Abstract:
An apparatus and associated method of preparing a mixture using a computerized apparatus having a plurality of vessels, each of which is arranged on a support structure and oriented for dispensing a fluent substance through at least one exit port and a first flow channel. Each first flow channel is in further communication with a dedicated measurement assembly, for dosing fluent substance so dispensed, and a second flow channel. The apparatus also includes a receptacle support; and can further incorporate a user interface for receiving a first input concerning the mixture plus a storage device to hold instructions for locating a respective one of the second flow channels and the receptacle support in operative relation. The apparatus can further comprise titration and mixing modules; and an alternative apparatus and method can utilize a support structure having a framework moveably coupled to a sustaining member, whereby many flexible-walled vessels can be accommodated.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, the present invention relates to the preparation of mixtures including liquid reagents, cleaning and other special-purpose solutions, solvents, pesticides, herbicides, paints, mixed beverages, fluent foodstuff, as well as other fluent substances used in the laboratory, manufacturing plant floor, field crops, gardens, eating establishments, building structures, art lab, and so on. Common to the preparation of such a wide range of types of mixtures are the tasks of selecting, dosing, and mixing the necessary constituent fluent components into a receptacle. More particularly, the invention relates to the automation of such mixture preparation using a novel apparatus, whether the constituent components are uniformly distributed within the mixture. This apparatus and associated method utilizes a unique automated technique to, in accordance with input concerning a desired end-product, select at least one of a plurality of available fluent constituent components staged on a support structure, dose/measure a requisite amount of each selected constituent component, collect the dosed amount with mixing receptacle, and agitate/stir the collected contents in the receptacle to prepare the preselected end-product. A processor and storage device are readily adapted to collect and store data concerning the preparation, as desired. The footprint of the apparatus can be chosen for portability. And although a variety of vessels containing constituent components can be made of rigid or brittle materials, a support structure of the apparatus is adaptable for the arrangement of gravity fed, ‘bag-like’ flexible walled vessels. 
     There are many reagents/buffers, special-purpose solutions, solvents, paints, pesticides, herbicides, the list goes on, for commercial and personal use, used in research laboratories in small quantities. Very often, lab and QA (quality assurance) technicians, line employees, etc., need only a single batch that includes one or more ‘flasks-full’, for example, of a mixture tailored for a particular study/analysis/test or other use. Every time a new reagent, solvent, solution, or other mixture is needed, the laborious process of preparing begins, over again: The appropriate formula is pulled from laboratory files (or, if none, one must be calculated), bottles of the necessary ingredients are located and removed from storage, and ingredients are measured using equipment which has to, first, be cleaned and decontaminated from any prior use. Further, the process of mixing beverages such as is done at a wedding party, alumni gathering, or other function likewise requires small ‘flasks’ of different beverages requiring preparation in various batch-quantities. This is also true of the production process to prepare foodstuff in small amounts. 
     Traditionally, mixtures that are used in smaller quantities in production lines, commercial laboratories as well as private and government research laboratories, are prepared manually on an as-needed basis. First, a trained lab technician carefully measures out the requisite amount of each raw material-ingredient from the glass container(s) in which it was shipped to the lab and is currently being stored. Many reagents, solutions, and solvents are prepared using ingredients that are quite caustic and toxic. The quantities of ingredients measured for use, are mixed in an appropriately-sized beaker or flask. The highly labor intensive process of preparing solutions used in commercial manufacturing and research laboratories not only creates opportunity for human error and serious injury, but is also very costly. 
     Therefore, a versatile automatic, less labor-intensive and less error-prone process is needed. Preferably such a process is carried out using a computerized apparatus designed to be generally portable, with a footprint that can accommodate the limited available counter top space found in most laboratories, manufacturing environments, and eating establishments. The innovative apparatus and method described herein utilize a unique sophisticated technique to automatically; (a) access, dispense, and dose appropriate quantities of selected ingredients held in containment vessels in proximity to one another, this being done according to input entered through some type of user interface as well as a plurality of instructions/commands stored for automatic retrieval into computer memory, and (b) collect each such ingredient into a receptacle (such as a flask, beaker, etc.) for mixing and auttitraton (as desired). Although this new apparatus incorporates sophisticated automation techniques, its features allow for ready access to finished mixture-product. The unique automatic access to fluent ingredients, as well as dispensing and dosing techniques, can be employed by an apparatus with a footprint considered large (floor-model) or small (counter-top) to prepare a wide variety of mixtures. 
     Unlike the labor-intensive processes currently available, the new apparatus and associated method require much less intervention by a lab technician, line worker, etc. and provides sufficient production quality control over batch sizes of hundreds of flasks of prepared mixtures. As can be appreciated, within the spirit and scope of the design goals contemplated hereby, and as further described herein, many different types of suitable alternative structures for carrying out specified function(s) may be incorporated into the new apparatus and method of the invention. Further, the incorporation of flexible-walled vessels (‘bag-type’) having novel features invented by certain of the listed applicant-inventors hereof, and assigned to the assignee hereof, helps address problems associated with cumbersome transport and storage of heavy, breakable ceramic (e.g., glass) hard-walled containers. These unique flexible-walled vessels can be fabricated from many suitable materials into many different shapes and sizes, and filled with countless different types of fluent substance ingredients as needed for preparing desired mixtures. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary object of this invention to provide an apparatus and associated method of preparing a mixture using a computerized apparatus having a plurality of vessels, each of which is arranged on a support structure and oriented for dispensing a fluent substance through at least one exit port and a first flow channel. The first flow channel of each vessel is in further communication with a dedicated measurement assembly, for dosing fluent substance so dispensed, and a second flow channel. The apparatus also includes a receptacle support; and can further incorporate a user interface for receiving a first input concerning the mixture plus a storage device to hold instructions for locating a respective one of the second flow channels and the receptacle support in operative relation (for collecting the fluent substance in a mixture receptacle placed on the receptacle support). The apparatus can further comprise titration and mixing modules; and an alternative apparatus and method can utilize a support structure having a framework moveably coupled to a sustaining member, whereby many flexible-walled vessels can be accommodated. 
     Several advantages of providing the novel apparatus and associated method, follow: 
     (a) Versatility—The invention can be used for automatic preparation of single-flask batches of different mixtures, or repeated preparation of a large quantity (multiple flasks of one mixture). 
     (b) Structural design flexibility—An apparatus of the invention can stage a multitude of constituent fluent ingredients (including solvents, buffers/reagents, homogeneous and non-homogeneous solutions, titrants, including reactants, etc.) for access and dispensing depending on the instructions/commands and input received for the preparation of the preselected mire. The apparatus can be driven by its own power source (especially important for the field), or connected to an external source of power such as line voltage from an electrical wall outlet. 
     (c) Simplicity of use—Different batch-quantities of any one such mixture can readily be prepared with a touch of a keypad button or touch-sensitive screen, a voice command or joystick/mouse, etc. The new apparatus can be sized for portability and installed and relocated with ease and without disruption of surrounding environment. A user has at her fingertips, a panoply of programming instructions/commands for preparing hundreds of thousands of different mixtures as well as the flexibility to create new ones; and maintenancelcalibration can automated. 
     (d) Design flexibility—The apparatus can be sized to accommodate any number of ingredient vessels arranged and one or more of the vessels can be fed externally if usage of its contents is great throughout a day, for example. Also, many suitable mechanisms exist (and are handily adapted or redesigned) to carry out the following: receive user input, measure/dose fluent substances dispensed from a vessel, agitate/mix the substances, and titrate substances collected. 
     (e) Process speed and reliability/repeatability—Reducing the need for trained technicians to carry out each of the meticulous steps required to prepare the mixture(s), allows the process of preparing to occur at a faster rate, while being less prone to error (repeatability increases). This makes it possible to more-economically prepare a variety of preselected mixtures (regardless of batch quantities and/or product mix/variety requirements throughout a given day). 
     (f) Compact/efficient design—To optimize production, several apparatuses (built with a smaller footprint) can be positioned at different locations within a production or lab environment and operated simultaneously, or sequentially, to create different, or the same, mixtures. The use of flexible-walled bag type vessels, makes possible, on-the-fly replacement thereof. 
     (g) End-product preparation tracking—The automated features of the apparatus and method make tracking of batches for quality assurance or other purposes such as replenishing stock of fluent substances consumed straight-forward to integrate and implement into existing production, eating establishment, and lab environments (especially where highly kegulated/monitored). 
     Briefly described, once again, the invention includes an apparatus for automatic preparation ot a preselected mixture, comprising: a plurality of vessels, each vessel arranged on a support structure and oriented for dispensing a fluent substance through at least one exit port and a first flow channel. Each of the first flow channels is in further communication with a dedicated measurement assembly and a second flow channel. The apparatus also has a receptacle support, a user interface for receiving a first input concerning the mixture, and a storage device holding a plurality of instructions for locating a respective one of the second flow channels and the receptacle support in operative relation for collecting the fluent substance. The mixtures which can be prepared utilizing the invention include liquid reagents, cleaning and other special-purpose solutions, solvents, pesticides, herbicides, paints, mixed beverages, fluent foodstuff, as well as other fluent substances used in the laboratory, manufacturing plant floor, field crops, gardens, eating establishments, building structures, art lab, and so on. 
