Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for monitoring trash in a fiber sample

US5321496A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
4References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 19, 1991
Grant dateJun 14, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 19, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2015/1497
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring trash in a sample of trash particles and fibers includes scales for determining the weight of the sample which is transmitted to a computer. The sample is presented to a sensing volume and an optical sensor produces an output signal corresponding at least to the presence of the trash particle in the sensing volume. In one embodiment, the output signal is the waveform corresponding to light extinction caused by the presence of the particle in the sensing volume. In a second embodiment, image analysis of trash particles in a sensing volume provide output signals corresponding to the size, shape or composition of the particles. The computer receives the weight data and the output signal from the optical sensor and produces output data in the form of a count of at least a portion of the trash particles per unit weight of sample. The computer also outputs data in the form of or corresponding to the effective diameter, projected area and weight of the trash particles and count and weight of the fibers. In particular, the computer categorizes trash particles and outputs data for a particular category of particles.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.