Patent ID: 6260419
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
Process for conducting a hardness test on test specimens (7, 7', 7"", 28, 28'), especially tablets or pills, wherein the test specimen is conveyed on a testing table (1, 1', 1"", 32, 32') between a pressure piston (3, 3', 3"", 26, 26') and a thrust bearing (4, 4', 4"", 27, 27"") and the hardness of the test specimen is measured by pressing the pressure piston (3, 3', 3"", 26, 26') and the thrust bearing (4, 4', 4"", 27, 27') against each other, characterized in that,a) the spatial position of a preferred axis (12, 12', 12"") of the test specimen (7, 7', 7"", 28, 28') is determined with the aid of optical, electronic or acoustical means;b) correction data are determined, which are dependent on positional data as well as on the position of the pressure piston and the thrust bearing;c) on the basis of these correction data, the pressure piston (3, 3', 3"", 26, 26') and the thrust bearing (4, 4' 4"", 27, 27') are moved relative to a test specimen, whose position is unchanged on the testing table, in such a way that the test direction (13), namely the direction in which the pressure piston (3, 3', 3"", 26, 26') and the thrust bearing (4, 4', 4"", 27, 27') press against each other, coincides with the direction of the preferred axis (12, 12', 12"") and the thrust bearing is brought into the immediate proximity of the test specimen;d) the hardness of the test specimen is then determined in a conventional way by pressing the pressure piston against the test specimen, while the position of the thrust bearing remains unchanged.