RANDOM FLOW COUNTER

• US 3,760,166 A
• Filed: 12/08/1971
• Issued: 09/18/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jim Mills Adams, William Charles Grimmell
• Original Assignee: Jim Mills Adams, William Charles Grimmell
• Inventors: Adams, Jim Mills, Grimmell, William Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gnuse, Robert F.
• Application Number:
  US05/206,065
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 235/92PK,92V,92PC,92TC,98C 221/278,254 222/193,394
• US Class Current: 377/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/101 by electro-optical means

Abstract

A highly accurate counting technique for large numbers of randomly flowing, discrete solid particular sample materials such as capsules utilizing a feeder-sensor assembly and associated circuitry is described. The feeder-sensor assembly employs a pressure gradient along the sample passageway induced by a highvelocity air jet below the sensing element to effectuate proper spacing of the sample so that the sensing element can register individual passage of the samples. A secondary air flow which assists in sample separation is provided by employing an air space between the sample imput cavity and the sensor element position of the feeder sensor assembly. In a preferred embodiment the output of a plurality of feeder-sensor assemblies is fed to discrete channels into a counter circuit distinguished in having the memory latch reset controlled by a delayed multiplexer pulse synchronized to the address counter output. Thus, a reset pulse is supplied to the memory latch only if it were previously set.

Claims

1. A feeder-sensor assembly comprising in combination:

1. object inlet means;

2. flow channel;

3. sensor channel which is so arranged and constructed as to be in direct flow path relation to said flow channel;

4. opening means providing a space between said flow channel and said sensor channel, said opening means providing access to ambient air for said sensor channel;

5. electromagnetic radiation means which radiates electromagnetic energy across said sensor channel;

6. electromagnetic radiation sensing means which is in diametrically opposed position to said electromagnetic radiation means across said sensor channel; and

, 7. high velocity air inlet means so arranged and constructed as to provide a high velocity air stream perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, of said sensor channel at a point below said electromagnetic radiation means.

2. multichannel optical head means;

3. sensor channel which is so arranged and constructed as to be in direct flow path relation to said flow channel;

4. memory latch means;

5. electromagnetic radiation means which radiates electromagnetic energy across said sensor channel;

6. In a system for counting randomly flowing objects through a complimentary shaped flow channel having a sensor station positioned for counting the objects as they flow past the station, comprising:

means for introducing a flow of air at ambient pressure in an area defining a break in the flow channel above said sensor station; and

, means for introducing a second air flow of high velocity and low flow rate transversely across said sensor channel below the sensing station to define in combination with said ambient air flow a pressure gradient for enhancing separation of the particular objects prior to passage through the sensor station.

7. high velocity air inlet means so arranged and constructed as to provide a high velocity air stream perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, of said sensor channel at a point below said electromagnetic radiation means.

8. internal clock means;

9. counter means;

and,

10. demultiplexer means;

wherein a pulse generated by the passage of an object through said feeder-sensor assembly is conducted from said optical head means to set said memory latch means through said comparator means, said memory latch means being read by said multiplexer means which is driven by said address counter means which is controlled by said internal clock means, a resultant multiplex pulse obtained when said memory latch means is set is passed through said delay means and the delayed pulse is passed through said counter means and saId demultiplexer means, said demultiplexer means being driven by said address means and resets said memory latch means only if said memory latch means had been previously set by a pulse from said optical head means.