DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPTICAL MEASUREMENT OF SMALL PARTICLES SUCH AS GRAINS FROM CEREALS AND LIKE CROPS

Abstract: A method and device for optical measuring of small particles for analysis of the quality of the particles. A sample-feeding carrier (2) is adpated to take up particle samples in sample holders (6) and transport the particle samples to a place foroptical measurement. A mirror-supporting means (3) follows the movement of the carrier (2) and has mirrors (7) matching the sample holders (6). A device illuminates a particle sample when positioned foroptical measurement and a detector, which is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation, records a result of optical measurement of the illuminated particle sample. A mirror (7) reflects the particle sample, so that a mirror image thereof stands essentially still seen from the detector, when a measurement is being recorded, owing to the fact that the mirror image of the particle sample falls on a center axis of the movement of the mirror-supporting means.

Description: DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPTICAL MEASUREMENT OF SMALL PARTICLES SUCH AS GRAINS FROM CEREALS AND LIKE CROPS Field of the Invention The invention relates to a method and a device for optical measuring of small particles, such as grains from cereals and like crops, for analysis of the quality of the particles. Background Art Inspection of different kinds of cereals and other crops is today made all over the world to determine the quality of the cereals in commercial transactions and handling. The inspection aims at examining a selected representative sample from a large consignment and determining the presence of non-desirable grains and particles. The non-approved grains and particles are classi- fied and the quantity of each class is determined. Owing to the distribution of the various grains, the sample and, thus, the consignment will be given a grading which is a decisive factor in connection with payment and handling of the consignment. Today most cereal inspections are carried out entirely manually. A skilled inspector has often passed through a comprehensive education of many years. Nevertheless there are great deviations in the analyses/ classifications between different inspectors owing to, among other things, personal assessments and varying conditions of lighting. Deviations also occur in each individual inspector because of, for example, the degree of fatigue. It is therefore desirable for the methods of ana- lysis to be automated to reduce the deviations and create a more stable situation with a more transparent grading process. For an exact grading of the sample, the grains must be separated from each other to allow each indivi- 3 O-i O 0 ii rr Φ ≤ LQ μ- Φ O 3 CD Qa 3 H Hi H rr CO rr rr μ- ii 0 h- 1 3 t-3 CD μ- TJ a φ Φ S3 0 Φ 13- X ø" ii 13 X Hi Si TJ Φ 0 1 - Φ rr -3T S3 μ- m Φ Hi μ- μ- tr ø ø tr 0 SD rf l rr -O SD TJ μ- SD TJ CO 0 rr < H- Φ Φ ii SD 0 LQ LQ ø Φ ii LQ ^ SD O Φ H- (3 rr 0 Ω μ- SD Φ CD rr μ- Φ μ- CD o. CO μ- α 3 μ- SD rr 13T SD CO μ- • CO 0 Ω 1=1 3 H- CO U ^ 13 13 SD Ω 13 μ- 13- LQ 13 CO ii tr rr rr Φ ø μ- H rr LQ 0 H H \-> S3 O CO 3 tr μ- ΓT LQ 3 13 O ϋ LQ H 3 3 Oi Φ Φ LQ H Ω LQ φ O <! 0 Φ SD ii ϋ • 0 μ- T5 Φ 13 μ- Φ LQ S3 SD 13 μ- SD μ- φ Oi 3 tr SD i 3 l rr φ 3 ii φ φ (0 13 <! LQ 0 LQ SD μ- 3 CD ct ^ 3 ø LQ 3 φ 3 0 SD φ H- TJ Φ LQ -O (3 LQ Φ φ S3 -3 li 13 0 Oi 3 Φ Ct t μ- LQ ii μ- SD Φ CD μ- ø SD 3 3 ϋ 13 Φ 3 S3 μ- - CD CD rr SD CD Hi CO rT ii Φ < ø SD ct Ξ O ct CD ø rr Hi Φ 0 Φ rr S3 μ- Ω rr Φ tr rr μ- U S3 a SD SD μ- ct tr 0 tr φ P- ■A <! SD CO ii Ϊ T μ- O 3 i φ O 13 rr LQ tr CD 0 3 H rr Hi ø φ Φ H 0 0 TJ ct rr 0 Φ φ H- 3 ΓT Φ 3 S3 - CO 13- li o 0 Oi φ • ! Φ 0 ϋ μ- i CO SD o t? rr Hi 13 O 0 CO Oi Φ 0 CD 3 TJ . SD P> s: CO 13 μ- Oi ii Φ ø CD φ ii ø ø J rr rr S3 tr Φ $ ΓT ≤ φ ii rr μ- Φ (T rr CQ μ- m Hi 0 LQ SD tr CO Φ rr 13- i 13 Φ S ct 0 Φ 1 - SD Φ H 13 <! tr tr CO |3f ø Φ tr li TJ Hi μ- ct Φ ø 4 SD 3 H- rr Φ Hi ii tr H- CO < 1 - μ- CD φ SD SD rr s- X Φ O 0 3 o m μ- o. Φ 13 0 Hi o <J LQ Ω φ Ω S3 Φ μ- rr ϋ rr <! S3 ϋ ø" SD 3 0 φ ii O Ω Φ H- <! Hi Φ i ΓT s > Si 13- ii 13 CO φ - Φ CO 0 φ μ- 3 μ- rr TJ ø Ω CQ Φ φ H- 0 H Φ 0 SD Φ Ω φ rr 3 SD 0 μ- H CO Ω TJ rr CD tr SD ϋ SD H- rr Φ X 3 Ω Hi SD ii μ- rr SD Ω 3 TJ S3 Ω 13 13 CO 13 TJ tr tr 0 0 0 φ 0 CD Oi D rr rr φ S3 cr rr Φ ii SD Φ ct I- 1 C |3f 0 0 LQ a- φ Φ 0 Φ 3 Oi SD CO l CD φ ø Φ li 13 CD SD μ- Ω ii (3 -3 SD ΓT ct ^ 3 μ- Ω s; - 3 φ CD Φ μ- Ω Ω Φ rr rr H- - " Oi 13 rr μ- CD rr Φ Ω rr φ 0 H! rr SD μ- LQ ^ ø tr Hi rt Φ rr 3 LQ 0 Φ CD LQ 0 Φ Φ • Φ σ μ- tr 0 P Hi <! Hi ø H CD SD CD rr ^ μ- tr 0 φ tr rr -3- ii fD 0 ii i CO 3 CD Φ 3 Φ 13 -V Φ S3 0 Φ ϋ SD SD 0 H μ- φ Φ SD li -- ■ 0 rr rr l- 1 tr 0 φ Φ μ. CD Hi 0 rr μ- ii Φ CQ *< 3 s^ ^ S3 ^ μ- Φ s; 0 LQ 3 J LQ TJ 13 0 0 Φ Φ 3 H- 0 ΓT φ CO LQ ii CO tr 0 13 ct μ- S3 ϋ φ ii 0 SD φ LQ Oi ii € ø 0 tr 0 3 SD t TJ li H 3 SD Φ ΓΓ Hi <! 3 t φ Φ 3 Φ O Ω ϋ tr LQ :- • ø Hi O SD Hi SD 0 m Φ SD 1 - SD Hi rr ø 4 0 φ (- ■ SD X φ SD CD LQ Φ SD 0 3 μ- φ rr tr O Hi CD Qa CD ø- Φ P- Φ ii H H- SD Φ O φ CD rr rr 13 ΓT μ- ii CO μ- i-h 0 LQ rr ø- μ- 3 ϋ φ Ct φ μ- 13 LQ 0 O <! TJ <! 13 3 0 ii rr σ SD CO 13 ii r tr Ω i Oi tr o CQ 3 H- 3 Hi SD i SD φ SD Ω Φ i H μ- SD TJ Φ rr φ μ- ø- ^ SD φ φ 0 Hi SD Ω Φ 13 • <: H- Φ Ω O 3 13 CD 0 3 O Φ Φ 13 ii SD 13- ϋ co 0 ΓT o Hi Ω rr J S" SD SD I- 1 CT Φ Φ SD CO Φ Hi 3 ^ rr *<; 0 μ- <J SD Φ 0 (Q Qa SD 13 ω ii SD Φ • TJ SD LQ 0 CT -> SD rr μ- CO Hi m Φ ø μ- SD h- 1 Ω 0 Ω μ- 0 S- ø H- tr Ω φ CO φ z CQ "< rr -3 0 co rr SD μ- • CO ϋ ϋ • ; rr SD SD Φ LQ tr 3 ϋ ^ CQ rr CO ϋ S3 - -> - tr H- o. 0 Ω rr Oi LQ φ φ ^ O μ- H- 1 H μ- tr 0 H- H- Φ 0 μ- μ- ii • <; Λ φ 0- 0 ct ct SD 1 - φ « Oi Ω μ- 0 LQ μ- ΓT rr φ Ω < 13 13 ^ ii 13 T5 φ z 0 S3 TJ 0 μ- μ- Φ ct ΓT CO CD ø ϋ rr SD SD tr Φ LQ .3 LQ Ω 13- 3 0" rr ϋ μ- LQ 0 rr 13 3 CO Φ ϋ μ- μ- SD ^ μ- h- 1 3 li •> SD SD φ φ Φ μ- tf Ω ϋ P μ- tr rr φ CO Φ Ω Φ φ 0 LQ o μ- μ- 0 SD ct Oa rr H- 13 ii 13 Ω SD ΓT -V SD Ω Φ Φ 0 rr Hi rr 0 0 Hi co 0 0 μ- fii 0" S3 H- . 3 SD CO rr SD rr f rr 13- μ- ΓΓ SD ii μ- i 0 Φ Ω μ- Hi 0 3 φ Φ u 3 LQ 0 tr CO φ ϋ h- 1 3 H CD rr TJ Oi Φ • ΓT Hi rr 3 tr TJ SD h 1 - φ LQ rr Φ ϋ SD φ Φ -- ■ φ S3 μ- ΓT Ω tr μ- tr SD Φ rr rr LQ φ O 13 rr ii r H φ O φ Hi rr Hi < < SD TJ 3 13 μ- rr ι-3 Φ Ω Φ . μ- tr μ- φ μ- SD LQ 0 --r SD H- Φ rr Λ Hi 111 φ Φ H 0 CD rr φ LQ Ω Φ - SD φ ø φ Ω rr 3 Hi Φ H- CQ tQ μ- ø S3 Φ φ 0 0 TJ 3 S3 SD SD i Φ LQ 0 -£) LQ SD TJ tr TJ rr 13 (3 3 μ- rr CO Oi t 3 ct φ ii rr CO 0 li rr t ø 0 LQ ϋ φ I- 1 ø J rr 3 H- Φ TJ -, c CO μ- 0 μ- SD φ tf S3 S3 o. SD h- 1 SD Hi μ- H 0 ii φ Φ - Φ Ω H 3 0 CD 13 i Ω CD a Φ ii rr 3 μ- Φ μ- ► <; SD 3 Ω CD Φ SD SD Φ 0 Φ LQ SD S3 φ Φ LQ rr 0 μ- ct μ j μ- Φ Φ tr 1 13 0- Hi ø li i 0 SD ø- Φ rr tr rr ø ø SD CO 1 Φ Hi 1 rr Ω Φ 1 CD 1 • : CO 1 1 μ- Ω ø 0 SD 0 t tr CO tr Ti Φ φ 3 φ Hi μ- Qa Φ H a ϋ SD 0 0 ϋ >τ| 1 0 CD ø ii 0 0 T5 SD SD TJ Ω 0 0 Ω ϋ Φ 0 rr Ti Hi μ- rr 0 SD μ- LQ tr 0 SD 3 φ ii Φ ^ SD SD 0 0 . ω CO SD Φ rr H ■ <: Φ Φ IS1 Ω μ- rr -- 1 0 0 Φ LQ ii Ω t rr O μ- t 3 tr rt Φ μ- ø 4 CO GQ Φ • 3 TJ Φ SD SD li CT ø CO μ- Ω SD — • Φ <! φ Hj sample, so that a mirror image thereof stands essentially still seen from the detector, when the measurement is being recorded, owing to the fact that the mirror image of the particle sample falls on a center axis of the movement of the mirror-supporting means. This design implies that the time of exposure can be extended significantly in the detector since the mirror image of the particle stands still . The extended time of exposure then causes no problems with movement blur and conventional detectors can be used. Particles can thus be fed at a high speed, which results in a high measuring speed. By the mirror image standing essentially still is meant that no translational movement occurs, but only a small degree of turning of the mirror image, owing to the movement of the mirror in front of the detector. This turning, however, is so small that no or very little movement