US3786266A — Methods and apparatus for distinguishing between …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 139 words

A method for distinguishing between bodies according to their translucency characteristics, said bodies comprising fragments of ore and said fragments containing different amounts of an opaque mineral in a translucent matrix, said method comprising directing an illuminating beam from a source located at a distance from the bodies to illuminate a limited sharply-defined area of the surface of a body and determining the amount of light emitted from the surface outside of but bordering said limited area, the second-mentioned step including imaging said limited sharplydefined area and said bordering surface substantially at a plane including areas which are respectively in light-transmitting communication and non-communication with a light-sensitive detecting means, said limited sharply-defined area being imaged at said plane within the non-communicative area and at least part of said bordering surface being imaged at said plane within the communicative area.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 139 words

A method for distinguishing between bodies according to their translucency characteristics, said bodies comprising fragments of ore and said fragments containing different amounts of an opaque mineral in a translucent matrix, said method comprising directing an illuminating beam from a source located at a distance from the bodies to illuminate a limited sharply-defined area of the surface of a body and determining the amount of light emitted from the surface outside of but bordering said limited area, the second-mentioned step including imaging said limited sharplydefined area and said bordering surface substantially at a plane including areas which are respectively in light-transmitting communication and non-communication with a light-sensitive detecting means, said limited sharply-defined area being imaged at said plane within the non-communicative area and at least part of said bordering surface being imaged at said plane within the communicative area.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising using transversely dimensioned occulting means located at said plane to substantially exclude light from said limited area of the image.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the opaque mineral is a uranium mineral such as uraninite and the matrix is substantially quartz or quartzite.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 152 words

A method for distinguishing between bodies according to their translucency characteristics, said bodies comprising fragments of ore and said fragments containing different amounts of an opaque mineral in a translucent matrix, said method comprising directing an illuminating beam from a source located at a distance from the bodies to illuminate a limited sharply-defined area of the surface of a body and determining substantially only the amount of light emitted from the surface outside of but bordering said limited area while rejecting the light reflected back from said limited area, the second-mentioned step including imaging said limited sharply-defined area and said bordering surface substantially at a plane including areas which are respectively in light-transmitting communication and non-communication with a light sensitive detecting means, said limited sharply-defined area being imaged at said plane within the non-communicative area and at least part of said bordering surface being imaged at said plane within the communicative area.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 152 words

A method for distinguishing between bodies according to their translucency characteristics, said bodies comprising fragments of ore and said fragments containing different amounts of an opaque mineral in a translucent matrix, said method comprising directing an illuminating beam from a source located at a distance from the bodies to illuminate a limited sharply-defined area of the surface of a body and determining substantially only the amount of light emitted from the surface outside of but bordering said limited area while rejecting the light reflected back from said limited area, the second-mentioned step including imaging said limited sharply-defined area and said bordering surface substantially at a plane including areas which are respectively in light-transmitting communication and non-communication with a light sensitive detecting means, said limited sharply-defined area being imaged at said plane within the non-communicative area and at least part of said bordering surface being imaged at said plane within the communicative area.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising light-conducting means connected between said plane and said detecting means, said light-conducting means having a cross-section at said plane dimensioned to receive substantially only light from said image of said bordering surface and to exclude light from said image of said limited defined area.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 157 words

Apparatus for distinguisHing between bodies according to their translucency characteristics comprising means located at a distance from the bodies for directing an illuminating beam to illuminate a limited sharply-defined area of the surface of a said body, and means for determining the amount of light emitted from the surface outside but bordering said limited area, the second-mentioned means including light-sensitive detecting means and optical means for imaging said limited sharply-defined area and said bordering surface substantially at a plane, said plane including areas which are respectively in light-transmitting communication and non-communication with said light-sensitive detecting means, and said optical means imaging said limited defined area at said plane within the non-communicative area and imaging at least part of said bordering surface at said plane within the communicative area, said apparatus further comprising occulting means located at said plane and transversely dimensioned so to prevent light from said limited area of said apparatus from reaching said detecting means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 157 words

