Flat electronic scales

US6211472A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Sartorius AG · DE

Inventors

• Werner Schulze · Göttingen, DE
• Stefanie Meyer · Göttingen, DE
• Steffen Hirche · Oebisfelde, DE
• Matthias Eger · Wollbrandshausen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 13, 1998
• Grant date: Apr 3, 2001
• Expiry date: Nov 13, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/10
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A top-loading balance with a housing, a weighing pan, and a load receptor, wherein the load receptor is connected with a system carrier by a parallel guidance having an upper guide and a lower guide. The system carrier is fixed relative to the housing. One of the guides is divided into two part-guides which, seen in plan view, are disposed preferably on either side of the undivided guide so that the guides do not overlap. In addition, the load receptor, the guides and the system carrier preferably form an integral component. The top-loading balance also includes strain gauges on at least one of the guides to generate a load-dependent electrical signal, which can be measured and converted into e.g. a visual display of the mass. The integral component has two cavities for batteries and the system carrier extends between the two battery cavities. Furthermore, the load receptor is constructed to be approximately U-shaped and the two limbs of the U are disposed laterally near the battery cavities. In addition, the strain gauges are arranged only on the inner side of the undivided guide. Therefore, the top-loading scale is flat and compact without compromising the stability of the scale.…