Metering Station and Process for Metering Highly Viscous Liquids

A Metering station (10) for metering at least one liquid having an increased viscosity comprising:

• at least four metering modules (1, 1′) comprising at least one metering module comprising a liquid having an increased viscosity and comprising at least two metering modules comprising different liquids;
• at least one support (7) for receiving the at least four metering modules (1, 1′), wherein the support simultaneously may be an automated unit for positioning;
• at least one automated unit for positioning the at least four metering modules, which either can be the support (7) or a unit for positioning independent from said support;
• at least one scale (12) for receiving receiving containers for samples or test containers;
• and
• a process control,
• wherein each metering module (1, 1′) is connected with the support (7) via the connection assembly element (8).

A process for high throughput metering of liquids having an increased viscosity and for high throughput formulation of substances, the process comprising at least the following steps:

• (i) providing at least one liquid having an increased viscosity in at least one metering module (1, 1′) comprising at least storage container (5), metering head (3) and metering point (2);
• (ii) charging a support (7) with at least four metering modules (1, 1′), wherein step (ii) can also be temporarily carried out prior to step (i), and in any case as result of steps (i) and (ii) at least one metering module (1, 1′) comprising at least one liquid having an increased viscosity must be provided in a support (7) together with at least three further metering modules (1, 1′);
• (iii) automatedly positioning at least one metering module (1, 1′) comprising a liquid having an increased viscosity above at least one test container on a scale (12);
• (iv) carrying out a calibration step with which at least one metering module (1, 1′) from step (iii) comprising a liquid having an increased viscosity is metered for the determination of the amount of said liquid that is metered per time unit in opened condition of said metering head (3) from storage container (5) through metering point (2);
• (v) automatedly positioning at least metering module (1, 1′) from step (iii) via at least one receiving container for samples on a scale (12);
• (vi) carrying out at least one target-metering step in which a predetermined fraction of the liquid to be totally metered into a receiving container for samples, or the total predetermined liquid amount, from metering module (1, 1′) from step (iii) is metered into the receiving container for samples on scale (12),
• wherein steps (v) and (vi) may be arbitrarily often carried out and for any number of metering modules (1, 1′) and/or receiving containers for samples, and always step (iv) is carried out before steps (v) and (vi), which arbitrarily often can be carried out, if necessary.