Apparatus for distinguisHing between bodies according to their translucency characteristics comprising means located at a distance from the bodies for directing an illuminating beam to illuminate a limited sharply-defined area of the surface of a said body, and means for determining the amount of light emitted from the surface outside but bordering said limited area, the second-mentioned means including light-sensitive detecting means and optical means for imaging said limited sharply-defined area and said bordering surface substantially at a plane, said plane including areas which are respectively in light-transmitting communication and non-communication with said light-sensitive detecting means, and said optical means imaging said limited defined area at said plane within the non-communicative area and imaging at least part of said bordering surface at said plane within the communicative area, said apparatus further comprising occulting means located at said plane and transversely dimensioned so to prevent light from said limited area of said apparatus from reaching said detecting means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the optical axes of said illuminating and light-sensitive detecting means are arranged to converge at the position of the body.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the optical axes of said illuminating and light-sensitive detecting means are coaxial and comprise common image-forming means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus for physically separating relatively translucent from relatively opaque bodies comprising apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the output of said light-determining means is connected to control physical separation means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 57 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the illuminating means and light-determining means comprises adjacent areas arranged respectively to transmit light to and to receive emitted light from said body, said transmitting area being connected via a first light-path to a light source and said receiving area being connected via a second light-path to said photoelectric detector.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the common image-forming means is arranged, in relation to the positions of the bodies and of the transmitting and receiving areas, so that said limited illuminated area of the body is a magnified image of the transmitting area.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein a transverse dimension of the transmitting area is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the adjacent receiving area.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said transmitting and receiving areas are translucent surfaces.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said translucent surfaces are the end-faces of fibre-optic bundle means forming said first and second light-paths.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the transmitting area is a central area surrounded by an annular receiving area.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 22 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the transmitting area comprises at least one narrow strip located between two wider receiving areas.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein occulting means are provided between the bundles forming the transmitting and receiving areas respectively adjacent said end-faces.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 49 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the illuminating means is arranged to provide at least one narrow illuminating beam of light whose long dimension is aligned transversely to a path along which the bodies are arranged to move, whereby said bodies may intercept said beam as they move.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 139 words

Apparatus for distinguishing between translucent bodies according to their translucency characteristics comprising means located at a distance from the bodies for directing an illuminating beam to illuminate a limited sharply defined area of a said body, and means for determining substantially only the amount of light emitted from the surface outside but bordering said limited area while rejecting the light reflected back from said defined area itself, said second-mentioned means including light-sensitive detecting means and optical means for imaging said limited defined area and said bordering surface substantially at a plane, said plane including areas which are respectively in light-transmitting communication and non-communication with said light-sensitive detecting means, said optical means imaging said limited defined area at said plane within the non-communicative area and imaging at least part of said bordering surface at said plane within the communicative area.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 139 words

Apparatus for distinguishing between translucent bodies according to their translucency characteristics comprising means located at a distance from the bodies for directing an illuminating beam to illuminate a limited sharply defined area of a said body, and means for determining substantially only the amount of light emitted from the surface outside but bordering said limited area while rejecting the light reflected back from said defined area itself, said second-mentioned means including light-sensitive detecting means and optical means for imaging said limited defined area and said bordering surface substantially at a plane, said plane including areas which are respectively in light-transmitting communication and non-communication with said light-sensitive detecting means, said optical means imaging said limited defined area at said plane within the non-communicative area and imaging at least part of said bordering surface at said plane within the communicative area.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 53 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 further comprising light-conducting means connected between said plane and said detecting means, said said light-conducting means having a cross-section at said plane dimensioned to receive substantially only light from said image of said bordering surface and to exclude light from said image of said limited defined area.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-01-14	1977-07-16	1978-01-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-01-14	1981-07-16	1982-01-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-01-14	1985-07-16	1986-01-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Methods and apparatus for distinguishing between bodies according to their translucency

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag