Sensing blend color homogeneity

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for sensing color blend homogeneity in a mixture (24) having a first and second blend portion includes a light transmissive plate (12) for holding the mixture, a light source (14) for emitting a light beam, and a color sensor (16) optically coupled to the light source (14). An illumination assembly (18) has a first end (36) optically coupled to the light source (14) and a second end (40) optically coupled to and disposed normal to the light transmissive plate (12) so as to illuminate the mixture disposed on the plate (12) with the light beam. At least one detection assembly (20) is provided, having a first end disposed adjacent the light transmissive plate (12) so as to detect the diffuse reflection from the illuminated mixture. Next, the color sensor (16) collects the diffuse reflecting light from the first and second material blends and transforms the diffuse reflecting light into tri-color signals so as to determine the local and global homogeneity of the first and second material blend portions.

Description: This application relates generally to color blend mixing, and in particular relates to sensing blend color homogeneity. Modem plastic materials have found a wide range of markets and a variety of applications in diverse manufacturing fields. These plastic materials offer many desirable characteristics such as an excellent finish, desirable electrical, thermal and mechanical properties, low-cost and a variety of colors. Plastics are typically formed of one or more base polymers or resins, one or more colorants, and other additives. Such additives may include, for example, fiberglass for structural reinforcement, flame retardents, plasticizers, or mold release agents. The plastics are manufactured by initially mixing these components to form a substantially homogeneous polymer blend. The polymer blend then typically undergoes extrusion, or the like, to form a raw product, for example pellets. The raw products are then utilized to produce final polymer products of various forms. Recently, in the field of polymer design, there has been a demand for color polymer blend techniques that make it possible to faithfully reproduce blend colors. The color of the final product may depend on several factors including the concentration and type of colorant and base resin, temperature history during mixing, and the ultimate degree of constituent inter-mixing achieved during processing. Thus, variations in color between polymer products may arise for a variety of reasons. For example, color may vary among products due to polymer product formulation or recipe differences. Color variations may exist between lots for a given product formulation or recipe due to machine-to-machine differences. Color differences may exist within lots due to changing raw material characteristics, changing operating conditions, and inaccuracies and other anomalies in processing, including speed rates. Polymer color is typically manually adjusted by adjusting the amount of colorant for a given production run. The colorant may take any conventional form which affects the color of the polymer product by itself or in combination with other constituents. For example, solid pigments and liquid pigments or dyes may be used for affecting the color of the final product. In a typical production process, the colorant and base resin are blended together and compounded or extruded in a laboratory machine to generate pellets. The pellets are then injection molded to obtain a plaque with substantially uniform color, which is then conventionally measured in a laboratory spectrocolorimeter. The measured plaque color is compared with a reference or standard plaque color, and differences therebetween are corrected by adjusting the colorant. The sequence is repeated until the plaque color falls within an acceptable range to the reference plaque. A sample of the finally corrected colorant and resin blend is then compounded on a production scale machine that follows the same procedure as the laboratory machine to produce a color plaque which is again compared with a reference plaque. If required, the color in the production machine is suitably corrected to affect an acceptable match between the measured plaque and the reference plaque. This process, therefore, requires many steps to achieve a desired color in the polymer pellets which increases processing time and cost. Accordingly, it is desired to improve the process of constituent inter-mixing in the production of a polymer product from base resins and colorants. Document US-A-5 568 266 discloses a colorimeter control device. Document US-A-4 878 756 discloses a method and an apparatus for sensing color. According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for sensing color blend portion comprising, in one main embodiment, all the characteristics of claim 1. Claim 13 defines another main embodiment. Additional embodiments are defined in dependent claims. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of the instant invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of the instant invention; and FIG. 3 is an exemplary control logic flowchart in accordance with one embodiment of the instant invention. An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity 10 comprises a light transmissive plate 12, a light source 14, a color sensor 16, an illumination assembly 18, and at least one detection assembly 20, as shown in FIG. 1. Light transmissive plate 12 includes a top surface 22 for deposition of respective test samples of a material blend 24. Light transmissive plate 12 should be optically transparent. In one embodiment, light transmissive plate 12 comprises a quartz material or the like. Although the present invention is described herein in connection with light transmissive plate 12, the present invention is not limited to practice with light transmissive plate 12. The present invention can be implemented and utilized with many other configurations. For example, light transmissive plate 12 may be housed within the bottom surface of a storage bin or the like. In one embodiment, light transmissive plate 12 further comprises a multi-axis positioner 26. Multi-axis positioner 26 enables manipulation of light transmissive plate 12 in three degrees of freedom; z-adjustment to manipulate the height of plate 12 translated along reference axis 28, and y-adjustment and x-adjustment to permit sensing over various regions of a respective sample of blend 24. Multi-axis positioner 26 may further comprise a tilt control to level blend 24 by adjusting the pitch and yaw of plate 12. Light source 14 is provided for emitting and projecting a light beam to blend 24. Light source 14 may include any light source capable of providing a spectrum through the visible light region, typically avoiding fluorescence. In one embodiment, light source 14 emits a light beam at a wavelength in the range between about 400 nm to about 770 nm. In one embodiment, light source 14 comprises a tungsten-halogen light source. In one embodiment of the instant invention, color sensor 16 is optically coupled, as described below, to light source 14. Color sensor 16 may comprise a spectrometer, a spectrophotometer, a spectrocolorimeter, a spectrophotometric colorimeter, or the like, to perform spectrum color analysis of any incident light supplied thereto. Illumination assembly 18 comprises a first lens 30, at least a bifurcated optical fiber 32 and a second lens 34. First lens 30 is disposed to receive light emitted from light source 14. First lens 30 typically comprises a planoconvex lens or the like. A light source end 36 of bifurcated optical fiber 32 is aligned with first lens 30 so as to provide an optical coupling at light source 14. The light beam is emitted from light source 14, is focused by first lens 30 and is injected into light source end 36 of optical fiber 32. At a bifurcation point 38, optical fiber 32 splits into a plate portion 40 and a color sensor portion 42. Plate portion 40 of optical fiber 32 is disposed normal to and proximate light transmissive plate 12. Second lens 34 is positioned adjacent light transmissive plate 12. The light beam injected into optical fiber 32 passes through plate portion 40 is intercepted by second lens 34 and is projected onto light transmissive plate 12 so as to illuminate sample blend 24. Color sensor portion 42 of optical fiber is optically coupled to color sensor 16 so as to provide a reference of the signal representing the light beam emitted from light source 14. Detection assembly 20 comprises a first detection lens 44 and an optical fiber 46. First detection lens 44 is disposed adjacent to light transmissive plate at an angle (α) with respect to reference axis 28 so as to detect diffuse reflection from the illuminated sample of blend 24. Reference axis 28 is aligned essentially perpendicular to light transmissive plate 12. In one example of the instant invention, angle (α) is in the range between about 1° to about 89°. In another example of the instant invention, angle (α) is in the range between about 35° to about 55°. A first end 48 of optical fiber 46 is optically coupled to first detection lens 44 such that diffuse reflection directed into first detection lens 44 is injected into first end 48 of optical fiber 46 and is transmitted through optical fiber 46 to a second end 50 of optical fiber 46, which second end 50 is optically coupled to color sensor 16. Although the present invention is described as including a single detection assembly 20, the present invention is not limited to practice with a single detection assembly 20. The present invention can be implemented and utilized with many other configurations. For example, two or more detection assemblies 20 may be utilized within the present invention, as shown in FIG 1. Color sensor 16 senses the light transmitted through optical fiber 46. The collected light from sample blend 24 is transformed by color sensor 16 into signals providing color information, typically values designated by L, a and b or other tri-color signals, for example, RGB, X, Y, Z or the like (hereinafter referred to as "tri-color