The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 29, 2014
Filed:
Nov. 17, 2011
Matthias Engelhardt, Rapperswil, CH;
Guido Schuster, Stäfa, CH;
Michael Meyer, Islisberg, CH;
Bruno Nufer, Illnau, CH;
Matthias Engelhardt, Rapperswil, CH;
Guido Schuster, Stäfa, CH;
Michael Meyer, Islisberg, CH;
Bruno Nufer, Illnau, CH;
Mettler-Toledo AG, Greifensee, CH;
Abstract
An apparatus and a method detect the presence of solid particles in a liquid phase, where an at least partially transparent container encloses the solid particles and the liquid phase. The apparatus includes a camera to make digitized images in the form of arrays of pixels with their associated pixel values. The apparatus also includes an agitator device to hold the container and to impart movements to the container, transmitting kinetic energy to the mixture. The camera is aimed at a transparent portion of the container to take images of the mixture in motion. A processor unit, in electronic communication with the camera, receives and processes the digitized images of the mixture in motion, resulting in the generation of an analytical representation of the solid particles in the liquid. In this manner, the state of dissolution of the solid particles may be determined.