Patents by Inventor Thomas Köppel
Thomas Köppel 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).
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Patent number: 7935900Abstract: Weighing device with at least one weighing cell and with a receiving structure serving to hold the at least one weighing cell, wherein the at least one weighing cell includes a first fastener device serving to fasten the weighing cell in the receiving structure, and the receiving structure includes a second fastener device which is a complementary counterpart of said first fastener device. The fastener devices include a detent engagement mechanism and are designed in such a way that they hold as well as release the weighing cell by means of a form-locking engagement which can be locked and released, respectively, by a simple action in the form of pushing in the direction of the load and pulling against the direction of the load.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2007Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Mettler-Toldeo AGInventors: Peter Schilling, Andreas Metzger, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Thomas Koeppel, Jean-Christophe Emery
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Publication number: 20110017521Abstract: A gravimetric measuring instrument that contains a weighing cell having a load-transmitting member. A load receiver can be coupled to the load-transmitting member through a releasable connection. A mechanical stop resides on the load-transmitting member, and a mechanical counter stop resides on the load receiver. By means of an eccentric bolt engaging the load receiver and the load-transmitting member, the mechanical stop can be pressed against the mechanical counter stop, whereby the stop can be clamped tight against the counter stop. With this arrangement, the load receiver can be rigidly but releasably secured to the load-transmitting member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AGInventors: Adrian Birrer, Andreas Metzger, Thomas Köppel
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Publication number: 20110005295Abstract: A calibration weight arrangement (4, 104) for an electronic balance with a force-transmitting mechanism (1) has a calibration weight (3, 103) adapted to be coupled to the force-transmitting mechanism. The arrangement also has a transfer mechanism and a drive source to manipulate the calibration weight in a guided movement. The drive source includes an actuator (18) cooperating with the transfer mechanism and at least one piezoelectric element (19) which drives the movement of the actuator. The piezoelectric element interacts with a drive wheel (17, 117) that is centrally positioned relative to the calibration weight arrangement and drives a likewise centrally positioned shaft (16, 126). The interaction between the piezoelectric element and the drive wheel occurs during the advance movement in one direction through the repeated engagement and release of a frictional contact force.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AGInventors: Dominique Genoud, Peter Schilling, Thomas Koeppel, Matthias Scheu
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Patent number: 7851713Abstract: A parallel-guiding mechanism has a vertically movable parallel leg that carries a weighing pan. The movable parallel leg is connected by two essentially horizontal parallel guides to a stationary parallel leg installed in a balance, wherein elastic flexure pivots are formed at the ends of the parallel guides. Incisions that reduce the material strength of the parallel leg in at least one appropriate location define at least one adjustment domain, thus forming a deformation zone which is plastically deformed through application of an adjustment force. In this manner, a corner load error of the parallel-guiding mechanism is corrected.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AGInventors: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Dominique Genoud, Andreas Metzger, Stephan Baltisberger, Thomas Köppel
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Publication number: 20100294573Abstract: A force-measuring device 1, particularly a balance, operates on the principle of electromagnetic force-compensation. An electric coil 53 is arranged to be movable in a magnet system 50. The coil has at least two windings W1, W2 and a current supply device PB having at least two partial current sources PB1, PB2, the current sources each assigned to a corresponding winding. A device CU controls and/or regulates the current supplied to the windings by the partial current sources in such a way that, dependent on a force L acting on the force-measuring device, a current I1, I2 is sent through each of the windings. The sum of the at least two electromagnetic forces which are thereby generated forms the compensation force, while, at the same time, the power dissipated by the coil always takes on a given predetermined value Ptg.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AGInventors: Stephan Baltisberger, Thomas Köppel
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Patent number: 7829802Abstract: In a parallel-guiding mechanism, a stationary parallel leg surrounds a movable parallel leg. The movable parallel leg is connected to the stationary parallel leg and guided in vertical movement by first and second parallel-guiding elements, fastened respectively to the upper and lower end portions. The movable parallel leg can be connected to a load receiver and to a force-measuring cell through a force-transmitting connection in order to transmit the weighing load. Intermediate to, and connecting, the respective end portions is a tilt-adjustment feature, by which the end portions are tilt-adjusted relative to each other about at least one tilt axis to correct a corner load error. The tilt-adjustment feature is provided by at least one of: a pair of bending zones, a spherical joint and a ring-shaped constriction.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2009Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AGInventors: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Dominique Genoud, Andreas Metzger, Stephan Baltisberger, Thomas Köppel
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Publication number: 20100044119Abstract: In a parallel-guiding mechanism, a stationary parallel leg surrounds a movable parallel leg. The movable parallel leg is connected to the stationary parallel leg and guided in vertical movement by first and second parallel-guiding elements, fastened respectively to the upper and lower end portions. The movable parallel leg can be connected to a load receiver and to a force-measuring cell through a force-transmitting connection in order to transmit the weighing load. Intermediate to, and connecting, the respective end portions is a tilt-adjustment feature, by which the end portions are tilt-adjusted relative to each other about at least one tilt axis to correct a corner load error. The tilt-adjustment feature is provided by at least one of: a pair of bending zones, a spherical joint and a ring-shaped constriction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2009Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AGInventors: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Dominique Genoud, Andreas Metzger, Stephan Baltisberger, Thomas Köppel
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Publication number: 20100044118Abstract: A parallel-guiding mechanism has a vertically movable parallel leg that carries a weighing pan. The movable parallel leg is connected by two essentially horizontal parallel guides to a stationary parallel leg installed in a balance, wherein elastic flexure pivots are formed at the ends of the parallel guides. Incisions that reduce the material strength of the parallel leg in at least one appropriate location define at least one adjustment domain, thus forming a deformation zone which is plastically deformed through application of an adjustment force. In this manner, a corner load error of the parallel-guiding mechanism is corrected.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2009Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AGInventors: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Dominique Genoud, Andreas Metzger, Stephan Baltisberger, Thomas Köppel
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Publication number: 20090308665Abstract: Weighing device with at least one weighing cell and with a receiving structure serving to hold the at least one weighing cell, wherein the at least one weighing cell includes a first fastener device serving to fasten the weighing cell in the receiving structure, and the receiving structure includes a second fastener device which is a complementary counterpart of said first fastener device. The fastener devices include a detent engagement mechanism and are designed in such a way that they hold as well as release the weighing cell by means of a form-locking engagement which can be locked and released, respectively, by a simple action in the form of pushing in the direction of the load and pulling against the direction of the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2007Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AGInventors: Peter Schilling, Andreas Metzger, Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Thomas Koeppel, Jean-Christophe Emery
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Patent number: 7631536Abstract: The calibration weight arrangement for an electronic balance (1) with a force-measuring cell (6) has a calibration weight (14) which can be coupled to the force-measuring cell (6). A transfer mechanism and a drive source are used to move the calibration weight vertically, in order to establish, as well as to release, the force-transmitting contact between the calibration weight and the force-measuring cell. The transfer mechanism has at least one resetting element (122), a lifting system (110) configured as a knee-joint linkage (117), and a multi-stable positioning element (115). Due to the feedback from the multi-stable positioning element, whose first stable state defines the calibrating position (132) and whose second stable state defines the rest position (133) of the transfer mechanism, the actuator (118) is energized only during the phases when the transfer mechanism is moving.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AGInventors: Dominique Genoud, Thomas Köppel, Jean-Christophe Emery
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Patent number: 7596984Abstract: A force-measuring cell is designed for a receiving structure having multiple force-measuring cells of the same type. Each cell in the receiving structure occupies a design space whose dimensions, projected into a plane orthogonal to the load direction, is delimited by the design spaces of neighboring and/or is equal to the largest dimension of the cell in the plane. The cell has parallel-guiding diaphragms arranged on upper and lower surfaces thereof. The cell includes a calibration weight arrangement with a calibration weight which can be coupled to the cell, as well as a drive mechanism and a transfer mechanism for guidedly moving the calibration weight. An actuator works together with the transfer mechanism and a piezoelectric element that drives the actuator. The actuator has at least two interacting elements to repeatedly engage and release each other by frictional contact force which occurs during the travel movement in one direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2008Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AGInventors: Dominique Genoud, Peter Schilling, Thomas Koeppel, Matthias Scheu
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Publication number: 20090107208Abstract: A calibration weight arrangement (4, 104) for an electronic balance with a force-transmitting mechanism (1) has a calibration weight (3, 103) adapted to be coupled to the force-transmitting mechanism. The arrangement also has a transfer mechanism and a drive source to manipulate the calibration weight in a guided movement. The drive source includes an actuator (18) cooperating with the transfer mechanism and at least one piezoelectric element (19) which drives the movement of the actuator. The piezoelectric element interacts with a drive wheel (17, 117) that is centrally positioned relative to the calibration weight arrangement and drives a likewise centrally positioned shaft (16, 126). The interaction between the piezoelectric element and the drive wheel occurs during the advance movement in one direction through the repeated engagement and release of a frictional contact force.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2008Publication date: April 30, 2009Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AGInventors: Dominique Genoud, Peter Schilling, Thomas Koeppel, Matthias Scheu