blur arises . According to a preferred embodiment, the sample- feeding carrier is adapted to feed the particle samples during continuous movement. Since the particles can be fed at a high speed without causing movement blur in the detector, there is no need for a higher feeding speed between the measurements . The continuous movement means that the wear on mechanical components in the device is insignificant. The detector is preferably an image-recording means, which records an image of the particle sample in the optical measurement. An image contains such an amount of information about the particle sample that it can be analyzed in respect of several properties on the basis of one measurement . The device advantageously comprises a means for image analysis of the recorded image, an image of a particle sample, which comprises several particles, being divisible, with the aid of the means for image analysis, into images of one particle each. As a result, several particles can be analyzed on the basis of one image. The t Ω ct TJ 3 Ω ΓT Hi CD Hi 0 3 Φ 3 Ω CO Hi Ω rr O μ- 3 tr 0 Ω 3 Hi Ti μ- rr 0 0 Φ 0 tr SD μ- ϋ tr Φ ΓT 0 Hi Φ ϋ μ- 0 0 φ 0 μ- tr φ 0 Φ SD SD i SD 03 SD |3 Φ ϋ 0 H Φ Hi Hi SD φ Hi μ- ø ii 0 3 φ -- ■ Ω rr SD (- ■ Φ rr 3 O ii Φ t <! • * Hi rr SD I— 1 ct tr H 03 TJ Si SD 0 ϋ Oi φ Φ 3 CT f μ- Φ μ- Oi μ- 0 Φ ϋ tr -- ■ 0 ø 4 CD ^ 0 rr CD Φ μ- CO Φ φ ii 03 φ Ω Ti Ω S- Hi rr φ Ω Hi Qa μ- m $ Φ • Hi ø Φ rr Hi Φ ø HJ > Oi SD rr ct Ω SD m SD tr Φ ct CO • ; ø 4 O μ- 0 I Ω 0 CO tr tr T5 0 Φ rr O Ω tr tr O O 3 tr ii μ- SD ct Φ Φ SD 3 ct Φ 0 ø Ti m CD Ω ct - φ Φ SD 03 Si tr Ω Hi Ti Φ Φ Hi ii φ φ rr Si Ω X 0 Ω 0 μ- SD SD LQ SD ø 4 Ω 0 0 • Hi μ- SD SD O O Hi tr Oi ii μ- μ- μ- rr CO Si Hj ø Hi 3 rr Hi μ- Φ TJ Hi SD Ti Ω SD ø rr Hj Hi ^i o Oi TJ rr Φ SD μ- Ω 03 T5 0 SD Hi Ω Hi μ- ør μ- rr 03 ø TS Oi 0 SD SD rr LQ H φ Oi ϋ μ- 0 tr a • Oi Φ H 3 -> -ϋ rT 0 φ SD H φ CO μ- rr O μ- Si Hi Hi μ- 0 SD μ- ct 0 03 Hi Φ SD Φ SD H. Ti ø" u 0 H Ω 3 H Hi ø rr Hi O tr LQ 0 Ω μ- α SD ø tr Ω Ω rr SD H LQ 13 ø H Ω μ- 1— ' Φ φ SD rT LQ ct μ- μ- 0 μ- Ω Ti ϋ LQ Φ φ O μ- TJ 13 tr φ SD tr O Φ CD φ tr Φ Φ Hi Φ Φ SD I- 1 μ- tr Ω φ Hi SU ø- SD 03 <; Ω SD Oi μ- 1 rr rr rr μ- μ- Ω Φ rr i CD ø Ti 0 0 ct Φ Hi μ- Hi 03 < TJ ct μ- Φ li 03 Hi tr co < 0 rr Φ μ- rr O CD CO CD LQ 0 Φ co φ Φ CD rr O Φ 3 SD Hi φ rr μ- Φ SD φ tr Hi 0 0 0 Φ SD μ- Φ Hi SD tr Hi μ- H μ- Φ SD 0 ■ ! μ- 3 3 Ω Φ ø TJ μ- ΓT LQ Φ rr ø Hi rr 3 rr SD 3 SD φ CO co Ti φ O Ω Si 0 LQ 0 Ω SD φ O rr H rr φ Hi Φ 0 SD Ti ø 4 Hi φ φ SD Hi 0 Hi SD Φ μ- O Ω LQ rr SD ct SD ø Hj μ- Φ 0 ø 4 ø SD Hi ø I- 1 SD rr SD Hi ϋ Qa 3 Ti φ rr h- 1 rr TJ 3 Hi Ω Φ Φ ti Si 3 Φ SD <! Φ ct tr rr 0 tr X ct φ rr 0 0 μ- Ti Hi Hi 03 O ii 0 SD 0 CD 03 μ- Φ TJ CD μ- Φ SD Φ tr Φ μ- CD ø 03 Hi ø φ φ μ- Φ CO Φ 0 LQ Si ii SD ø Φ μ- 3 Qa X φ 0 03 Hi Φ ø Ct LQ φ Hi Hj <! Φ rr Hi 0 φ Φ CD 0 ΓT LQ μ- ti h- 1 φ μ- 0 μ- O 0 3 0 Ω X Oi SD tr 03 φ Hi Φ Ti SD Φ Hi ≥; SD tr 03 o Qa ■ <; CO Hj Ti 0 c SD Ti LQ μ- 0 Hi SD ø 0 Φ Hi Hi Φ ø Hi SD Hi Hi • <J μ- φ 0 ø 3 Φ i φ 3 SD M Hi 0 Ω rr i Hi fi SD H ct rr α 3 SD Hi Φ i CD 0 Ω tr ^ rr Φ Hi 13 SD O Hi rr Hi Φ Hi φ Hi tr Φ μ- tr μ- SD Φ μ- rT tr SD CO SD Φ rr Φ Hi Ti - 0 rr 0 ct tr Φ ø rr Ti -O tr SD μ- ø rr ø ϋ 03 ϋ CD μ- • μ- SD 0 Si (π LQ φ Φ H. 0 Hi ø 4 φ SD Hi D ø- H ø μ- ^ SD SD μ- Ti . μ- Ω Φ CD 0 CD O SD 0 μ- 0 CO Ω Hi 1 Φ CD 0 Φ φ Φ CQ rr 0 0 Φ LQ fi tr Hi rr i P i 0 3 P. Ω rr I- 1 CO 3 μ- -- ■ Hi Hi 0 Ω μ- 0 0 O 3 μ- μ- SD Ω μ- Ω r 0 Oi SD μ- Φ t ct Φ - ^ 0 3 μ- 0 Ω Φ Ω φ μ- O 0 1 rr Hi Ω LQ SD 3 0 ct 0 LQ Ω 0 Φ tr LΠ Ti 0 Hi ^ O SD i ^ Hi 0 μ- 0 SD 0 rr tr CO TJ φ O o TJ <! Hi s; -- ■ ø Hi ø ^ o O SD ø rr φ C Hi Hi CD Ω CO Hi "< Oi l- 1 μ- 0 0 LQ rr <! tr Φ 0 Φ 3 SD 0 Φ 0 tr μ- 0 Hi φ Ω 0 0 rr Φ μ- Ω i- 1 LQ tr Φ φ Φ Φ CD 0 SD Hi μ- Oi rr Hi 3 Hi φ ø s; μ- a SD Hi Φ 03 rr O μ- Hi Hi 3 Hi 0 i Φ 0 Ω Oi Hi μ- TJ 0 rr Φ LQ φ 0 Φ SD Ω r tr 0 φ r SD μ- o SD O μ- o 0 i O I- 1 ø μ- Ti Φ ii φ 03 Hi tr O Φ Φ ø Hi rr Ω CO - π- rr 0 Hi φ ø Ti |3 Ω μ rr X O rr Φ rr 3 Hi 0 SD Φ μ- ø Hi rr fi 0 0 tr 0 Hi SD LQ • 3 . o O ø rr tr SD 0 Hi Ω D o 4 SD Φ 0 μ- Ti TJ SD 0 ii Φ -ξ rr μ- μ- Hi ø φ co ø SD Φ LQ <! tr Hi 0 03 SD 0 -O rr SD ø rr μ Ω φ ϋ - Ω rr ϋ rr • μ- Ω 0 3 φ μ- rr φ Si μ- 03 i ø tr Hi Hj ct ~ tr Φ LQ O ■ <; ø μ- Φ 0 CO tr 3 Φ Qa Ω Φ Oi ø 4 0 μ- > < Φ φ rr rr tr φ 0 SD rr 0 Ω Hi SD φ SD φ SD ct Φ Φ rr μ- 3 ^ Hi CD μ- μ- Φ -≤ !