signal"). For purposes of discussion, tri-color signals will be discussed in terms of L, a, b coordinate system wherein the lightness is typically called L, the red-green coordinate is called a, (positive for red colors and negative for green colors) and the yellow-blue coordinate is called b, (positive for yellow colors and negative for blue colors). This L, a, b coordinate system is a color measuring system that is currently utilized and known in the art. The utilization of the L, a, b coordinate system within this application is for purposes of discussion only and is not a limitation of the instant invention. In fact, the instant invention can be utilized with any known color measurement system . The tri-color signal generated by color sensor 16 provides color information about the collected light by measuring the diffusely reflected spectrum from blend sample 24 and transforming the measured spectrum into standard color units such as L, a and b, or the like. In accordance with one embodiment of the instant invention, blend sample 24 and at least a second blend sample (not shown) are removed from at least two locations within a polymer mixing vessel, for example, a blender. First sample 24 is placed on light transmissive plate 12, as shown in FIG. 1. Light source 14 emits a light beam to blend sample 24 through illumination assembly 18 and the diffuse reflection of sample 24 is detected by detection assembly 20 and is transmitted to color sensor 16. Color sensor 16 collects the light from sample blend 24 and transforms the collected light into a first tri-color signal. Next, in accordance with one embodiment of the instant invention, the light transmissive plate is moved with respect to illumination assembly 10, typically by multi-axis positioner 26, such that a different portion of blend sample 24' is illuminated and hence, a second diffuse reflection of blend sample 24 is detected by detection assembly 20 and is transmitted to color sensor 16. Accordingly, color sensor 16 senses the light from blend sample 24 and transforms the collected light into a second tri-color signal. This process of manipulating the light transmissive plate and transforming the collected light into a tri-colored signal is performed at a number of locations of blend sample 24, typically in the range between about 8 to 30 locations. Upon completion of the color sensing of blend sample 24, the average tri-color signal from all locations is calculated and the standard deviation of the various tri-color signals is calculated. Accordingly, sample blend 24 is uniquely characterized by six values: L av ; a av ; b av ; L st ; a st and b st . L av is the average lightness coordinate, a av is the average red-green coordinate, b av is the average yellow-blue coordinate, L st is the standard deviation of the lightness coordinates, a st is the standard deviation of the red-green coordinates, and b st is the standard deviation of the yellow-blue coordinates. Next, sample blend 24 is replaced by at least a second blend sample and the above described process is completed for the second blend sample such that the second blend sample is also uniquely characterized by six values: L' av ; a' av ; b' av ; L' st ; a' st ; and b' st . Next, in one embodiment of the instant invention, the average color difference (Δ E av ) between the respective samples is calculated utilizing the following formula: Δ E av = (Δ L av 2 + Δ a av 2 + Δ b av 2 ) , where, Δ L av = L av - L ' av , Δ a av = a av - a ' av , and Δ b av = b av - b ' av . If the value of (Δ E av ) is less than or equal to about 1, the blend is characterized as being globally homogeneous. If the value of (Δ E av ) is greater than about 1, for example about two or about 3, the blend is not globally homogeneous Next, the standard deviations of the respective samples are compared. If the standard deviation values (L st ; a st ; b st; L' st ; a' st ; and b' st .) are less than a predetermined amount, the blend is characterized as being locally homogeneous. The predetermined amount is satisfied if the standard deviation values are less than about .25 to about 2 L, a, b units. The blend is sufficiently mixed when the values indicate the samples are both globally and locally homogeneous. If the values indicate that the samples are not both globally and locally homogeneous, the blending process continues as the constituents are not fully inter-mixed. This entire process of determining blend homogeneity can be carried out with a controller electrically coupled to color sensor 16. The controller comprises circuitry, such as a microprocessor chip or the like. In accordance with another embodiment of the instant invention, an on-line apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity 110 comprises at least a first probe assembly 112, a second probe assembly 114, a light source 116 and a color sensor 118, as shown in FIG. 2. First probe assembly 112 and second probe assembly 114 each comprise a light transmissive window 120, a portion of an illumination assembly 122, and a detection assembly 124. Light transmissive window 120 is disposed