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Apparatus and method for measuring size distribution of granular matter

  • US 20100284609A1
  • Filed: 02/05/2009
  • Published: 11/11/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for measuring size distribution of bulk matter consisted of randomly orientated granules, comprising the steps of:

  • i) scanning an exposed surface of said granular bulk matter to generate three-dimensional profile image data defined with respect to a three-coordinate reference system;

    ii) segmenting said image data to only reveal regions of said image data having edges associated with distinct ones of said granules which are visible substantially without overlap;

    iii) estimating values of at least one size-related parameter for said revealed regions of segmented image data;

    iv) applying a geometric correction to each said estimated size-related parameter values to compensate for the random orientation of corresponding said distinct granules; and

    v) statistically estimating the size distribution of bulk matter from said corrected size-related parameter values.

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