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Publication number: 20090078472Abstract: A force-measuring cell is designed for a receiving structure having multiple force-measuring cells of the same type. Each cell in the receiving structure occupies a design space whose dimensions, projected into a plane orthogonal to the load direction, is delimited by the design spaces of neighboring and/or is equal to the largest dimension of the cell in the plane. The cell has parallel-guiding diaphragms arranged on upper and lower surfaces thereof. The cell includes a calibration weight arrangement with a calibration weight which can be coupled to the cell, as well as a drive mechanism and a transfer mechanism for guidedly moving the calibration weight. An actuator works together with the transfer mechanism and a piezoelectric element that drives the actuator. The actuator has at least two interacting elements to repeatedly engage and release each other by frictional contact force which occurs during the travel movement in one direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2008Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: Mettler-Toledo AGInventors: Dominique Genoud, Peter Schilling, Thomas Koeppel, Matthias Scheu
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Publication number: 20080218303Abstract: A multi-layered electromagnetic coil for a force-measuring system is based upon the principle of electromagnetic force compensation, as is a method for manufacturing the coil. The coil has a multifilar, specifically bifilar, wiring arrangement of coil wires. Preferably, the coil wires have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional profile. The cross-sectional profile of the coil wire is designed for achieving the densest possible packing of the windings in the coil can be achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2008Publication date: September 11, 2008Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AGInventors: Stephan Baltisberger, Andreas Metzger, Thomas Koeppel
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Patent number: 7132610Abstract: A weighing cell module with a force-transfer mechanism that includes a parallel-guiding linkage with a vertically movable parallelogram leg and a spatially fixed parallelogram leg, is equipped with a mounting area for a first weighing-pan support device with a single-point connection of a weighing pan, as well as with a mounting area for a second weighing-pan support device with a multiple-point connection, particularly a four-point connection, of a weighing pan, wherein the first and the second mounting area are each connected to the force-transfer mechanism. As a result, the weighing cell module can be used to manufacture different types of balances in a design family of balances, where each different type within the family is designed for a different maximum load.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2005Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AGInventors: Thomas Köppel, Peter Schilling, Ferdinand Schneider, Hans-Rudolph Burkhard
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Publication number: 20060151637Abstract: An injection valve with a valve control module (2) adjacent to a nozzle module with a nozzle plate has a nozzle needle axially movable in a nozzle body. An intermediate element is pressed against the throttle plate by a spring disposed between the intermediate element and the nozzle needle and exerts an axial force on the nozzle needle in the closing direction. At least one outlet throttle is provided in the throttle plate, and at least one inlet throttle connected to a high-pressure region is provided, both of which throttles feed into a valve control chamber. The throttle plate has an enclosed raised area that delimits an inner chamber, constitutes a delimitation for the valve control chamber, and contains the inlet throttle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2003Publication date: July 13, 2006Inventors: Edgar Schneider, Thomas Koeppel
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Publication number: 20030075614Abstract: A valve assembly suitable in particular for a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine is proposed, which includes an adjustably disposed valve element, an actuator unit, in particular a piezoelectric actuator unit, for adjusting the valve element, and a hydraulic force transmission chamber disposed in the force transmission path between the actuator unit and the valve element. For diverting at least one hydraulic filling stream, to be delivered to the force transmission chamber for filling it, from a hydraulic mainstream, a hydraulic pressure distributor assembly (50b, 52b) is provided, which has a conduit system (46b, 48b) that is embodied in a conduit housing (14b) and has both a main conduit (46b), carrying the hydraulic mainstream, and at least one filling conduit (48b), branching off from the main conduit (46b) and carrying the hydraulic filling stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2002Publication date: April 24, 2003Inventors: Stefan Schuerg, Otto SImon, Udo Lux, Wolfgang Stoecklein, Roland Stoecklein, Guenther Weissenberger, Georg Fleischmann, Thomas Koeppel
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Patent number: 6378379Abstract: A force-reduction mechanism for a force-measuring device is made of a monolithic material block (1) and has a stationary support (8), a plurality of levers (9, 15, 17), and coupling elements (11, 14, 16) connecting the levers. The fulcrum (10a) of at least one lever (17) is movable in relation to the stationary support (8). A movable fulcrum (10a) can, e.g., be located on a preceding lever (9), so that the fulcrum (10a) shares the motion of the preceding lever (9). The concept of a movable fulcrum allows a more space-efficient design of the mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbHInventors: Jean-Christophe Emery, Thomas Köppel, Marc Iseli
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Patent number: 6326562Abstract: In a weighing cell a load receiver is constrained in a mode of planar translatory motion in relation to a stationary part (1). The stationary part (1), configured in the shape of a solid H-profile, has two side plates (3) to which the guide links of a parallelogram mechanism are attached. A base plate (2) connects the side plates (3) and supports the parts, that are required for transmitting a force to be measured from the load receiver to a measuring cell. The force-transmitting parts can be configured either as a monolithic material block or as individually assembled components. (FIG.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1999Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbHInventors: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard, Luzi Hess, Thomas Köppel, Jean-Christophe Emery, Erwin Kaderli