Device for measuring the water content of ink samples

Claim 1

A device for measuring the water content of a non-flowing fluid mixture of ink and water, the dielectric constant of the fluid mixture varying with its water content, comprising: (a) a capacitor cell comprising: (1) first and second electrodes, wherein the first electrode is disposed inward of the second electrode and has an outer surface which is spaced from the inner surface of the second electrode, (2) means for positioning the electrodes with their respective surfaces mutually opposed and separated by a predetermined gap, (3) means for containing a fluid mixture in the gap between the electrodes, and (4) an insulative base for the first and second electrodes, the first electrode being movable away from the base to enable the introduction of a fluid mixture into the space defined by the base and second electrode, and movable back to a fixed position against the base so that at least part of the fluid mixture is displaced into the gap between the first and second electrodes, (b) an oscillator circuit which includes said capacitor cell, the oscillator circuit providing an output signal with a frequency that varies in a known manner with the dielectric constant of the fluid mixture, and (c) an output means connected to provide an output display which varies with the output signal frequency, and thereby indicates the concentration of water in the fluid mixture.

Claim 2

A device for measuring the water content of a non-flowing fluid mixture of ink and water, the dielectric constant of the fluid mixture varying with its water content, comprising: (a) a capacitor cell comprising: (1) first and second electrodes, wherein the first electrode is disposed inward of the second electrode and has an outer surface which is spaced from the inner surface of the second electrode, (2) means for positioning the electrodes with their respective surfaces mutually opposed and separated by a predetermined gap, (3) means for containing a fluid mixture in the gap between the electrodes, and (4) an insulative base for the first and second electrodes, the first electrode being movable away from the base to enable the introduction of a fluid mixture into the space defined by the base and second electrode, and movable back to a fixed position against the base so that at least part of the fluid mixture is displaced into the gap between the first and second electrodes, (b) an oscillator circuit which includes said capacitor cell, the oscillator circuit providing an output signal with a frequency that varies in a known manner with the dielectric constant of the fluid mixture, and (c) an output means connected to provide an output display which varies with the output signal frequency, and thereby indicates the concentration of water in the fluid mixture.

Claim 5

A device for measuring the water content of a static fluid mixture of ink and water, the dielectric constant of the fluid mixture varying with its water content, comprising: an inner electrode having a generally cylindrical outer surface, an outer electrode having a generally cylindrical inner surface the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the inner electrode's outer surface, means for positioning the inner electrode substantially coaxially inward of the outer electrode, means for containing a static amount of fluid mixture in the gap between the outer surface of the inner electrode and the inner surface of the outer electrode, an insultative blocking member blocking a lower end of the outer electrode to prevent the fluid mixture from flowing out that end, a corresponding lower end of the inner electrode being closed and adapted to be seated against the blocking member when the inner electrode is placed in a vertical operative position inward of the outer electrode, and the inner electrode being removable from its operative position to permit the introduction of a fluid mixture into the interior of the outer electrode, and replaceable to its operative position to displace the fluid mixture into substantially the entire gap between the two electrodes when a sufficient quantity of the fluid mixture has been introduced, an oscillator circuit which includes the electrodes and the fluid mixture therein as a capacitive element, the oscillator circuit providing an output signal with a frequency that varies in a known manner with the dielectric constant of the fluid, and an output means connected to provide an output display which varies with the output signal frequency, and thereby indicates the concentration of water in the fluid mixture.

Claim 6

A device for measuring the water content of a static fluid mixture of ink and water, the dielectric constant of the fluid mixture varying with its water content, comprising: an inner electrode having a generally cylindrical outer surface, an outer electrode having a generally cylindrical inner surface the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the inner electrode's outer surface, means for positioning the inner electrode substantially coaxially inward of the outer electrode, means for containing a static amount of fluid mixture in the gap between the outer surface of the inner electrode and the inner surface of the outer electrode, an insultative blocking member blocking a lower end of the outer electrode to prevent the fluid mixture from flowing out that end, a corresponding lower end of the inner electrode being closed and adapted to be seated against the blocking member when the inner electrode is placed in a vertical operative position inward of the outer electrode, and the inner electrode being removable from its operative position to permit the introduction of a fluid mixture into the interior of the outer electrode, and replaceable to its operative position to displace the fluid mixture into substantially the entire gap between the two electrodes when a sufficient quantity of the fluid mixture has been introduced, an oscillator circuit which includes the electrodes and the fluid mixture therein as a capacitive element, the oscillator circuit providing an output signal with a frequency that varies in a known manner with the dielectric constant of the fluid, and an output means connected to provide an output display which varies with the output signal frequency, and thereby indicates the concentration of water in the fluid mixture.

Claim 11

A device for measuring the water content of a static fluid mixture of ink and water, the dielectric constant of the fluid mixture varying with its water content, comprising: an inner electrode having a generally cylindrical outer surface and a closed lower end; an outer electrode having a generally cylindrical inner surface the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the inner electrode's outer surface, and having a closed lower end and an open upper end, the lower portion of at least one of the inner and outer electrodes including an insulating material insulating the two electrodes from each other; a frame assembly securing the outer electrode in a fixed position with its open end facing up; an elongated shaft extending upward from the inner electrode; a means on the frame assembly engaging the shaft to lower the inner electrode to an operative position coaxially inward of the outer electrode and to raise the inner electrode up from its operative position to enable the introduction of the fluid mixture into the outer electrode; an oscillator circuit which includes the electrodes and the fluid mixture therein as a capacitive element, the oscillator circuit providing an output signal with a frequency that varies in a known manner with the dielectric constant of the fluid; and an output means connected to provide an output display which varies with the output signal frequency, and thereby indicates the concentration of water in the fluid mixture.

Claim 12

A device for measuring the water content of a static fluid mixture of ink and water, the dielectric constant of the fluid mixture varying with its water content, comprising: an inner electrode having a generally cylindrical outer surface and a closed lower end; an outer electrode having a generally cylindrical inner surface the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the inner electrode's outer surface, and having a closed lower end and an open upper end, the lower portion of at least one of the inner and outer electrodes including an insulating material insulating the two electrodes from each other; a frame assembly securing the outer electrode in a fixed position with its open end facing up; an elongated shaft extending upward from the inner electrode; a means on the frame assembly engaging the shaft to lower the inner electrode to an operative position coaxially inward of the outer electrode and to raise the inner electrode up from its operative position to enable the introduction of the fluid mixture into the outer electrode; an oscillator circuit which includes the electrodes and the fluid mixture therein as a capacitive element, the oscillator circuit providing an output signal with a frequency that varies in a known manner with the dielectric constant of the fluid; and an output means connected to provide an output display which varies with the output signal frequency, and thereby indicates the concentration of water in the fluid mixture.