Abstract: The force-transmitting mechanism (400) includes a parallel-motion guide mechanism with a movable parallel leg (440), a stationary parallel leg, and at least two parallel-guiding members (450), wherein the parallel legs and the parallel-guiding members are connected to each other by flexure pivots and the movable parallel leg is constrained to the stationary parallel leg in guided mobility by the parallel-guiding members. The force-transmitting mechanism further includes a force-transmitting lever (480) which is pivotally supported on a fulcrum pivot (490) arranged on the stationary parallel leg, with a first lever arm (481) having a force-transmitting connection to the movable parallel leg by way of a coupling member (470), and a second lever arm (482) to which a measurement transducer (410) can be attached through a force-transmitting connection.

Abstract: A gas sensor which works according to the principle of thermal conductivity is functionally tested. In the method, a calibration cycle is conducted in which a membrane of the gas sensor is immersed in a fluid calibration medium having a known concentration of a target gas. After the calibration cycle, a measurement chamber of the gas sensor is purged with a purging gas. Then, a measuring cycle is conducted, using a thermal conductivity sensor to measure the target gas in the measurement chamber. Using a calibration baseline established from the calibration cycle and a measurement baseline in the measurement cycle, a baseline comparison value is obtained and compared to a predetermined baseline threshold value. An error message, indicating a malfunction in the purging gas supply, is generated when the baseline comparison value exceeds the predetermined baseline threshold value.

Abstract: A thermoanalytical sensor has a substrate, a measurement position, a temperature sensor unit, and an electrical contact pad. The temperature sensor unit senses the temperature at the measurement position. It is connected via the electrical contact pad to a metallic wire and thereby tied into an electronic circuit. The substrate is prepared with at least one measurement position, at least one temperature sensor unit and at least one electrical contact pad on a top side of the substrate. A passage in the substrate allows connection to the electrical contact pad. A metallic wire is inserted into the passage from the bottom side of the substrate and melted into a small ball on the upper end of the wire. A materially integral connection as a bonded joint between the upper end of the metallic wire and the electrical contact pad is made by applying pressure and heat to the metal ball.

Abstract: The dimensions of an object are measured as it is transported by a forklift within an area of measurement. A first scanner is on a first side of the area of measurement; a second scanner is on an opposite second side and across the first scanner. The first and second scanners provide a dual-head scanner arrangement to capture dimensions of the object. A third scanner is on the first side of the area of measurement, parallel to the first scanner. The first and third scanners are configured to capture speed and direction of the object. Each scanner has a processor to operate it. The first and second scanners are synchronized, and operation of the first and third scanners is correlated. Placement of the first and second scanners establishes a width of the area of measurement and the first and third scanners establish a length thereof.

Abstract: A spectrograph as disclosed includes a housing, wherein a wall of the housing includes first, second and third openings, an entrance slit located at the first opening and configured to direct light along a first light path portion in the interior of the housing, a dispersive element located at the second opening and configured to receive light from the entrance slit along the first light path portion and direct light along a second light path portion in the interior of the housing, a detector located at the third opening and configured to receive light from the dispersive element along the second light path portion. The detector can include first and second groups of light-sensitive regions. A cover can be positioned to separate the first group of light-sensitive regions from the light path, the second group of light-sensitive regions being exposed to the light path.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor, used with a measuring medium, has a sensor head (1), a sensor chip (6, 606) with a sensitive region (632), a sensor body (2) with an end piece (3, 503), a sealing means (10, 510, 610) and a pressing element (18, 618). The sensor body is connected to the sensor head. The end piece is hollow with a closed end region and a measuring opening (4, 504) that allows the measuring medium to contact the sensitive region, which is inside the end piece during operation. The sealing means surrounds the measuring opening, other than the sensitive region, and seals the inside of the end piece from the measuring medium during operation. The pressing element biases the sensor chip against the sealing means and the edge of the measuring opening. The end piece has an integral, gap-free design in the region that contacts the measuring medium during operation.

Abstract: A sample is analyzed by temperature-modulated thermogravimetric analysis (TMTGA), using a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) instrument. The TGA instrument comprises a furnace arranged in a furnace housing and an electronic balance with a load receiver arranged in a balance housing, wherein the load receiver extends into the furnace housing. A measuring position is arranged at one end of the load receiver within the furnace housing. A control unit controls the balance and/or the furnace. The TMTGA method includes at least using the TGA instrument to subject the sample to a temperature program that varies the temperature of the furnace and provides temperature-time setpoints for controlling the sample temperature, measuring the mass change of the sample as a function of time, and determining at least one kinetic parameter of the sample based on mass change. The temperature program may be stochastic and/or event-controlled in nature.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for performing a light-absorption measurement on a test sample and a compliance measurement on a reference sample. A method includes moving a reference sample receptacle carrier of an apparatus to position a first reference sample receptacle received in the carrier at a second position in a light path, directing light from an illumination system to a detection system along the light path to perform a light-absorption measurement on a first reference sample at the second position, moving the carrier to position the first receptacle out of the light path, placing a test sample receptacle in a test sample receptacle holder of the apparatus in the light path at a first position different from the second position, and directing light along the light path to perform a light-absorption measurement on a test sample in the test sample receptacle holder at the first position.

Abstract: A rotatable gripper grips and turns a container cap. When locked, a collet clamp engages the cap, and when unlocked, the clamp releases the cap. The collet clamp is elongate with a first and second ends. The first end has a substantially rigid section. The second end has a gripper section with a substantially cylindrical recess that expands in width to hold the cap when the clamp is moved from locked to unlocked. Between the rigid and gripper sections is a clamping section. An outside surface of the clamping section is conical with a width increasing towards the gripper section. Sliding a ring on the conical clamping section deforms it into the locked position, constricting the recess tightly onto a container cap. When unlocked, the recess widens, permitting the cap to be removed from the recess.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the horizontal position uses a gas bubble in a bubble level. The gas bubble is in a cylindrical sealed housing that is partially filled with liquid. At least two light-emitting devices are used to illuminate the gas bubble and an inner bottom surface of the bubble level. A corresponding number of receiving devices are used to receive the light that is either reflected by the inner bottom surface or is reflected and refracted by the gas bubble. The amount of light received is translated into an electrical signal and is sent to a processing unit to calculate the position of the gas bubble. The light-emitting devices and the receiving devices are disposed in an alternating manner at the periphery of the cylindrical sealed housing.

Abstract: Eccentric loading errors of a weighing cell (1) with a parallel guiding mechanism are determined and corrected or at least reduced. The weighing cell has a test weight actuating device (14), by which at least one test weight (15) is positioned successively on at least three test weight support points (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) of the test load receiver (4) that do not lie in a straight line. A processor unit (21) uses a control signal (S1) to position the test weight on the support points. A test weighing signal (T) is generated for each support point, and from these, eccentric loading errors are ascertained. A device for correcting the eccentric loading errors uses control signals (S2) from the processor unit to make a geometrical-mechanical change in the parallel guiding mechanism, using a first and a second actuating unit.

Abstract: A weigh module (1) includes a load cell (2), a base plate (3), a top plate (6), a force-transmitting member (8) serving to transmit the weighing force from the top plate (6) to the load cell (2), and movement-restricting means (9, 10) which serve to limit the horizontal floating movement of the top plate (6) relative to the base plate (3) within a confined range of free play and to transmit lateral force components directly from the top plate (6) to the base plate (3). One part of the movement-restricting means (9, 10) has the form of a channel whose top edges (11) are rigidly connected to the top plate (6) and whose flat bottom extends parallel to the base plate (3) at a clear distance from the latter.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for performing a light-absorption measurement of a specified amount of sample. A method for performing a light-absorption measurement of a specified amount of sample includes placing the sample on the surface of an apparatus including the surface and a light reflector, the light reflector being mechanically coupled with the surface and separated from the surface by a separation distance, changing the separation distance, while the light reflector remains mechanically coupled with the surface, to a first separation distance, and performing a first light-absorption measurement of the sample via the apparatus, while the separation distance is equal to the first separation distance, and while the sample is subject to pressure force.