Patents by Inventor Paul Luchinger

Paul Luchinger 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).

  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20100012678
    Abstract: A container unit for the storage and protection of laboratory substances includes a protective housing and a dosage-dispensing unit. To make the dosage-dispensing unit ready for use, the protective housing is removable. As a means to optimize the simplicity and safety of handling the unit and to achieve the required protection for the laboratory substance contained in it, at least one chamber is formed in the protective housing and filled with a treatment agent. The at least one chamber has a passage opening directed towards the interior space, with a chamber closure element allowing the passage opening to be closed gas-tight. The treatment agent inside the chamber can preferably be filled into the chamber and sealed off gas-tight with the chamber closure element already during the process of manufacturing the protective enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Matthias Gietenbruch, Paul Luchinger
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7531759
    Abstract: A draft protection device for a balance, which encloses a weighing compartment surrounding a weighing pan, has at least one opening that can be closed by a window. The at least one window has at least two slidable window sections which partially overlap each other in any of their positions. According to the invention, a drive mechanism is provided for the opening and closing of the window, which drive mechanism couples the window sections to each other in such a way that all of the window sections move simultaneously and at different speeds during the opening and closing, wherein a fixed ratio between the respective speeds of the window sections can be predetermined by design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Hansjörg Rotach, Roger Leisinger, Eduard Fringeli
  • Publication number: 20080190963
    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: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Luchinger, Siegfried Zeiss
  • Publication number: 20080185401
    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: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Luchinger
  • Publication number: 20080072993
    Abstract: A dosage-dispensing device for substances in powder- or paste form includes a drive device and a source container that can be set into the drive device, wherein a dosage-dispensing head with a closure body that can be set into rotation by a drive mechanism and is connected to a closure shaft which is movably constrained in the source container is arranged at the underside of the source container when the latter is in its operating position. The closure shaft has a coupler part in a passage area where it passes through the topside of the source container. The coupler part is configured to be coupled to and uncoupled from a drive shaft of the drive device. The source container has a first form element which is designed for form-fitting engagement with a first counterpart element formed on the drive device and serves to precisely position the coupler part in relation to the drive shaft in a plane that is orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Luchinger, Sandra Ehrbar
  • Publication number: 20080049809
    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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Luchinger
  • Publication number: 20080006082
    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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Luchinger
  • Publication number: 20070256479
    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: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Luchinger
  • Publication number: 20070245813
    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: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Luchinger