     There are additional features that further distinguish this invention from known devices and methods: (a) the support structure comprises a framework moveably coupled to a sustaining member; (b) a dose actuator stationed in positional relationship with the receptacle support: (c) the vessels having been hermetically formed of flexible stock material into a ‘bag-type’ shape; (d) mixing and titration modules; and (e) further instructions on the storage device can include: instructions for dispensing from the first flow channel the requisite amount of fluent substance from a respective vessel; instructions for directing a respective one of the dedicated measurement devices to dose the fluent substance so dispensed; instructions for rotating, or otherwise moving/sliding/positioning/placing, a respective one of the vessels and/or an associated dedicated measurement assembly and/or the receptacle support, to position a respective second flow channel above the receptacle support; instructions for automatically mixing and/or titrating, including any type of analysis/reaction performed on or to, substances collected in a mixture receptacle; and instructions for repeating the process according to input about batch size/quantities. 
     The invention also includes a method of preparing a preselected mixture using a computerized apparatus, including the steps of (a) receiving a first input concerning the mixture; and (b) according to the first input and a plurality of instructions held on a storage device of the apparatus: automatically locating a second flow channel and a receptacle support in operative relation; dispensing a fluent substance through at least one exit port and a first flow channel from a respective one of a plurality of vessels arranged on a support structure of the apparatus, each of the first flow channels in further communication with a dedicated measurement assembly and a second flow channel; and using the measurement assembly, dosing the fluent substance so dispensed. The additional features listed above, further distinguish the method of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For purposes of illustrating the flexibility of design and versatility of the innovative preferred apparatus and method, the invention will be more particularly described by referencing the accompanying drawings of embodiments of the invention (in which like numerals designate like parts). The figures have been included to communicate the features of the invention by way of example, only, and are in no way intended to unduly limit the disclosure hereof. 
     FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates features of a preferred apparatus  10  of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric of a preferred apparatus  30  detailing further structural features. 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric of an alternative apparatus labeled  50 , with shroud  41  removed and certain other features slightly altered. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the alternative apparatus  50  in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5A is a schematic side view representation of the apparatus  50  illustrating many of the features shown in FIG. 4, in further detail. 
     FIG. 5B is a schematic top view of an alternative apparatus  100  to show representative locations of certain of the features. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric illustrating a preferred flexible-walled vessel  130  of the invention in use alongside laboratory-type equipment supported by an alternative framework. 
     FIGS. 7A,  7 B, and  7 C are schematic representation (two side views and a top view, respectively of an alternative apparatus  250 , again detailing certain features of the invention. 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B are a flow diagram detailing preferred steps, in an expanded novel manner, of a method  300  of preparing a preselected mixture using a unique apparatus of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As identified above, the apparatus of the invention  10  is shown with several appropriately sized vessels labeled  14   a - 14   f  in fluent communication  18   a - 18   f  with a spout or collection channel  19  and into a receptacle  20 . At some point prior to operating the apparatus, each vessel is filled with the fluent substance ingredient and arranged for dispensing along a respective channel  18 a- 18   f  according to amount of use throughout the period of operation. Vessels can be made of made of any sturdy flexible-walled or other material (e.g., a glass or other ceramic, a polymer, a metal alloy, and so on) that is compatible with the substance contained therein. Certain of the substances may be used so often during mixture preparation operations that it is beneficial to communicate with an external source. For example, the vessel  14   d  containing water is shown with conduit  15  and a valve, not shown, connected to an external source (such as, filtered/treated tap water)  21  to allow for uninterrupted resupply of vessel  14   d  throughout operations. 
