Sample supplying device for a dry particle-size distribution measuring apparatus and method
First Claim
1. In a sample supplying device for a dry particle-size distribution measuring apparatus which is configured by a trough that accommodates a sample, and a linear feeder that vibrates said trough, and in which the sample in said trough is dropped through a sample drop hole formed in said trough, by vibrating said trough, the improvement of an impacting member for separating any plurality of primary particles aggregated together comprising:
- a brush unit positioned in said trough and operatively mounted to vibrate in a plane transverse to a surface of the trough by the vibration of the trough to contact and pulverize any aggregated groups of the sample to a primary particle state before being dropped by gravity through the sample drop hole.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dry particle-size distribution measuring apparatus and method is provided for suspending a plurality of bristle members across a support surface of a dispensing trough with bristles being arranged to contact and disperse any clusters of particles to a primary state prior to releasing the particles to a sample flow cell. A source of light can irradiate the sample flow cell and a detector unit can measure any scattered and/or diffracted light to provide corresponding signals. A control unit can determine the size and distribution of particles from the corresponding signals. The bristle members can be mounted on a brush unit that is directly mounted on the trough and both the trough and the brush unit can be driven by the same vibrator unit.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a sample supplying device for a dry particle-size distribution measuring apparatus which is configured by a trough that accommodates a sample, and a linear feeder that vibrates said trough, and in which the sample in said trough is dropped through a sample drop hole formed in said trough, by vibrating said trough, the improvement of an impacting member for separating any plurality of primary particles aggregated together comprising:
a brush unit positioned in said trough and operatively mounted to vibrate in a plane transverse to a surface of the trough by the vibration of the trough to contact and pulverize any aggregated groups of the sample to a primary particle state before being dropped by gravity through the sample drop hole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of separating particles into a primary state of single particles in a particle-size distribution measuring apparatus, comprising the steps of:
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supplying a sample of particles to a support surface; vibrating the support surface to move the sample of particles along the support surface to a dispense position; and contacting the sample of particles upstream of the dispense position with a plurality of bristles that vibrate relative to the support surface, the arrangement of bristles being spaced to assure impact contact with any cluster of particles attached together whereby the bristles will contact and disperse the cluster of particles to a primary state after impact with the bristles so that the sample of particles will be in a primary state after contact with the bristles. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for separating particles into a primary state of single particles in a particle-size distribution measuring apparatus, comprising:
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a support member for receiving sample particles; means for supplying a sample of particles to a surface of the support member; a vibrating unit operatively connected to the support member for moving the sample of particles by a vibratory movement to a release position on the support member; and a plurality of bristles that vibrate relative to the support surface between the means for supply and the release position whereby the bristles will contact and disperse by breaking any clusters of sample particles into a primary state so that the sample of particles will be in a primary state after contact with the bristles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification