Automatic Stein Hall Viscosity Cup
AssigneeMarquip, Inc.
InventorsWilliam D. Stotler, Mark J. Seksinsky, Michael K. Pastore, Toby Murray
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A Stein Hall cup for measuring the viscosity of a starch adhesive is automated to provide viscosity measurement in real time using a PLC or other data gathering and control processor. Temperature of the adhesive is measured concurrently with viscosity and temperature signals are processed with the timed viscosity signal to provide a temperature compensated value of starch viscosity.
Claims14
A system for automatic real time measurement of the viscosity of liquid starch adhesive using a Stein Hall cup, wherein the liquid starch level in the cup is monitored as the starch moves downwardly by gravity through an orifice in the cup, and the time it takes for the surface of the starch to pass two vertically separated points in the cup provides a viscosity value;
- the improvement comprising:
- a level sensor positioned over the starch level in the cup and operative to sense a beginning starch level and an ending starch level to determine a selected volume of starch leaving the cup;
- a timer operative to generate a time signal representative of the starch viscosity value;
- a temperature sensor operative to generate a starch temperature signal;
- and,
- a data processor programmed to respond to the input of the time and temperature signals to generate an output of temperature compensated starch viscosity.
A method for automatic real time measurement of the viscosity of liquid starch adhesive using a Stein Hall cup, wherein the liquid starch level in the cup is monitored as the starch moves downwardly by gravity through an orifice in the cup, and the time it takes for the surface of the starch to pass two vertically separated points in the cup provides a viscosity value;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- (1) positioning a level sensor above an upper level of starch in the cup;
- (2) operating the sensor to sense a beginning starch level at the upper of the two points while draining the adhesive from the cup through the orifice;
- (3) operating the sensor, while continuing the draining step, to sense an ending starch level at the lower of the two points;
- (4) timing the movement of the starch level between the two points;
- (5) measuring the temperature of the starch in the cup;
- (6) generating signals representative of the timing and measuring steps;
- and,
- (7) utilizing a programmable controller to process the timing and temperature signals to generate an output of temperature compensated starch viscosity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.