     Operation of the vessel is represented at  17   a  as a processor in electrical communication with some type of storage device  25  (any peripheral unit or device, whether housed internally or externally hardwired or wireless, that holds data such as magnetic tape, magnetic disk optical disk, diskettes, flash cards, magnetic drums, and so on), a user interface  16  (such as a touch-sensitive screen or display  16   a , keyboard/keypad  16   b , light pen  16   c , joysticks and trackballs  16   d , mouse  16   e , printer/OCR-scanner  16   f , audio signal receiver/microphone  16   g  along with voice-recognition circuitry to digitize spoken words and enters them into the computer, and so on) for receiving input concerning the mixture selected, batch number, whether titration/reaction steps are to be performed, etc., and some type of wide area network (WAN)  24  that can be employed if input data is to be received or transmitted remotely such as through the global information network known as the INTERNET network. The user input can be any type suitable for the environment in which the apparatus will operate. For example, the apparatus may have to operate within a high humidity chamber or it may be used by gloved technicians with caustic materials on the outside of the gloves. In that case, it is preferably to chose a hermetically-sealed interface that is easy to activate (touch screen or voice-activated, for example). The user interface may also be one that is remote to the apparatus, such as outside the humidity chamber or offsite in a material storage warehouse. In this case, the user interface may be interconnected to computerized control system  17   a  via WAN  24 . At  17   b  is a box representing the automated dispensing and dosing function(s) of the apparatus. 
     The apparatus and method of the invention are preferably carried out by incorporating a processing unit linked by a communication network, or bus, to both a user interface  16  (which can be something as simple a coded activation ‘keys’ pre-programmed for a preselected mixture preparation ‘recipe’) and internal memory that can call-up instructions stored on a storage device comprising the detailed sequence of instructions to direct the apparatus to perform the preparation steps. By way of background, central processing unit (CPU) chips and microprocessors have four functional sections: (1) the arithmetic/logic unit, (2) temporary storage locations, called registers, which hold data, instructions, or the results of calculations; (3) the control section; and (4) the internal bus, a network of communication lines that links internal CPU elements and offers several different data paths for input from and output to other elements of the computer system Computer, and computerized, refers to any general-purpose apparatus that processes data according to a set of instructions stored internally either temporarily or permanently. Data is stored both memory and on more-permanent storage units/devices. The semi-permanent or permanent holding place for data is generally called“storage” and memory is the more-temporary workspace for executing instructions and processing data. A set of instructions that perform a particular task is generally referred to as a program or software program. 
     FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates additional design features that further distinguish the apparatus  50  and method  300  of the invention from known processes and systems. Here, a housing or shroud  41 , built of suitable structurally-sound material, covers several components of the apparatus as will be explained further. Each vessel (here, labeled  34   a - 34   f ) has been oriented on a centrally-located sustaining member  48  of a support structure (not labeled for simplicity) for is the purpose of unobstructed dispensing its contents into internal measuring equipment (as can be seen in FIGS. 3-5A and  5 B with shroud  41  removed) for dosing and further final flow into the receptacle (such as the flask  40  positioned on receptacle support  43 ). In communication with the processor employed to carry out the instructions/comma for preparation of a mixture is user interface panel  36  having buttons/keys  37 , an LED alphanumeric display  39 , and LED indication lights  38  to communicate preparation status. As mentioned, any suitable user-input interface may be employed, including one remotely located. Base  45  is on rollers  47   a - 47   c  and has a handle  35  for portability. Receptacle support  43  is stationed on base  45  and shelving  46  has been added 
     In FIG. 3, one can see how spokes  49   a - 49   f  of framework  48 A may be rotatively coupled to axis member  48 B which is, in turn, affixed to base  55 . End-projections ( 59   a ,  59   c  in FIG. 4) of spokes  49   a - 49   f  extend through support openings  54   a ,  54   b  of the upper ends of bag-type flexible-walled vessels  34   a - 34   f ) as well as dedicated measurement assemblies  64   a - 64   f  can readily be seen. Extending below each assembly  64   a - 64   f  is a piston rod (respectively  68   a - 68   f ) and extending from each assembly  64   a - 64   f  is a flow channel (respectively  66   a - 66   f ) all of which will be further explained. Stationed in positional relationship with receptacle support  53  on base  55  is a dose actuator mechanism  80 . 
     As can better be appreciated in FIG. 4, each vessel  34   a - 34   g  has a port (such as those labeled  72   a ,  72   c ) and a first flow channel (such as those labeled  74   a ,  74   c ) leading to a respective valve (preferably directional check valves) labeled  76   a - 76   f  and in communication with a respective measurement assembly  64   a - 64   f  and second flow channels  66   a - 66   g  which each include a hinged connector  78   a - 78   g  for design flexibility. One can see how receptacle support  53  has been located under assembly  64   c  for collecting fluent substance flowing from flow channel  66   c  into receptacle  40 . Dose actuator mechanism  80  has extensions  84 A,  84 B to station it to base  55  via sustaining (axis) member  48 B. In operation as designed (but certainly not limited to this particular structure) dose actuator  80  operates as follows (please see also FIG.  5 A): A push-surface  85  is activated to push against a bottom end of a respective piston rod (such as that at  68   a ,  68   c .  68   f ) in an upwardly direction to push a head (such as those labeled  67   a ,  67   c  in FIG. 5A) correspondingly upward to force the fluent substance dispensed into a respective piston cylinder volume (as labeled  64   a ,  64   c  in FIG.  5 A), having passed through upstream valves  76   a - 76   f . The novel dosing actuator  80  illustrated provides excellent dosing accuracy. 
