Method and apparatus for displaying particle sedimentation rates in liquids

In a method of automatic determination of a sedimentation rate of liquids with the aid of a rotary support holding a plurality of containers in an upright position, at least some of said containers holding respective of said liquids therein, image-forming means for forming an image of a selected container, and processing means including a memory for processing the image of the selected container, each container being at least in part transparent, the liquid in each container containing particles in suspension, a border being defined between a lightly colored fraction of a liquid having a relatively low density, and the remaining fraction of the liquid in the respective container carrying particles which are in the course of sedimentation, there occurring a difference in the light intensity between the lightly colored fraction and the remaining fraction, and wherein said border has a height which is dropping as a function of time, the steps comprising

• illuminating the selected container,
• repeatedly making observations of said fractions and of said border in the selected container, the selected container being free of any vertical displacing movement,
• noting said observations, and
• determining said sedimentation rate from the noted observations.

An apparatus for continuous display of a particle sedimentation rate in a liquid, comprising in combination

• rotary support means adapted to hold a plurality of light-transparent containers, each container holding a liquid,
• means for selecting any container to be observed, at least a portion of a selected container being observable from the exterior,
• lighting means illuminating the selected container,
• image-forming means arranged to form an image of said at least portion of the selected container, and the liquid held therein,
• means on said image-forming means to create video signals from the so-formed image,
• computer means arranged to process said video signals,
• video signal transmission means transmitting said video signals from said image-forming means to said computer means, and
• display means for displaying the signals processed by said computer means.