within a sidewall of a mixing vessel 126, typically a blender or the like. Light transmissive window 120 must be optically transparent. In one embodiment, light transmissive window 120 comprises a quartz material or the like. Light source 116 is provided for emitting and projecting a light beam to mixing vessel 126. Light source 116 may include any light source capable of providing a spectrum through the visible light region, typically avoiding fluorescence. In one embodiment, color sensor 118 is optically coupled, as described below, to light source 116. Color sensor 118 may comprise a spectrometer, a spectrophotometer, a spectrocolorimeter, a spectrophotometric colorimeter, or the like, to perform spectrum color analysis of any incident light supplied thereto. In another example, illumination assembly 122 comprises a first lens 128, at least a trifurcated optical fiber 130 and at least a pair of second lenses 132. First lens 128 is disposed to receive light emitted from light source 116. First lens 128 typically comprises a planoconvex lens or the like. A light source end 134 of trifurcated optical fiber 130 is aligned with first lens 128 so as to provide an optical coupling at light source 116. A light beam emitted from light source 116 is focused by first lens 128 and is injected into light source end 134 of optical fiber 130. At a trifurcation point 136 optical fiber 130 splits into a first probe portion 138, a second probe portion 140 and a color sensor portion 142. First probe portion 138 and second probe portion 140 of optical fiber 130 are disposed normal to and proximate to light transmissive windows 120 of first probe assembly 112 and second probe assembly 114, respectively. Second lens 132 is positioned adjacent light transmissive window 120 of each probe assembly 112 and 114. The light beam injected into optical fiber 130 travels through first and second probe portions 138 and 140 is intercepted by respective second lenses 132 and is projected onto respective light transmissive windows 120 so as to illuminate portions of a sample blend 144 within blender 126. In one example, detection assembly 124 comprises a lens 146 and an optical fiber 148. Lenses 146 are positioned adjacent light transmissive window 120 of each respective probe assembly 112 and 114 at an angle (α) with respect to a reference axis 150 so as to detect diffuse reflection from an illuminated sample blend 144 within blender 126. Reference axis 150 is aligned essentially perpendicular to light transmissive window 120. In one example of the instant invention the angle (α) is in the range between about 1° to about 89°. In another example of the instant invention, angle (α) is in the range between about 35° to about 55°. A first end 152 of optical fiber 148 is optically coupled to lens 146 such that diffuse reflection directed into lens 146 is injected into first end 152 of optical fiber 148 and is transmitted through optical fiber 148 to a second end 154 of optical fiber 148, which second end 154 is optically coupled to color sensor 118. During blending, color sensor 118 collects the light from the sample blend 144 from both the first probe assembly 112 and second probe assembly 114. The collected light is transformed by color sensor 118 into tri-color signals. The light is collected and transformed by color sensor into tri-color signals a number of times, typically in the range between about 8 to 30 times. Upon completion of the color sensing of sample blend 144, the average tri-color signal from each probe assembly location is calculated and the standard deviation of the various tri-color signals is calculated with respect to each location. Accordingly, sample blend 144 is uniquely characterized by six values at first probe assembly 112: L av ; a av ; b av ; L st ; a st and b st and six values at second probe assembly 114: L' av ; a' av ; b' av ; L' st ; a' st ; and b' st. Next, in one embodiment of the instant invention, the average color difference (Δ E av ) between the respective samples is calculated utilizing the following formula: Δ E av = (Δ L av 2 + Δ a av 2 + Δ b av 2 ) , where, Δ L av = L av - L ' av , Δ a av = a av - a ' av , and Δ b av = b av - b ' av . If the value of ( ΔE av ) is less than or equal to about 1, the blend is characterized as being globally homogeneous. If the value of (Δ E av ) is greater than about 1, for example about two or about 3, the blend is not globally homogeneous Next, the standard deviation tri-color signal values at the respective probe locations are compared. If the standard deviation values (L st ; a st ; b st; L' st ; a' st ; and b' st .) are less than a predetermined amount, the blend is characterized as being locally homogeneous. The predetermined amount is satisfied if the standard deviation values are less than about .25 to about 2 L, a, b units. The blend is sufficiently mixed when the values indicate the samples are both globally and locally homogeneous. If the values indicate that the samples are not both globally and locally homogeneous, the blending process continues as the constituents are not fully inter-mixed. This online blend monitoring process of determining blend homogeneity can be carried out with a controller electrically coupled to color sensor 118. The controller comprises circuitry, such as a microprocessor chip or the like. An exemplary control logic sequence for online apparatus 110 is shown in FIG. 3. The online blend monitoring by apparatus 110 is started at block 200. At blocks 202 and 204, the average tri-color signal values (L av ; a av ; b av ; L' av ; a' av and b' av ) are determined for each of the respective probe locations. At blocks 206 and 208 the standard deviation tri-color signal values (L st ; a st ; b st ; L' st ; a' st and b' st ) are determined for each of the respective probe iocations. Next, at blocks 210 and 212, a determination is made of whether the blend is locally homogeneous, in the manner described above, for both probe locations. If the values indicate the blend is not locally homogeneous at either or both probe locations, the process returns to block 200 and starts over. If the values indicate the blend is locally homogeneous at both probe locations, the process continues to block 214. At block 214, the average color difference (Δ E av ) is calculated. Next, at block 215, a determination is made of whether the blend is globally homogeneous, in the manner described above. If the values indicate the blend is not globally homogeneous, the process returns to block 200 and starts over. If the mixing vessel is in an off position when it is determined that the blend is not globally homogeneous, an intervening step at block 216 may include turning mixing vessel on before retuming to block 200. If the values indicate the blend is globally homogeneous, the process advances to block 216 and the mixing vessel is turned off as the constituents of the blend are adequately inter-mixed.

Claims: An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity of at least a first (24) material blend portion, said apparatus comprising: a light transmission plate (12) for holding said material blend portion; a light source (14) for emitting a lightbeam; a color sensor (16); an illumination assembly (18) having a first end (36) optically coupled to said light source (14) and a second end (40) optically coupled to and disposed normal to said light transmissive plate (12) so as to illuminate said first (24) material blend portion disposed on said light transmission plate with said light beam; at least one detection assembly (20) having a first end (48) disposed adjacent said light transmissive plate (12) so as to detect the diffuse reflection from said illumination of said first (24) material blend portion and a second end (50) optically coupled to said color sensor (16); and wherein said color sensor (16) is arranged to sense the diffuse reflecting light from said first (24) material blend portion and transform said diffuse reflecting light into tri-color signals so as to determine the local and global homogeneity of said first (24) material blend portion, characterised in that : said illumination assembly (18) comprises a first lens (39) disposed adjacent said light source (14), at least a bifurcated optical fiber (32) having a light source end (36) aligned with said first lens (30) so as to complete an optical coupling at said light source (14) and a second lens (34) disposed adjacent said light transmissive plate (12) so as to intercept said light beam injected into said optical fiber (32) and project said light beam onto said light transmissive plate (12) so as to illuminate said material blend portion, one portion (42) of the bifurcated optical fiber being optically coupled to said color sensor (16) so as to provide a reference of the signal representing the light beam emitted from said light source (14). An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity in accordance with claim 1, wherein said light source (14) emits a light beam at a wavelength in the range between about 400 nm to about 770 nm. An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity in accordance with claim 1, wherein said detection assembly (20) comprises a first detection lens (44) disposed adjacent said light transmissive plate (12) at angle (a) with respect to a reference axis (28) so as to detect diffuse reflection from said illuminated material blend portions and an optical fiber (46) coupled to said color sensor (16) so as to transmit said diffuse reflection from said first detection lens 44 to said color sensor (16). An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity, in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first material blend is disposed on said light transmissive plate and said color sensor collects the diffuse reflection from said first material blend portion and transforms said collected light into a first tri-color signal. An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity, in accordance with claim 4, wherein said light transmissive plate is movable with respect to said illumination assembly such that a different portion of said first blend sample is illuminated and a second diffuse reflection of