Distributing device for separating particles in a particle stream

#The instant application should be granted the priority dates of Jul. 24, 2009, the filing date of the corresponding German patent application 10 2009 034 689.9, as well as Jul. 20, 2010, the filing date of the International patent application PCT/EP2010/004417.

#The invention relates to a distributing device for separating and orienting particles in a particle stream which is conducted to a particle measuring tool or device via the distributing device, wherein the distributing device comprises a conveying device with a discharge arranged at the end thereof.

#A distributing device having the aforementioned features is described in DE 41 19 240 C2. To the extent that a dynamic particle measuring device is described therein, the particles, the dimensions of which are to be determined, are separated and conducted via, for example, a vibrating chute as a distributing device, and pass from the discharge disposed at its end, in free fall, between a light wave and an image-capturing device, whereby on the basis of the appropriately determined and evaluated data, the determination of the size distributions of the particles separated by the distributing device is effected.

#Exemplary embodiments of the invention, which will be described subsequently, are illustrated in the drawing, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a distributing device having two conducting elements,

#FIG. 2 shows the subject matter of FIG. 1 with the additional arrangement of a discharge element.

#The distributing or distribution device 10, which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, is comprised of a conveying device 11 on which are disposed particles 12 that, by means of a movement of the conveying device 11, are transported to a discharge 25 that is disposed at the end of the conveying device; the particles fall off of the conveying device 11 at the discharge 25. In this connection, the conveying device 11 is cause to move in such a way that there results a direction of conveyance for the particles 12 to the discharge 25, with the direction of conveyance being indicated by the arrow 16, whereby the conveying device 11, via an associated, not further illustrated, drive, has imparted thereto a movement having superimposed directions of movement that include a back and forth movement of the conveying device 11 in the elements relative to the conveying device, one of the conducting elements, or both of the conducting elements, can respectively move in the direction of movement as described above.

#The distributing or distribution device 10, which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, is comprised of a conveying device 11 on which are disposed particles 12 that, by means of a movement of the conveying device 11, are transported to a discharge 25 that is disposed at the end of the conveying device; the particles fall off of the conveying device 11 at the discharge 25. In this connection, the conveying device 11 is cause to move in such a way that there results a direction of conveyance for the particles 12 to the discharge 25, with the direction of conveyance being indicated by the arrow 16, whereby the conveying device 11, via an associated, not further illustrated, drive, has imparted thereto a movement having superimposed directions of movement that include a back and forth movement of the conveying device 11 in the direction of conveyance 16, as well as a vertical movement of the conveying device 11 in a plane that is perpendicular to the conveying plane. This movement of the conveying device 11 is indicated by the arrow 17.

#In the illustrated embodiment, associated with the discharge 25 of the conveying device 11 are two conducting elements 13 and 14, which are disposed transverse to the direction of conveyance (arrow 16) and that comprise a forward conducting element 13, which in the direction of conveyance pursuant to the arrow 16 is spaced from the discharge 25 and to this extent acts as an impingement or deflection element, and a rear conducting element 14 that is disposed across from the front conducting element 13 and faces the discharge 25 of the conveying device 11. In this connection, the conducting elements 13 and 14 are arranged in such a way that they form a funnel that is open toward the discharge 25, and at their lower end form a defined feed gap 15 by means of which the particles 12 leave the distributing device 10 in order to subsequently pass in free fall to the downstream image-capturing device. The two conducting elements 13, 14 are preferably embodied as plate-type elements, and are comprised of an elastic or resilient material. Although not further illustrated, the plate-type elements can have a segmented configuration, whereby the individual segments can be displaceable relative to one another, can be pivotable, or can be individually suspended on swivel joints.