Method and apparatus for on-line moisture analysis of a concentrate

An apparatus for measuring the moisture content of a concentrate comprising:

• a) a sample conveyor that moves a sample of the concentrate to be analyzed;
• b) an aluminum pan that receives and holds a sample of the concentrate;
• c) a conveyance member comprising a horizontal linear slide upon which a pneumatic vertical lift is mounted and a rotary arm that is connected to the vertical lift, the conveyance member detachably connected to the aluminum pan by gripping fingers that detachably engage the pan;
• d) a scale accessible by the conveyance member for weighing the sample;
• e) an oven comprising an oven door having a complimentary shape relative to a cross section of the sample container and conveyance member accessible by the conveyance member for heating the sample;
• f) a programmable logic controller for controlling the conveyance member and the oven door;
• and
• g) a data processing unit for receiving data from the scale and determining a moisture content based on the data.

An apparatus for measuring the moisture content of concentrate comprising:

• a) containing means for containing the sample;
• b) conveyance means detachably connected to the containing means for moving the containing means and comprising a plurality of conveyance devices connected to the containing means wherein each conveyance device moves the containing means about a single axis;
• c) weighing means accessible by the manipulation means for weighing the containing means;
• d) heating means accessible by the conveyance means for heating the containing means;
• e) control means for controlling an operation of the conveyance means and the heating means;
• and
• f) processing means for receiving data from the weighing means and determining a moisture content based on the data.

A method of determining a moisture content of a concentrate comprising the steps of:

• a) obtaining a sample of the concentrate;
• b) placing the sample into the container;
• c) placing the container on a scale in response to a first conveyance arm control signal;
• d) recording a wet weight of the sample
• e) opening an oven door in response to a first oven door control signal;
• f) placing the container into an oven in response to a second conveyance arm control signal;
• g) closing the oven door in response to a second oven door control signal;
• h) heating the container in the oven until the sample is dried;
• i) opening the oven door in response to the first oven control signal;
• j) placing the container on the scale in response to a second conveyance arm control signal;
• k) closing the oven door in response to the second oven door control signal;
• l) recording a dry weight of the sample;
• m) dumping the sample from the container;
• and
• n) determining a moisture content of the concentrate based on the wet and dry weights of the sample.