- ■ Hj O Φ μ- ti ct -3 CD LQ tr rt 0 ø 0 o. tr ø φ Hi O CD Ω Ω tr Ω φ Φ α Oi 03 h- 1 t TJ 3 tr ct CO - 3 Φ rr ø tr Φ Ct SD O μ- μ- r Oi CO SD t Ti Φ > ; φ SD rr Φ Φ CO o H Φ φ Φ SD SD 3 φ Φ SD Ω LQ Φ ø SD SD SD tr φ φ 0 0 s; i SD rr M < - Hi • " ϋ Ct φ 03 . tr μ- Hi rT ø Hj 03 μ- rr 3 ø i Hi Φ SD Hi ø X φ CO Ω 3 μ- Φ Ti TJ rr Φ tr l-" rr ϋ 0 rr 0 Oi 0 Φ φ Φ CD SD Φ ø ø 3 0 rr ø ø 02 ø 4 Ti μ- m -- ■ μ- ø Ω φ 0 Hi CO 0 CO "< μ- μ- j Φ X Si Ω Φ 3 ø tr Oi LQ ø- ^ SD 03 - Φ 03 rr N Ω LQ Φ O rr rr 0 O μ- Ti ct ø 0 0 φ φ rr 03 Hi μ- 03 1— ' Φ μ- rr 3 |3 Φ Φ SD Φ rr 1 CQ Hi rr < Φ O 0 μ- 1 03 μ- Φ 1 φ H Ω ø 4 X rr ø" Φ 03 φ Ω Hi 1 O LQ CO 13 3 1 Φ Φ 1 1 ct ii tr rr co 1 ct of angle and which can also use the same stand as the carrier and the mirror-supporting means. The sample holders of the carrier conveniently comprises indentations which offer a space for a particle sample. Thus the particles fall into the indentations when positioned under the particles. This results in an easy way of taking up particles in the sample holders. According to a preferred embodiment , the sample holders of the carrier comprise through holes in the carrier and a lower particle holding disk which prevents the particles from falling through the holes, the holes and the particle holding disk thus offering a space for a particle sample. Also this embodiment results in an easy way of taking up particle samples in the sample holders . Moreover, the sample holders can easily be emptied by an emptying hole being arranged in the particle holding disk. When a full sample holder arrives at the emptying hole, the particle sample falls out of the sample holder by there being no bottom in the sample holder any longer. According to another embodiment, the device has a means for generating a subatmospheric pressure on the underside of the carrier, the sample holders of the carrier comprising holes to which particle samples are made to adhere by the subatmospheric pressure. This means that a hole cannot possibly take up a plurality of particles at a time, which ensures the feeding of only one particle at a time. A plurality of places for optical measurement, which each have a detector, are advantageously arranged in the device, and the illumination can be varied between the places for different analyses. This means that the particles can be analyzed in respect of several different properties in the same sorting out of the particles. The advantages of the device having a long time of expo- sure in spite of a high feeding speed can be used in all recordings of images . The objects of the invention are also achieved by a method for optical measuring of small particles, such as grains from cereals and like crops, for analysis of the quality of the particles. The method comprises the steps of feeding particle samples which each comprise at least one particle, to a place for optical measurement, following the movement of a particle sample with a mirror in such manner that, in the place for optical measurement, a mirror image of the particle sample falls on a center axis of the movement of the mirror, illuminating the particle sample when located in the place for optical measurement, and recording at least one result of an optical measurement of the illuminated particle sample by means of a detector which is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. The mirror image of the particle sample stands essentially still seen from the detector, when the measurement is being recorded, owing to the fact that the mirror image of the particle sample falls on the center axis of the movement . The method provides an automatic