Apparatus for controlling the absorption of dye components in a fluid

Claim 2

In an apparatus for controlling the absorption of one or more dye components contained in a dye fluid by regulating the temperature of the dye fluid depending on the transparency of the dye fluid, whereby the temperature of the dye fluid is raised to an optimum value for the absorption of a dye component as indicated by a detected change in transparency of the dye fluid and afterwards the temperature of the dye fluid is maintained at an almost constant value until the completion of the dye component absorption as indicated by a constant transparency being detected and thereafter the temperature of the dye fluid is raised to a new optimum value for the absorption of another dye component as indicated by a newly detected change in transparency of the dye fluid until all components of the dye fluid have been absorbed, said apparatus including a dye fluid container, a measuring head for measuring the transparency of the dye fluid, a shunt conduit for recirculating the dye fluid in the dye fluid container through the measuring head, and means for heating the dye fluid in the container, the improvement comprising: a scanning circuit connected to receive a signal proportional to the transparency of the dye fluid from said measuring head, and periodically sampling said measuring head signal, a storing circuit connected to said scanning circuit for storing samples of said measuring head signal, a comparator having one input connected to said storing circuit, a voltage divider circuit connected to receive said measuring head signal, said voltage divider circuit having an output directly connected to a second input of said comparator, and a regulating means connected to receive the output of said comparator for controlling said dye fluid heating means to increase the temperature of the dye fluid when the output of said voltage divider circuit is less than the output of said storing circuit and maintaining the temperature of the dye fluid almost constant when the output said voltage divider circuit is greater than the output of said storing circuit.

Claim 3

The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising a logarithmic amplifier connected between said measuring head and both of said scanning and voltage divider circuits, the characteristic curve of the output voltage of said logarithmic amplifier being adjustable to selected values of the transparency of the dye fluid, to which predetermined limits of the absorption process are coordinated.

Claim 4

The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the voltage divider circuit is adjustable, whereby the heating and cooling periods of the dye fluid can be selected in such a way that the temperature in a specific dye container remains approximately constant during an absorption process.

Claim 5

The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of the sampling operation of the scanning circuit is adjustable, whereby said apparatus can be optionally adapted to the specific conditions of said dye container and the dye fluid so that a definite deviation control of the temperature of the dye fluid can be attained with a minimum of scanning or temperature hunting cycles.

Claim 6

The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustable signal delay circuit connected to the comparator output, and wherein said regulating means includes a relay connected to the delay circuit output for controlling values of said dye fluid heating means, said adjustable delay circuit facilitating the adaption of said improvement to the heating and cooling times of a specific dye container.

Claim 7

In an apparatus for controlling the absorption of one or more dye components cOntained in a dye fluid by regulating the temperature of the dye fluid depending on the transparency of the dye fluid, whereby the temperature of the dye fluid is raised to an optimum value for the absorption of dye component as indicated by a detected change in transparency of the dye fluid and afterwards the temperature of the dye fluid is maintained at a constant value until the completion of the dye component absorption as indicated by a constant transparency being detected and thereafter the temperature of the dye fluid is raised to a new optimum value for the absorption of another dye component as indicated by a newly detected change in transparency of the dye fluid until all components of the dye fluid have been absorbed, said apparatus including a dye fluid container, a measuring head for measuring the transparency of the dye fluid, a shunt conduit for recirculating the dye fluid in the dye fluid container through the measuring head, and means for heating the dye fluid in the container, the improvement comprising: a logarithmic amplifier connected to the output of said measuring head, the characteristic curve of the output voltage of said logarithmic amplifier being adjustable to selected values of the transparency of the dye fluid, to which predetermined limits of the absorption process are coordinated, a scanning circuit connected to said logarithmic amplifier and periodically sampling the output voltage of said logarithmic amplifier, the frequency of the sampling operation of the scanning circuit being adjustable so that a definite deviation control of the temperature of the dye fluid can be attained with a minimum of scanning cycles, a voltage divider connected to the output of said logarithmic amplifier, the ratio of said voltage divider being adjustable so that the heating and cooling periods of the dye fluid can be selected in such a way that the temperature in a specific dye container remains approximately constant during an absorption process, a comparator having first and second inputs, said first input being connected to said storing circuit and said second input being connected to said voltage divider, and a regulating means connected to receive the output of said comparator for controlling said dye fluid heating means to increase the temperature of the dye fluid when the output of said voltage divider is less than the output of said storing circuit and maintaining the temperature of the dye fluid almost constant when the output of said voltage divider is greater than the output of said storing circuit.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for controlling the absorption of one or more dye components cOntained in a dye fluid by regulating the temperature of the dye fluid depending on the transparency of the dye fluid, whereby the temperature of the dye fluid is raised to an optimum value for the absorption of dye component as indicated by a detected change in transparency of the dye fluid and afterwards the temperature of the dye fluid is maintained at a constant value until the completion of the dye component absorption as indicated by a constant transparency being detected and thereafter the temperature of the dye fluid is raised to a new optimum value for the absorption of another dye component as indicated by a newly detected change in transparency of the dye fluid until all components of the dye fluid have been absorbed, said apparatus including a dye fluid container, a measuring head for measuring the transparency of the dye fluid, a shunt conduit for recirculating the dye fluid in the dye fluid container through the measuring head, and means for heating the dye fluid in the container, the improvement comprising: a logarithmic amplifier connected to the output of said measuring head, the characteristic curve of the output voltage of said logarithmic amplifier being adjustable to selected values of the transparency of the dye fluid, to which predetermined limits of the absorption process are coordinated, a scanning circuit connected to said logarithmic amplifier and periodically sampling the output voltage of said logarithmic amplifier, the frequency of the sampling operation of the scanning circuit being adjustable so that a definite deviation control of the temperature of the dye fluid can be attained with a minimum of scanning cycles, a voltage divider connected to the output of said logarithmic amplifier, the ratio of said voltage divider being adjustable so that the heating and cooling periods of the dye fluid can be selected in such a way that the temperature in a specific dye container remains approximately constant during an absorption process, a comparator having first and second inputs, said first input being connected to said storing circuit and said second input being connected to said voltage divider, and a regulating means connected to receive the output of said comparator for controlling said dye fluid heating means to increase the temperature of the dye fluid when the output of said voltage divider is less than the output of said storing circuit and maintaining the temperature of the dye fluid almost constant when the output of said voltage divider is greater than the output of said storing circuit.

Claim 9

The improvement according to claim 6 further comprising an adjustable signal delay circuit connected between said comparator output and said regulating means permitting an adjustment of the control of said dye fluid heating means according to the characteristics of a specific container.