     Certain features can be better appreciated in FIG.  5 A. Dose actuator  80  can have a motor  81  or other mechanism coupled to threaded dowel  82  to translate electrical power into mechanical drive power to activate push-surface  85 . The actuator will be automatically controlled to size cylinder volume  64   a ,  64   c  as needed according to requisite dosage of fluent substance from a respective vessel. Projections  59   c  may be hook-shaped to anchor respective vessels  34   a - 34   g    
     Corresponding structure in alternative apparatus  100  of FIG. 5B includes: circuitously arranged vessels  134   a - 134   g  on framework (including spoke  149   g ) coupled to axis member  148 B, measurement assemblies  164   a - 164   g  circuitously arranged on the framework (supporting spokes for the assemblies  164   a - 164   g  are not in view, here, but can be seen in FIG.  3  and labeled  78 A), and receptacle  40  on receptacle support  93  is shown in operative relation with second flow channel hinge  178   g  and vessel  134   g.    
     The flexible-walled vessel  130  of FIG. 6 has an upper-end  137  through which an opening  138  passes. A lower-end  139  has an exit port  136  and a flow channel  144 B having tubular outer wall  144 D, is in further communication with connector  144 C and a pinch-type valve  144 A. An additional port  132 A (such as for filling the vessel) has been permanently closed at  132 B. 
     The apparatus  250  of FIGS. 7A-7C views, have structure corresponding to that in FIGS. 2,  3 ,  4 ,  5 A- 5 B as can be readily appreciated, including a titration probe  213  (for automatic titration, represented at box  320  in FIG. 8B, of the mixture to balance its pH, or to perform some other special operation/reaction to meet a desired substance parameter) and mixer assembly  290  (having a suitable agitator device, such as a stir-rod or magnetic stir dowel, may be lowered to mix collected substances together). Likewise, one can better appreciate the novel features of the method  300  of the invention as illustrated by way of a flow diagram in FIGS. 8A and 8B. Without further additional commentary provided here, one can readily appreciate the features of the invention from specific written detail added to FIGS. 8A and 8B for convenient viewing, of the steps illustrated. 
     Fluent substances, as that term is used herein, includes the multitude of substances considered flowable, or capable of flowing already identified such as reagents cleaning solutions, water (with many uses, including use as an inorganic solvent), organics, pesticides, and other substances used in a production/test type environment. ‘Reagent’, as defined, is any chemical compound used in laboratory analyses to detect and identify specific constituents of the material being examined. Though reagents may be gases, liquids, or solids, they are usually prepared as solutions (in water or common solvents) of various concentrations, e.g., 1 molar, 0.1 normal. etc. Several thousand chemicals of varying specificity are used as reagents; they are subject to strict specifications, especially as regards purity. A non-exhaustive list of reagents includes, without limitation: glacial acetic acid; sulfuric acid: hydrogen sulfide; dimethylglyoxime; potassium iodide; 0.05 M Potassium Phosphate, pH 7.5; Sodium Acetate Buffer Solution, pH 5.0; 5% SLS in 0.1 M Phosphate Buffer (pH 8.0); 0.05 M Potassium Phosphate, pH 6.8; 0.025 M Phosphate pH 3.2, has Phosphoric and Acetic Acid; 0.05 M Sodium Phosphate pH 6.8; 0.2% diethylamine in 0.2 M Potassium Phosphate. Generally, ‘solvent’ is a term that designates a liquid which can reduce certain solids or liquids to molecular or ionic form by relaxing the intermolecular forces that unite them. There are tens-of-thousands of solvents currently in use. 
     While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown merely for the purpose of illustrating the invention, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the novel teachings or scope of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. Although the commonly employed preamble phrase “comprising the steps of” may be used herein, or hereafter, in a method claim, the Applicants in no way intend to invoke limitations of 35 USC section 112 ¶6. Furthermore, in any claim that is filed herein or hereafter, any means-plus-function clauses used, or later found to be present, are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.