technique of recording, quickly and with conventional detectors, results of optical measurements for analysis of particles. The particles can be fed at a high speed, without making it too difficult for conventional equipment to satisfy the requirements as to a minimum time of exposure in the detector. The method preferably comprises the step of analyzing the recorded image by means of image analysis to determine the quality of the particle sample. This means that the analysis can occur directly in the recording of the image, and a sample result can be obtained from the device, quickly and on the spot. Brief Description of the Drawings A presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings . Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sample-feeding carrier and a mirror-supporting means according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a stand in which the carrier and the means in Fig. 1 can be mounted. Fig. 3 is a schematic view and illustrates a recording of a mirror image of a particle. Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment Fig. 1 shows a sample-feeding unit 1, which comprises a sample-feeding carrier 2 in the form of a disk and a mirror-supporting means 3. These are interconnected by a central shaft 4, which makes their movements synchronized. The carrier 2 is adapted to feed the particles 5 which are to be analyzed to a place where an image of the particle 5 can be recorded. Sample holders 6 in the form of holes are arranged along the outer edges of the carrier 2 and adapted to take up particles 5 which are to be analyzed. For each hole 6, there is a matching mirror 7, which is placed on the mirror-supporting means 3 in such manner that a mirror image of a particle 5 in the hole 6 is projected onto a center axis of the mirror-supporting means 3. The mirrors 7 are plane and arranged at an angle of 45° to the center axis, which means that the mirror image of the particle 5 is turned through 90°. The carrier 2 can be dismounted from the central shaft 4 to be replaced by other carriers 2. This allows adaptation to different kinds of crops by the carrier 2 being exchanged. The sample holders 6 on each carrier 2 are then adapted to a certain kind of crop . The carrier 2 and the mirror-supporting means 3 are circular and rotate in operation about their common shaft 4 for the feeding of samples. The sample-feeding unit 1 is mounted to rotate in a stand 8 which is illustrated in Fig. 2. The rotation is driven by a motor 9 which is mounted on the stand 8. CO 1 -. tn 1 Ti Φ 0 φ ø 43 Φ Φ 0 43 Φ Φ rH ε 43 43 Φ Φ si f Φ 0 43 0 φ 1 ■ H 0 i 4H • rH CQ υ 1 0 CQ 0 43 1 rH 4 f • H Φ 0 Ti φ Φ si -H Ti CQ 43 EH o H Φ in -H φ 0 0 0 φ a 0 1 0 > φ -H 0 si si 4 U 0 0 0 0 H M Ω 0 43 4H 4H -H Ti Φ 0 0 -0 ti 0 © 0 Φ si Ti Φ rd 43 .5 rd o -H 0 Φ • φ Φ rd -H 0 ε rd Φ U φ rd 4 -H π5 0 EH Φ si 4-3 4H υ rd rH 0 si .i . rH ε 03 TS rd 0 in tn 0 si Φ tn φ 0 a 0 o U Si g 43 in 0 ^ 0 Φ 0 υ 0 43 CQ O ø rH a υ (TS 0 Φ 43 43 0 -0 Φ ■ H en ε • H Φ Φ 0 0 tn rH -H -H ■ H -0 si φ 0 0 CQ -H -0 0 • H 43 Φ -ø \Ω -H <4H CO CJ -H CQ 1 CQ 43 43 CO Ti Ti -0 Φ -H φ tn 43 43 rH 4 - 4n £ u 3 >, -> Φ rH H A u O φ in -H 0 rH Φ φ 0 0 fd -H tn -H rH 0 ϋ <H 0 -H rH 0 43 0 0 rH U • H CQ i rH 0 0 ( TJ tn -r. 0 (TJ 0 tn 0 -0 0 φ IH υ -H CQ ε -H 0 a Φ rH rd Q- si Φ φ B ϋ CQ 0 43 0 Q, Φ Ti 0 • H --- .0 H Φ -H 43 0 0 • 3 ε 3: rH ø 4H 0 -5 r-l tn 0 ■ H φ ^ 0 CQ ε 0 Si 0 • H - υ . .0 43 43 a 0 >i • H -H 0 0 43 43 rH Φ 43 -H -H 43 -H Φ 0 (TJ Ti 43 -. φ • H Φ 43 0 0 4H Φ Φ ■ 5 Φ m " . si 0 43 0 ϋ !-i -0 0 43 ,0 rH a φ rH 43 0 td 43 CQ rH si Φ Ti 0 VD o 0 0 fd -H -^ Φ EH φ -0 0 43 tn 43 0 ε 0 a 0 rd 4H a rd -H VD a 43 si 0 LO Φ CQ H Φ 0 ,0 a 43 3 rH si 43 0 0 0 si Φ rd ε 0 rH 0 ε 43 rd -ø Φ CQ ,0 crj ΪH rd Λ • 43 υ 0 -H Φ r- rd a a φ m 43 CQ fd CQ 0 • 3 rH Φ M 4-> fd φ 0 X cϋ . 0 0 Ti ε φ a CQ 43 ,0 Φ 0 CQ 0 si -. 