Fiber blend identification and ratio measurement

A measurement instrument for identifying at least one of fiber blend composition and fiber blend ratio in an input material comprising fibers, the measurement instrument comprising:

• a. a sample sensing module comprising:
• i. a third set of fiber movements for drawing the input material through the sample sensing module at a second speed,
• ii an electromagnetic radiation source disposed on an adjacent side of the input material for directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation toward the input material at a second location within the sample sensing module, the beam of electromagnetic radiation containing at least two clearly distinct wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum,
• iii. at least one of an electromagnetic radiation transmission sensor disposed on an opposite side of the input material opposite the electromagnetic radiation source such that the electromagnetic radiation transmission sensor receives transmitted portions of the beam of electromagnetic radiation that pass through the input material, and an electromagnetic radiation reflection sensor disposed on a same side of the input material as the electromagnetic radiation source such that the electromagnetic radiation reflection sensor receives reflected portions of the beam of electromagnetic radiation that reflect off of the input material, wherein at least one of the electromagnetic radiation transmission sensor and the electromagnetic radiation reflection sensor are each configured to receive electromagnetic radiation at least two clearly distinct wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, and
• b. a control module comprising a controller configured for:
• i. receiving data signals from at least one of the electromagnetic radiation transmission sensor and the electromagnetic radiation reflection sensor,
• ii. sending control signals to the electromagnetic radiation source and the third set of fiber movements, and
• iii. processing the data signals from at least one of the electromagnetic radiation transmission sensor and the electromagnetic radiation reflection sensor to determine at least one of the fiber blend composition and the fiber blend ratio in the input material.