Particulate sample analyzing instrument employing vibration to compact the sample
AssigneePacific Scientific Company
InventorDonald R. Webster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an instrument for optically analyzing particulate samples such as grain samples, the sample is introduced into a chute which is received in a vibrating apparatus to vibrate the grain in the chute and compact it. The chute is then dropped to a carriage which transports the chute and the grain through a beam of narrow band infrared light. A photocell is positioned to detect the amount of light passing through the grain sample.
Claims12
A method of analyzing a particulate sample comprising introducing the sample into a container, vibrating the sample within said container to compact the particulate sample during a first interval, then during a second interval after said first interval, directing a beam of light onto the sample compacted in said container while said sample is not being vibrated, detecting the intensity of the light from said beam after the light has come in optical contact with said sample.
An optical instrument for analyzing particulate sample material comprising a chute having walls defining an enclosure adapted to receive a particulate sample, at least a portion of one of said walls being transparent, means to vibrate said chute including all of said walls of said enclosure to compact the particulate sample within said chute against the transparent portion of said wall, means to irradiate said sample compacted in said chute with a beam of light through the transparent portion of said wall and a photodetector positioned to receive light from said beam after the light has come into optical contact with the sample compacted in said chute.
A method of analyzing a particulate sample comprising introducing the sample into a container having a plurality of walls defining an enclosure, at least a portion of one of said walls being transparent, vibrating said container including all of said walls to compact the particulate sample against the transparent portion of said wall, directing a beam of light through the transparent portion of said wall onto the sample compacted against the transparent portion of said wall, and detecting the intensity of the light from said beam after the light has come into optical contact with said sample.
An optical instrument for analyzing particulate sample material comprising a chute adapted to receive a particulate sample, means to vibrate said sample within said chute to compact the particular sample within said chute, a source of light, said chute having a wall transparent to light from source, said source of light comprising means to irradiate said sample through said transparent wall, carriage means to support said chute with said beam of light irradiating said sample through said transparent wall and to move said chute with said sample through said beam of light, and a photodetector positioned to receive light from said beam after the light has come into optical contact with the sample compacted in said chute.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.