Patent ID: 6075608
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: G01J,G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for sensing blend segregation comprising:at least one hopper;an extruder;a feed connection disposed between said at least one hopper and said extruder so as to provide a path for a continuous feed of a polymer blend from said at least one hopper to said extruder;a light transmissive window disposed within a sidewall of said feed connection;an illumination assembly;a detection assembly;a light source for emitting a light beam; anda light sensor;wherein said illumination assembly has a first end optically coupled to said light source and a second end optically coupled to said light transmissive window so as to illuminate a portion of an internal path defined by said feed connection and said polymer blend therein;wherein said detection assembly has a first end disposed adjacent said light transmissive window so as to detect any diffuse reflection from the illumination of said polymer blend and a second end optically coupled to said light sensor;wherein said light sensor collects said diffuse reflecting light from said detection assembly and transforms said diffuse reflecting light into signals so as to determine if said polymer blend is segregating.