Automated work station for analyzing soil samples
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for analyzing a plurality of soil samples to determine characteristics of the soil samples, the apparatus comprising:
- a sample input section sequentially providing a plurality of soil samples each having a known solid content;
a continuous conveyor;
a plurality of vessels supported for movement with the continuous conveyor relative to the sample input section to receive the soil samples; and
a plurality of testing stations arranged relative to the continuous conveyor to sequentially access the samples carried by the vessels, the testing stations each testing the samples to determine at least one of the characteristics of the samples.
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Abstract
An apparatus analyzes a plurality of soil samples to determine characteristics of the soil samples. An input portion sequentially provides a plurality of soil samples each having a known solid content. A plurality of vessels are supported for movement with a continuous conveyor relative to the input portion to receive the soil samples. A plurality of testing stations are arranged relative to the continuous conveyor to sequentially access the samples carried by the vessels. The testing stations each test the samples to determine at least one of the characteristics of the samples.
71 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for analyzing a plurality of soil samples to determine characteristics of the soil samples, the apparatus comprising:
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a sample input section sequentially providing a plurality of soil samples each having a known solid content; a continuous conveyor; a plurality of vessels supported for movement with the continuous conveyor relative to the sample input section to receive the soil samples; and a plurality of testing stations arranged relative to the continuous conveyor to sequentially access the samples carried by the vessels, the testing stations each testing the samples to determine at least one of the characteristics of the samples. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of analyzing a plurality of soil samples to determine characteristics of the soil samples, comprising:
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receiving a first soil sample; mixing the soil sample with a liquid to form a slurry; providing the slurry to a vessel supported for movement with a continuous conveyor; controlling the continuous conveyor to sequentially move the vessel to a plurality of test stations; determining a characteristic at each test station; and repeating the steps of receiving, mixing, providing, controlling and determining for a subsequent soil sample so that a plurality of soil samples are at test stations simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for analyzing a plurality of soil samples to determine characteristics of the soil samples, the apparatus comprising:
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a sample input section providing a plurality of soil samples each having a known solid content; a conveyor; a plurality of vessels supported for movement with the conveyor relative to the sample input section to receive the soil samples; a plurality of accessing members arranged relative to the conveyor to sequentially access the samples carried by the vessels, the accessing members each accessing the samples so the samples can be tested to determine at least one of the characteristics of the samples; and wherein the plurality of vessels and the plurality of accessing members are movable relative to one another so that the plurality of vessels are advancable with the conveyor without interfering with the plurality of accessing members. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for analyzing a plurality of soil samples to determine characteristics of the soil samples, the apparatus comprising:
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a sample input section sequentially providing a plurality of soil samples each having a known solid content; a conveyor; a plurality of vessels supported for movement with the conveyor relative to the sample input section to receive the soil samples; and a plurality of testing stations arranged relative to the conveyor to sequentially access the samples carried by the vessels, the testing stations each testing the samples to determine at least one of the characteristics of the samples, the testing stations comprising; a carbon content analyzer including an acid introducer introducing an acid into a vessel containing the soil sample, a gas collector collecting gas produced by the acid and soil sample;
volume determining means for determining a volume of the gas produced; and
means for determining carbon content based on the volume of gas produced. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for analyzing a plurality of soil samples to determine characteristics of the soil samples, the apparatus comprising:
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a sample input section sequentially providing a plurality of soil samples each being mixed into a soil slurry having a known solid content; a conveyor; a plurality of vessels supported for movement with the conveyor relative to the sample input section to receive the soil samples; a plurality of testing stations arranged relative to the conveyor to sequentially access the samples carried by the vessels, the testing stations each testing the samples to determine at least one of the characteristics of the samples, the testing stations comprising; a nutrient analyzer including at least one ion-selective electrode, and means for removing a portion of an extraction from the slurry in a vessel and generating an extraction flow, the ion-selective electrode being positioned in the flow and generating a signal indicative of a nutrient in the flow. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification