Method and apparatus for counting particles of particulate material

Claim 3

Apparatus for counting particles of particulate material, comprising: (a) a hollow body having a longitudinal passageway therethrough for passage of particles to be counted, (b) a source of infrared or visible light radiation communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to provide a flat beam of said radiation projecting flatwise across substantially the entire cross sectional area of said passageway as a field of substantially constant intensity and having a thickness not substantially exceeding the minimum thickness of particles to be counted and a width at least substantially equal to the cross sectional width of the passageway, (c) radiation detector means communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to detect the intensity of said beam of radiation, and (d) electronic counter means connected to the detector means and operable upon the detection of a change in intensity of said beam of radiation resulting from the passage of a particle through said field, to count said particle.

Claim 4

Apparatus for counting particles of particulate material, comprising: (a) a hollow body having a longitudinal passageway therethrough for passage of particles to be counted, (b) a source of infrared or visible light radiation communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to provide a flat beam of said radiation projecting flatwise across substantially the entire cross sectional area of said passageway as a field of substantially constant intensity and having a thickness not substantially exceeding the minimum thickness of particles to be counted and a width at least substantially equal to the cross sectional width of the passageway, (c) radiation detector means communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to detect the intensity of said beam of radiation, and (d) electronic counter means connected to the detector means and operable upon the detection of a change in intensity of said beam of radiation resulting from the passage of a particle through said field, to count said particle.

Claim 5

Apparatus for counting particles of particulate material, comprising: (a) a hollow body having a longitudinal passageway therethrough for passage of particles to be counted, (b) a source of infrared or visible light radiation communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to provide a flat beam of said radiation projecting flatwise across substantially the entire cross sectional area of said passageway as a field of substantially constant intensity and having a thickness not substantially exceeding the minimum thickness of particles to be counted and a width at least substantially equal to the cross sectional width of the passageway, (c) radiation detector means communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to detect the intensity of said beam of radiation, (d) the source of radiation and the detector means each including a plurality of optical fibers having one of their ends communicating with said passageway, said one ends having diameters and lateral spacings between them not substantially exceeding the minimum thickness of particles to be counted, (e) the said one ends of the fibers associated with the source of radiation being arranged in the body to face the said one ends of the fibers associated with the detector means across said passageway, (f) said fibers being characterized by producing a beam of radiation the thickness of which is substantially constant across said passageway, and (g) electronic counter means connected to the detector means and operable upon the detection of a change in intensity of said beam of radiation resulting from the passage of a particle through said field, to count said particle.

Claim 6

Apparatus for counting particles of particulate material, comprising: (a) a hollow body having a longitudinal passageway therethrough for passage of particles to be counted, (b) a source of infrared or visible light radiation communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to provide a flat beam of said radiation projecting flatwise across substantially the entire cross sectional area of said passageway as a field of substantially constant intensity and having a thickness not substantially exceeding the minimum thickness of particles to be counted and a width at least substantially equal to the cross sectional width of the passageway, (c) radiation detector means communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to detect the intensity of said beam of radiation, (d) the source of radiation and the detector means each including a plurality of optical fibers having one of their ends communicating with said passageway, said one ends having diameters and lateral spacings between them not substantially exceeding the minimum thickness of particles to be counted, (e) the said one ends of the fibers associated with the source of radiation being arranged in the body to face the said one ends of the fibers associated with the detector means across said passageway, (f) said fibers being characterized by producing a beam of radiation the thickness of which is substantially constant across said passageway, and (g) electronic counter means connected to the detector means and operable upon the detection of a change in intensity of said beam of radiation resulting from the passage of a particle through said field, to count said particle.

Claim 7

Apparatus for counting particles of particulate material, comprising: (a) a hollow body having a longitudinal passageway therethrough for passage of particles to be counted, the hollow body comprising a pair of axially aligned tubular sections defining portions of said passageway, a hollow ring interposed between and joining said tubular sections to complete said passageway, and support means extending outwardly from said ring for supporting components of a radiation source and radiation detector means, (b) a source of infrared or visible light radiation supported on the support means and communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to provide a flat beam of said radiation projecting flatwise across substantially the entire cross sectional area of said passageway as a field of substantially constant intensity and having a thickness not substantially exceeding the minimum thickness of particles to be counted and a width at least substantially equal to the cross sectional width of the passageway, (c) radiation detector means supported on the support means and communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to detect the intensity of said beam of radiation, and (d) electronic counter means connected to the detector means and operable upon the detection of a change in intensity of said beam of radiation resulting from the passage of a particle through said field, to count said particle.