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Ti CQ 43 0 0 0 0 -H i-i Φ a -H rH Φ rH 43 rH -a a tn .3 rH 43 si B 43 tn 0 X Φ 0 rH Φ -0 -H φ 43 rd 0 Ti a - O Φ rH ε 0 43 4-1 0 tn 43 0 0 43 CQ (Tj CQ φ 4H CQ Φ 0 i 43 M φ a < rH ε Ό Jø M fd rH rd -H 0 si 0 CQ 0 0 Φ -H 0 ε -H U 43 0 rd 0 -0 r- o rd -H ϋ 4H rH CQ Ti Ti • H -H -H Ti 4H • H rH -H -H 0 4H CQ Φ -H CQ rd 43 -5 43 -t Ti . i CQ 4- ) Φ 0 -H ^ rH Φ i-H 0 43 -O - fd • H O • H i-H ,0 43 0 ■H • o td 0 CM 0 rH a in .5 φ 0 0 tn H i-H O rd Φ 0 <d CQ 0 4H 43 a -H •-i rH CQ 43 Ti 4H ■ 5 rd φ Φ rd a si -ø 0 0 ϋ fti H 0 43 J 4-J tn 0 43 Φ -0 43 0 rd Φ ε 0 0 SH ■H -ø a ε tn CQ vo 43 si -H -H 4-1 CM fd 0 -H 0 Φ υ υ -H tn rH 4H CQ 0 0 rH CM Φ ϋ 43 rd 0 φ Φ m rH 4-> ; Φ rH Φ Φ tn CQ π$ -H 0 0 ø rH CQ 0 rH ε -H -H rH CQ -H r-{ 0 -. <-{ i-H !-l ε CQ 0 o -H ϋ B si 0 4H si 0 -H o m Φ 4H φ (0 0 CQ ø ø 43 CQ r- Ti ϋ φ Ti ϋ . rd rd 0 -H φ 0 Ol Φ 43 -H Φ 0 ■ 5 !H 4H Φ > ø 4H 4-J ε φ 0 SH rd i <-t -H Ti φ • H a m Si 0 J -H CQ O ( TJ 0 Ti -O 0 tn 0 i— 1 φ CM (CJ 43 0 -H rd rd -Q 0 43 rH 43 43 0 4-1 0 φ 0 4H 0 CQ in 0 Ti Ti 0 <-, tn -. 0 0 0 CJ a Φ . si 0 0 rd 0 in (15 tn 0 rH Φ CQ CQ 0 O >. -H Φ si u 0 0 43 CM 43 m 0 ϋ CM a rd si 4 0 0 in 0 rd 0 0 -H ITS υ rH Φ φ Ti o 4H -H -H Φ crj td φ φ 0 0 Φ a 0 a Φ CQ 4-> -H ϋ si 43 Φ Φ φ -H 0 rH Φ rH tn 43 43 -H Si 0 Φ 43 u si si rd 0 rH Φ 0 A. Φ m CQ Ti CQ ε a 0 CQ -H υ Φ CQ 0 0 υ 0 Φ si Φ 43 43 43 Φ 0 u Φ rH Φ 0 r-l 0 Φ rH φ φ i-i -H 0 0 43 -H 4H M -H -H 0 φ 0 -H -13 4 : φ CQ -H Φ -H 43; a CQ -0 43 ϋ -H i-l 0 -n XI 0 Si 0 ,0 Φ Φ 0 43 1 CQ ! ι a rH fϋ IS) 0 υ ,0 4H 4H -H 0 M 43 4-3 ε ■ H 4 -H rd ϋ 4 43 EH 0 EH -H CQ si Φ 0 Φ -H in 43 rH u 0 4-3 o 43 4H 0 Ti 0 0 0 0 CQ 4-3 tn -H 43 rd 43 0 fϋ rH TS & φ 0 CO (d fd a 0 rd 43 td 0 CQ CM 3 -H 0 0 43 φ -5 0 43 Φ 0 Φ a & Φ ε si CJ φ φ υ 4H rH φ ϋ a Φ 0 rti 0 rH 0 LD 0 LO 0 43 CQ υ 0 ε tn rH Φ 43 si rH -. tn 0 tn rH ε Φ si Φ 0 in (3- 43 0 ϋ rH υ Φ rd Φ 43 < 0 0 υ 0 IH U φ 43 0 0 0 0 Φ -a φ is si φ Φ ø a -H Φ CQ CQ U 0- 43 CQ CQ -H -H 0 Φ -H si Φ -H Φ -H -3 CQ si - 0 - > φ 90 -O 43 3 φ CQ Φ 0 0 0 r-i Ti 43 (CJ 0 0 43 4-3 Λ; TJ ϋ TJ 43 Φ 43 ti • H r-i 0 Φ 0 rH 0 r-{ 0 0 43 fd rH CJ1 rH 0 Φ 43 0 υ rH 0 -H Φ φ 0 -. ti 0 υ o -0 rd >. 0 -0 0 0 ^- -H φ -H 0 o rd O Si 0 rd 0 0 O Φ rH 4-- 0 4H 0 O H rd 0 -H CM 4-J fi rH .0 43 -0 4H Φ <-\ ε 4H -H si a 43 IH -H a 0 a si 0 CQ 43 4-3 0 4H 4-3 H ϋ td 43 o Φ 0 φ 0 si Φ rH 0 -H 0 1 rH -H 0 Φ φ CJ 41 f . ϋ rd 1 φ 43 -. 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Φ 0 J 0 0 ε -H rd 0 CQ Ti 40 Ti 0 Φ -H r- 43 r- 0 -H 0 CJ 0 0 rd o 4-. 0 rH U) ε 0 Φ rd rd ε 0 0 CQ 0 CQ -H Φ 43 0 CQ 0 TS φ 0 0 ti rd 43 -H ε rH Η 0 rd 0 43 ϋ -n 0 4H 0 - -H Ti 43 rd 0 0 41 0 41 0 U ti >i Φ P ϋ -H rH rd 4H ε φ rH -H 0 Ti 0 φ rd n ε 43 0 0 rd 0 Φ CJ 0 4-> a • H -H rH ε U Φ Ti -H CQ rH rd 43 43 in rd 4H 0 -. 0 rH 0 41 CQ 0 Φ -. Φ -H 41 -H 0 a Ti 0 0 ε 43 U i-H Φ Ti -≥ CQ >i 0 u rd -H Φ Ti 43 rH tn rd O Φ 43 ε ε 43 41 0 -. rd tn Φ 4-J Φ Φ rd 0 41 -H 0 43 CQ T3 Φ 41 φ 0 H -H tn ε 15 41 -5 ■ CQ CQ Φ 43 0 r-i 0 ε CQ ■ 5 CQ 43 -H CQ Φ Φ 41 • ? 43 Φ O -H rH -13 tn tn Φ 43 B -H 1 a 41 -H -H rd 0 Φ 0 Φ CQ rd Φ a ■ δ ε 0 rH 43 43 Φ 0 Q 43 fd CQ Φ -H 0 41 rd in 0 0 43 0 Ti 0 -H > -H 41 rd Φ ε o 0 0 0 CJ 0 ε 0 rd ϋ φ 4H -H -Q rH -H 43 41 φ fβ 0 Φ CD 0 0 0 4-) 43 a in 3 0 rH r- ϋ -H 0 0 0 0 ϋ Φ 41 O 0 43 43 Φ 41 0 a O O -H Ti o 0 CQ Φ Φ rH 43 0 ■ H CQ ε 43 IH 0 O Φ 0 0 4H rH 43 0 0 43 co U 43 φ ϋ 0 4-1 D Φ 0 41 3 -H 41 0 ε 41 Φ Ti H rH -H 0 0 CQ J φ -H CQ rH Φ 0 0 ϋ 0 j— 1 rd φ 43 ϋ (d CM 0 U Ti • 0 0 tn a 0 -H Φ 43 ε 43 o 0 Φ ■ H >, 0 ϋ CJ 41 0 0 -H a Φ 0 4 -H Ti -H Φ 0 0 CQ a Φ rd 43 U 0 0 in 0 1 > id •-I Φ Φ Φ -H 43 4H Φ O 41 4Q 0 41 rd Φ M Q 0 td Φ 0 0 Φ 0 0 Φ φ Φ ■ ψ 0 Φ 0 43 -H 41 0 Ti 43 43 0 41 4-1 5 φ Φ CQ 0 -5 0 0 43 M CQ rd ε 0 -H υ 41 ε 43 tn 0 40 Ti 43 0 rH 0 -H 0 43 41 0 -H Φ Φ 0 0 - rH υ 0 0 1 H a W 43 Φ 4H J 0 u 0 0 0 rd -H tn 0 Φ CM 43 rd 0 Ti 41 0 43 CQ 0 Φ rd 43 0 a φ Φ 0 0 Φ ε Φ 0 -. 41 a -. 0 0 U H CJ 0 0 43 -H 0 0 4H 43 0 u Φ • 41 4H 0 43 -H 0 Φ 0 0 LO 0 a -H 4-1 -H 4H rd -H 43 Φ 0 Φ 43 m 0 Φ -H 41 CQ 4J 0 CQ Φ Φ 43 4H Φ tn φ 0 TJ > CQ 0 >t J Ti 0 -. 