with the frame following the crossbar adjustment. In this manner, the pivot axis of the transmitting lever is so adjusted as to minimize deflection of the no-load point owing to the inclination of the weighing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Mettler - Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Luechinger, Ernst Strickler
  • Patent number: 4676327
    Abstract: A precision scale of the electronic signal processing type includes a housing (5) containing a weighing chamber (3) and having a main keyboard (7) integral with or rigidly connected to the housing, characterized by the provision of an auxiliary keyboard (17) mounted within a recess (29) contained in the housing beneath the main keyboard for displacement between retracted inoperative and extended operative positions relative to the main keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Mettler Instrumente AG
    Inventor: Paul Luechinger
  • Patent number: D347189
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Luechinger, Peter Handlbauer, Remy C. Jacquet, Yves Marmier, William Kohler, Fulvio Honegger