Claim 8

Apparatus for counting particles of particulate material, comprising: (a) a hollow body having a longitudinal passageway therethrough for passage of particles to be counted, the hollow body comprising a pair of axially aligned tubular sections defining portions of said passageway, a hollow ring interposed between and joining said tubular sections to complete said passageway, and support means extending outwardly from said ring for supporting components of a radiation source and radiation detector means, (b) a source of infrared or visible light radiation supported on the support means and communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to provide a flat beam of said radiation projecting flatwise across substantially the entire cross sectional area of said passageway as a field of substantially constant intensity and having a thickness not substantially exceeding the minimum thickness of particles to be counted and a width at least substantially equal to the cross sectional width of the passageway, (c) radiation detector means supported on the support means and communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to detect the intensity of said beam of radiation, and (d) electronic counter means connected to the detector means and operable upon the detection of a change in intensity of said beam of radiation resulting from the passage of a particle through said field, to count said particle.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4 including an outer peripheral wall extending outwardly from said tubular sections for mutual engagement when the ring joins said tubular sections together, forming a closed peripheral chamber confining therein said support means and components of said radiation source and detector means.

Claim 10

Apparatus for counting particles of particulate material, wherein the particles to be counted are dropped by gravity through an elongated tube, the apparatus comprising: (a) a hollow body having a longitudinal passageway therethrough for passage of particles to be counted, the elongated tube through which the particles are to be dropped by gravity being severed intermediate its ends and the hollow body interposed between said severed ends, (b) a source of infrared or visible light radiation communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to provide a flat beam of said radiation projecting flatwise across substantially the entire cross sectional area of said passageway as a field of substantially constant intensity and having a thickness not substantially exceeding the minimum thickness of particles to be counted and a width at least substantially equal to the cross sectional width of the passageway, (c) radiation detector means communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to detect the intensity of said beam of radiation, and (d) electronic counter means connected to the detector means and operable upon the detection of a change in intensity of said beam of radiation resulting from the passage of a particle through said field, to count said particle.

Claim 11

Apparatus for counting particles of particulate material, wherein the particles to be counted are dropped by gravity through an elongated tube, the apparatus comprising: (a) a hollow body having a longitudinal passageway therethrough for passage of particles to be counted, the elongated tube through which the particles are to be dropped by gravity being severed intermediate its ends and the hollow body interposed between said severed ends, (b) a source of infrared or visible light radiation communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to provide a flat beam of said radiation projecting flatwise across substantially the entire cross sectional area of said passageway as a field of substantially constant intensity and having a thickness not substantially exceeding the minimum thickness of particles to be counted and a width at least substantially equal to the cross sectional width of the passageway, (c) radiation detector means communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to detect the intensity of said beam of radiation, and (d) electronic counter means connected to the detector means and operable upon the detection of a change in intensity of said beam of radiation resulting from the passage of a particle through said field, to count said particle.

Claim 12

Apparatus for counting particles of particulate material wherein the particles to be counted are dropped by gravity through a transparent tube, the apparatus comprising: (a) a hollow body having a longitudinal passageway therethrough for passage of particles to be counted, the transparent tube extending through the passageway in the hollow body, and securing means interengaging the tube and body for securing the latter in desired position on the tube, (b) a source of infrared or visible light radiation communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to provide a flat beam of said radiation projecting flatwise across substantially the entire cross sectional area of said passageway as a field of substantially constant intensity and having a thickness not substantially exceeding the minimum thickness of particles to be counted and a width at least substantially equal to the cross sectional width of the passageway, (c) radiation detector means communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to detect the intensity of said beam of radiation, and (d) electronic counter means connected to the detector means and operable upon the detection of a change in intensity of said beam of radiation resulting from the passage of a particle through said field, to count said particle.

Claim 13

Apparatus for counting particles of particulate material wherein the particles to be counted are dropped by gravity through a transparent tube, the apparatus comprising: (a) a hollow body having a longitudinal passageway therethrough for passage of particles to be counted, the transparent tube extending through the passageway in the hollow body, and securing means interengaging the tube and body for securing the latter in desired position on the tube, (b) a source of infrared or visible light radiation communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to provide a flat beam of said radiation projecting flatwise across substantially the entire cross sectional area of said passageway as a field of substantially constant intensity and having a thickness not substantially exceeding the minimum thickness of particles to be counted and a width at least substantially equal to the cross sectional width of the passageway, (c) radiation detector means communicating with the passageway in the body and arranged to detect the intensity of said beam of radiation, and (d) electronic counter means connected to the detector means and operable upon the detection of a change in intensity of said beam of radiation resulting from the passage of a particle through said field, to count said particle.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the securing means comprises an elastic band frictionally interengaging the transparent tube and hollow body.