0 ε Φ Ti rd H 0 si > 43 -H td i-H Ti Φ 43 Φ Φ r-i 0 M 0 Ti Φ 0 Φ rd CM Φ 3 43 40 -H 43 φ ? 0 Φ φ tn 41 0 0 43 Ti <-i a -H 0 0 o Φ Ti rd 0 41 φ in ϋ ϋ CQ 0 Φ 4-J 0 i ε Ti 4H rd 43 0 ε 0 Φ H φ Φ Φ 0 ε Ti t Φ u CQ Φ 0 IH 41 0 0 rd -H -. 0 41 0 0 0 rd rd 41 ε 41 -. Ti 41 fd 0 3 M φ CQ ε -H 43 -H Φ Φ ■ r-) Φ CQ EH 0 43 φ Φ 0 0 0 r- Ti EH • -H 43 rd Φ CQ 0 rd 0 0 43 . 4-) ϋ -H Ti 43 CQ φ υ 41 Φ Φ φ in a 0 0 CQ Ti 0 Φ 90 Φ 43 CQ 43 CJ tn fd CQ 0 43 0 0 rd 41 0 Φ 0 φ 43 3 41 tn 43 0 0 0 0 rH Φ 0 ε φ 0 • H φ CQ 0 0 . 0 -H 0 0 tn 0 ε 0 43 43 υ td 0 φ CJ td π rH ε o rd 41 0 Φ 41 -H -H ■ H rd CQ ε 0 rd 0 -H 0 0 rd Φ 0 Φ 0 ε φ 4H 41 φ 43 Φ ε -H ø CQ 5 EH ϊ a in ,0 43 Ti 43 ε S VD Φ CQ CJ 0 rH ϋ CQ ε TS -H 43 CO ■ H u 0 43 0 rd ε φ ■ 5 ϋ -H ^ 0 O CQ Φ 1 1 Φ 43 43 -H 1 1 tn -H 43 CJ CQ 0 1 0 Φ CQ Φ 43 0 0 CQ 0 0 0 Φ Φ 4H Φ -H -H ε -H 0 43 CQ 0 ε 0 0 r- 0 0 <-.) 43 41 φ 41 0 41 IΛ 0 O rH 0 Φ Φ a -H a a 0 -U [— o 0 43 Ti φ tn 4H EH 43 r- Ti υ Ti 0 0 Φ H 43 41 CQ 0 CQ 4H 0 in Φ ε tn 0 o φ Φ Φ CQ 0 0 43 43 0 0 i 0 o 43 -H 0 Φ 0 0 >< 43 ■ H 0 ε r- • rH 41 0 o Ti Φ Ti Φ 0 a M Ti 3 0 Φ 0 0 0 Ti 0 41 Ti -H ■ H rH u 43 -H -H Ti >. tn υ 0 ω -H in -H CQ Φ 0 CQ 0 0 0 X 0 0 0 r. φ Ti 0 Ti φ Tl φ 0 n ti 0 -H 0 e rd -H φ CQ 0 -H 0 -H 0 CO 4H -H 43 -H 0 Φ 0 Ti 43 0 -13 φ -n Φ 0 0 φ o 0 0 41 0 H -H ε -H 0 tn G S -5 M rH 0 4H ε 0 41 -H 0 — J 0 43 X O 41 0 0 a 0 0 3 -H U Ti -H Ti & 0 Φ 0 Ti Φ -H IH ε φ Φ CJ O ■ H 0 43 υ 0 CQ 0 0 Φ α. ε ε ε rH 41 Φ 0 Φ si 0 tn 0 0 Φ 43 φ CM -n Φ 4H a φ 0 -H • H 41 41 Φ Φ 0 0 -H υ G U 4H Ti 0 0 -H 0 0 -H . φ 0 0 0 n 0 -H Φ ε 43 43 tn Φ 43 41 Φ υ -H -H 0 0 -H 43 -H 0 CQ CM 41 3J 0 0 1 43 CQ φ 0 1 Q ε 41 0 0 41 43 41 Tl 43 41 Φ C 0 . 3 υ Ti TS CQ ,-i O 43 Φ Φ in -H φ 43 Φ 43 43 0 43 0 43 a Φ -H Φ Φ 0 . 3 0 43 o Φ 0 Φ Φ a a 0 43 -H tn T! 0 0 tn >. 41 CQ 0 0 0 4H tn 0 0 Φ 0 φ CQ 43 0 X rH Φ Ti 0 Φ 0 φ 41 ε 0 0 ti 0 43 43 41 0 υ -H CQ 0 0 a -. 4-J a 0 Φ Φ υ -H υ < φ -H 0 Φ 0 43 CJ -H Ti ε 0 -H ε CQ 0 Φ 43 Φ -H ε -H Φ 43 TS Φ 4H -H rH 0 0 υ 0 0 -H -H 0 Ti 43 •-. 41 rd Ti -H 43 41 H 0 -π φ 0 0 43 • CJ 0 0 J 0 41 0 CM 0 43 0 -H 0 φ 3 0 Φ Φ 0 J u 43 rH Φ Φ 0 co -H 0 in 0 43 Φ CQ 3 0 Φ -H 0 0 0 φ rH φ T! tn 41 0 0 X Φ ■ H a 41 Φ 0 0 rH 43 U Φ 41 CJ 0 0 41 43 Φ tr 43 tn φ ε Φ 0 υ CJ Φ CO 41 41 O 43 41 0 a 0 Φ CQ 41 in 43 • H -. 0 Φ 43 0 Ti CM 0 0 ε rd Φ ε 0 -H IH -3 43 43 4J CQ 0 Φ r-{ -H 43 43 O -H -H 4 0 43 Φ 0 -H J 0 -0 Φ Φ 4-j Ti CQ Φ in Φ 0 a 41 υ TJ Φ 0 a H ε 0 4H CQ Φ 0 0 υ 4J 41 0 • 0 ^ Φ 43 . 41 0 43 -H 4H rH 43 0 0 0 3 a Φ 0 Φ H OJ CQ CQ 43 4 Φ CM 0 rH 43 0 <-\ CQ 43 φ 41 43 Φ 0 υ CQ 0 0 Φ -H CQ 41 Φ H - -H -H 0 43 υ 43 0 rH φ ε J 41 0 41 -H Φ Φ 0 41 υ 43 Ti 0 CQ 43 43 41 43 41 41 -. υ 0 0 0 M 43 43 0 rH Φ 0 43 0 CQ 43 υ 41 0 43 0 Φ 0 -H • H 43 CQ EH 43 S φ Φ Φ ε CQ 0 -H υ υ rH tn φ -H a -H 0 0 43 Φ Φ 0 43 CQ 0 CQ 0 -H rH a 0 -H -H 41 rH -H -H -H 0 -5 CQ X 0 0 -. Ti 0 tn -H 41 • 0 43 CQ φ 0 tn Ti 43 0 43 43 41 -H φ Φ 0 0 ε 41 0 • H U a 43 - . 0 43 4H i- 0 0 0 EH CQ CQ 0 φ 4H 0 0 u 0 0 3 Ti > CQ 41 CQ 43 tn . 3 i-l 41 Φ Φ 0 Φ -H T! Φ Φ 0 Φ 0 -H Φ CQ ε 0 0 0 Φ 43 Φ 0 φ -H 0 4H 0 -H υ 41 > O ε 0 Φ rH -. 0 0 υ a υ 0 0 φ a CM 0 43 43 O G CQ tr 0 a 0 0 43 , CJ 0 0 4H ε Φ 41 Ti Ti ■ H CQ 0 -H -3 -H 4-3 Φ 0 0 0 Ti C 0 43 43 Φ Ti -H 41 3 CQ Ti 0 φ -H Φ Φ -H 0 φ Φ φ Φ υ φ 0 φ 43 0 CQ 0 Φ 0 0 44 CQ CQ 43 3 4H 0 Ti o tn 43 tn CQ 41 43 0 ε Ti CQ 41 Φ 0 Ti 0 Φ 4-1 41 • H . 0 43 -H -H -J 0 41 φ Φ Ti u rd 0 0 43 43 0 43 CQ Φ Φ EH -H 1 φ 0 0 Φ U 0 EH ε CQ J X Φ Φ 0 41 Φ φ ε rd ε ø 0 CQ 4H CQ CQ CQ 0 φ in Φ 41 0 Φ φ 0 0 r- 4-1 ε Φ -. 0 43 0 0 -H a -H ω 0 rH 0 0 Φ -H 0 ■ 5 . 0 tn 0 Ti 43 Φ Φ • Φ -H 0 -H 4-1 -H N Φ 0 0 0 Φ 0 41 0 in 0 0 0 0 0 40 tn CQ 43 43 1 0 0 Φ 43 -H tn 43 CQ 0 CQ 4H rH 4H . TS > >. IH Φ 41 CJ ε 0 0 Φ Φ 43 0 -H Φ 0 φ CQ Φ 0 CQ 0 -H 43 -H 0 0 0 >, Φ CQ 0 43 Φ Λ CO φ -H 0 υ Φ 43 0 Φ 0 . 43 rH ε X TS Φ tn ε CQ 0 rH -H -H 41 Φ 0 o TS -H 0 a 0 Φ 0 0 41 -H Ti • H ■ H tn CQ 41 >- Φ , 0 0 TJ Ti 43 co 0 O CJ 41 φ Lf3 Φ Ti 0 CQ 0 0 -H 43 40 ε CQ Φ -H EH 0 0 0 -H υ 43 > -13 o 0 Φ 0 φ rH . ^ 41 r— | 0 0 0 • H 0 -H CJ ε 43 0 0 in -H -H -H Φ -H 0 0 0 43 0 U . 