said material blend portion is detected by said detection assembly and is transmitted to said color sensor wherein said color sensor collects said light from said first material blend portion and transforms the collected light into a second tri-color signal. An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity, in accordance with claim 5, wherein said light transmissive plate is movable with respect to said illumination assembly such that different portions of said first material blend portion is illuminated and collected light is transformed into tri-color signals at a plurality of locations of said first material blend portion. An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity in accordance with claim 6, wherein an average tri-color signal from all locations is calculated and a standard deviation of all the tricolor signals is calculated such that first sample blend portion (24) characterized by six values:(L av ; a av ; b av ; L st ; a st and b st ). An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity in accordance with claim 7, wherein said first material blend (24) portion (24) is replaced on said light transmissive plate (12) by a second blend sample portion and said process is continued such that said second blend sample portion is also uniquely characterized by six values: (L' av ; a' av ; b' av ; L' st ; a' st and b' st ). An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity in accordance with claim 8, wherein said average color difference between said first material blend portion (24) and said second material blend portion is calculated utilizing the formula Δ E av = (Δ L av 2 + Δ a av 2 + Δ b av 2 ) , where, Δ L av = L av - L ' av , Δ a av = a av - a ' av , and Δ b av = b av - b ' av , to find if said average color difference (Δ E av ) is within a predetermined range so as to characterize said blend portions as globally homogeneous. An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity in accordance with claim 9, wherein said blend portions are characterized as globally homogeneous when (Δ E av ) is less than about 1. An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity in accordance with claim 8, wherein said standard deviation tri-color signal values of said first material blend (24) portion and said second material blend portion are analyzed by said controller to detect if said values are less than a predetermined amount so as to characterize said blend portions as locally homogeneous. An apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity in accordance with claim 11, wherein said predetermined amount is less than about .25 to about 2 L, a, b units. A material blend mixing vessel (126) including an online apparatus for sensing color blend homogeneity, said apparatus comprising: a first probe assembly (112) comprising a light transmissive window (120) disposed within a side wall of said mixing vessel (126), an illumination assembly (122) and a detection assembly (124); a second probe assembly (114) comprising a light transmissive window (120) disposed within a second portion of said side wall of said mixing vessel (126), an illumination assembly (122) a detection assembly (124); a light source (116) for emitting a light beam; a color sensor (118); wherein each of said illumination assemblies (122) has a first end (134) optically coupled to said light source (116) and a second end optically coupled to and disposed normal to said light transmissive windows (120) so as to illuminate portions of said material blend (144) within said mixing vessel (126) with said light beam; wherein each of said detection assemblies (124) has a first end (152) disposed adjacent said light transmissive windows (120) so as to detect the diffuse reflection from said illumination of said material blend (144) portions and a second end (154) optically coupled to said color sensor (118); and wherein said color sensor (118) is arranged to collect the diffuse reflecting light from said first and second probe assemblies (112, 114) and transform said diffuse reflecting light into tri-color signals so as to determine the local and global homogeneity of said material blend (144), characterised in that : each said illumination assembly (122) comprises a first lens (128) disposed adjacent said light source (116), at least a bifurcated optical fiber (130) having a light source end (134) aligned with said first lens (128) so as to complete an optical coupling at said light source (116) and a second lens (132) disposed adjacent said light transmissive window (120) so as to intercept said light beam injected into said optical fiber (130) and project said light beam onto said light transmissive window (120) so as to illuminate said material blend portions, one portion (142) of the bifurcated optical fiber being optically coupled to said color sensor (116) so as to provide a reference of the signal representing the light beam emitted from said light source (116).

Inventors: FELDMAN SANDRA FREEDMAN, FELDMAN, SANDRA FREEDMAN
Applicants: GEN ELECTRIC, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G01J3
IPC codes: G01J3