Patent ID: 7339674
Filing Date: 2008-03-04
Classification: B01F,G01J

Abstract:
1. A color adjustment system for changing the color of fluid flowing from a source, said color adjustment system comprising: a plurality of storage vessels for holding compositions to be added to the fluid, said compositions comprising at least one colorant; a main mixing pipe having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said inlet portion being provided for connection to the source to receive a flow of the fluid therefrom, said inlet portion having a plurality of inlets connected to the storage vessels to continuously receive flows of the compositions from the storage vessels, said flows of the compositions being mixed together in the main mixing pipe to form a continuous flow of different colored fluid out of the outlet of the mixing pipe; a fluid inspection cell connected to the outlet portion of the main mixing pipe for continuously receiving a sample portion of the flow of the different colored fluid, said fluid inspection cell including an interior flow path through which the sample portion may flow and a viewing window through which the sample portion may be viewed as it flows through the flow path; a sample pump connected between the outlet portion of the main mixing pipe and the fluid inspection cell, said sample pump being operable to pump the sample portion of the different colored fluid through the fluid inspection cell at a substantially constant pressure and at a turbulent flow; a spectrophotometer positioned to view the sample portion of the flow of the different colored fluid through the window of the fluid inspection cell, said spectrophotometer being operable to measure color values of the sample portion and to generate at least one electrical signal representative thereof; a control unit electrically connected to the spectrophotometer to receive the at least one electrical signal generated by the spectrophotometer, said control unit being operable to perform a comparison of the measured color values to desired color values and to produce at least one electrical control signal dependent on the comparison; at least one colorant pump electrically connected to the control unit to receive the at least one electrical control signal, said at least one colorant pump being connected to at least one of the storage vessels and being operable to pump the at least one colorant to the main mixing pipe in response to the at least one electrical control signal.