43 43 rH 43 H CQ rH 0 O Φ a -. - 0 0 0 CM 41 r φ J Φ 3 0 0 0 tn 0 0 TS 4H 0 l 0 43 O Φ Ti Φ Φ r Φ 0 0 Φ 0 -5 rd 0 rH si 0 0 o CQ -H 0 0 43 φ 0 0 41 0 0 rH TS 41 Φ 41 41 rH υ 0 0 rH 0 0 0 CQ 0 O Φ EH 0 Φ CQ 43 Φ r-, a CQ X Φ 0 -H Φ φ H tn 43 43 ■ H -H υ 43 Φ Φ 0 Φ 0 -H -a 4H a Φ υ -H CQ 0 -H Φ Φ 0 ε υ CQ 0 0 CQ 0 43 ε • H -H 90 tn rH CQ rH 43 0 43 Φ 43 0 0 43 0 43 a 4H rH 3 0 0 -H 0 0 0 0 0 43 CQ 0 σs rd a -H a 0 0 • 0 0 tn 43 0 Φ Φ 0 CQ 0 43 Φ 0 0 43 Φ 0 -H 0 o ε 0 0 0 >. 0 CQ rH Φ Φ 4H -H Ti CQ 0 Φ Ti -H 41 41 Φ Φ 0 0 41 φ 0 O 41 0 41 0 ^ -H 0 -H 3 ϊ a 0 a 0 rH a a Ti a 0 43 Φ -H 0 43 ε 43 4 ε Ti 0 0 3 ε 4H 0 EH a 43 υ ^ Φ . 0 tn tn CQ 41 CQ 1 CQ 0 φ 0 CQ 0 1 f -. ϋ -H 43 ε φ 0 Φ 41 41 -H -H >. -H CQ • 1 f 0 -H Ti 43 0 Φ 0 CQ 43 43 Φ 43 41 43 Ti -H 0 0 0 43 0 0 0 a 41 φ a Φ 41 CQ rH CJ 43 -H 0 Φ 43 © ε 0 CQ 4-1 ε -H rH Ti O 43 43 rH CQ 0 CQ Φ 0 rH Φ Φ CQ Φ > & -H <-. ϋ -i-i 0 40 ϋ i-H CQ Φ Λ CJ CJ Φ Φ Φ 41 ε -H rH 43 φ 0 CJ 43 -H ε 0 0 o rH 43 4H 43 0 41 0 0 • 0 rH rH CQ • 43 43 3 rH rH -0 Φ 0 TJ 0 0 ε en 0 0 CQ O -H Ti 0 Φ IH TJ 0 Φ 0 43 U rH 0 Φ 0 0 0 0 si rH 43 o 0 -H 43 O 43 Φ 3 Φ ϋ 43 Φ 41 φ 0 -H 0 0 rH -. 43 CQ CJ CQ -H Ti EH a ø 4H CJ CQ H 0 43 CQ £ 0 Ti • U φ 4-J 41 0 -U ε CJ 0 43 0 Φ rH 43 0 O O CQ U O 0 Φ Φ 0 0 TS 41 0 0 a a 0 CQ 41 0 CQ rH 0 0 0 0 φ Φ Φ Ti Q- 43 0 CQ 43 rH φ Φ rH tn rH 0 Ti CQ 0 Φ Φ CJ 0 43 A. Ti >- rH 41 Φ 0 Φ 3 g 43 a -H 0 ø a CO rH 0 φ a CQ 0 Φ ε 0 -0 0 Ti a CQ 0 0 Φ 43 & 43 0 a O 43 0 -H a 0 0 0 φ CQ 0 ε 41 -H 0 41 Φ 0 43 43 rH 0 Φ 43 41 -H ε 0 0 0 41 0 0 CQ 0 0 CJ 0 0 Φ 0 43 43 o CQ 43 0 0 0 0 Φ 0 ε CQ rH 0 0 CQ φ CQ Φ 0 0 41 0 3 0 3 Φ CQ 0 CQ 0 -H 0 41 -H 0 0 -H CQ o 0 43 Φ 0 43 Φ Φ CJ CQ 43 φ 43 a 43 rH 43 rH Φ 0 CQ -H a ϋ H 43 0 Φ a 43 Φ 4H 41 Φ TJ 0 4H 41 Φ Φ 43 CQ 0 rH 0 0 Φ 0 0 0 0 41 -H Φ Ti ε 0 43 rH 4H Φ Φ 43 φ rH 0 υ Φ CQ 0 -. 41 a > Φ Φ Φ Φ 0 • 43 CQ 43 tn CO rH Φ 0 4H > 0 Φ 41 0 Φ φ -H rH ε 0 0 ε 0 41 -0 Φ 0 0 0 0 CQ ϋ 4H Φ -. Ti CQ -H o tn 0 . 43 41 41 CO 0 ϋ Φ CQ Φ Φ ϋ Φ IH 0 -0 φ Φ Φ Ti -H 0 -0 43 Ti 0 Φ Ti ti 0 43 43 0 φ -H 41 > 41 -H 0 rH 41 0 0 -H Ti ε rH φ a 43 Φ φ 0 0 a 0 4H Φ J 41 43 43 tn 0 43 0 φ 0 43 . 0 0 0 0 0 43 0 43 0 43 tn a 43 Ti 0 41 rH a 0 0 φ Φ 43 ϋ 0 u 0 0 -0 rH 0 Φ 0 Φ Φ ->. Φ 0 0 -U 0 φ IH rH -P CQ 0 -H 0 Φ 41 0 -0 Φ φ ϋ 0 0 CJ 0 41 a 0 41 rH 0 41 -H 0 Φ 0 0 0 0 0 a 43 Φ 0 U a Φ 43 0 -0 Ti CJ Φ ϋ O 43 0 43 r a rH EH > CQ 41 ε -H Φ • 4H 41 ε 43 ---- 0 CQ ϋ a Φ 0 φ φ CQ -H CQ - ϋ H a 0 0 43 -ø 4H Ti 0 43 43 Φ CQ -H 0 0 41 0 0 -0 Φ Φ 43 0 43 0 CQ rH 0 CQ . 41 3 Ti Φ rH Φ 43 0 41 Φ CQ . CQ ε 0 3 0 -0 43 44 41 a Φ 0 43 Φ CQ i-H ϋ -H rH Ti 0 Ti 0 0 0 0 43 EH H Φ 41 43 -H Φ ϋ i-H 43 43 0 Ti 0 rH φ -H TJ Φ CQ 43 Φ π 41 0 0 -H 0 O rH tn Φ 0 Φ 41 Φ ϋ 4-J rH CQ CJ i-i 3 CQ CQ Φ 0 43 CQ 0 0 CQ 41 0 ø rH 43 41 43 CJ Φ 0 O 0 O Φ 0 0 A. -H CJ -H 0 CQ rH 41 0 φ 0 Φ ε 0 Ti 0 41 0 0 0 43 0 41 -H -H 43 41 41 3 0 43 -H CQ Φ CJ 43 -H rH CJ rH 0 Φ Φ 0 41 CQ Ti rH 43 CQ 0 43 o 0 0 43 Φ Φ 0 > -H J φ 0 a 0 0 -ø 41 Φ 41 41 Φ a Φ 0 CQ -0 Φ rH 41 0 0 rH rH 0 4- ) 43 Φ > O ε Φ Φ O CQ 0 43 41 43 Φ Φ 43 CQ 0 41 Φ 0 o rH 43 43 a 0 CJ a tn 0 0 0 o -H 0 -0 rH 3 Φ 0 43 Φ 0 41 -H CQ 0 Φ 43 Ti 0 0 43 a a -H ε 0 0 0 0 a 43 43 CQ 43 CJ 4-J 0 0 0 O 43 3 0 Ti rH -H 3 ε tn -. rH 4-J 0 3 -H a O a 0 0 0 -H A. 0 CJ 43 O Φ a CQ 0 ε O 43 0 Ti 0 0 0 4H 0 CQ 0 43 ε 0 Φ Φ 43 CQ 0 43 41 43 TS CQ 0 0 41 0 Ti Φ CQ -H • r-, 0 0 0 41 CJ 4H 0 Φ > 41 Φ 0 -H Φ φ 0 43 0 0 0 tn 0 0 4J ϋ Φ 41 Φ Φ a φ CQ Φ 0 Φ 41 0 43 ε 0 Ti 0 41 0 tn 0 43 0 a Φ 4H Φ 0 rH 0 Φ 43 CQ > > >. 41 rH Φ 43 43 -H o a Φ 43 -H 0 r-i CQ -ø 0 rH Φ rH 0 41 0 -H Φ 43 4H 43 CQ rH 43 41 -. CQ tn tn 43 • H rH 0 CQ > TS 0 4H a TS 0 > 43 CQ 0 43 CQ -0 0 -H 0 0 -13 rH 4H Φ Φ 0 0 4-1 υ -3 0 43 Φ 0 0 rH CQ 4-1 ε 0 4H TS Φ 43 0 rH 4H U 0 rH o 41 ϋ 0 -H 41 O 0 0 4H CQ H 43 41 0 CQ 0 0 -0 0 4H rH 0 4H 0 >. 0 43 0 Ti -H 43 0 -H 43 Ti CJ CQ CJ O Φ CQ 0 0 CJ 0 0 O 0 43 rH Φ ε 0 . 3 CQ 0 0 r-. -ø Φ Ti 43 43 -H CQ CQ ϋ 0 rH CQ Φ Φ -0 Φ 0 -H CQ 0 41 0 0 0 4H 43 Ti 41 0 41 TJ - 0 0 0 43 Φ Φ a H Φ 0 41 43 tn 43 4H 43 Φ i-H rH -H CQ 43 43 0 0 CQ Φ 43 41 3 -0 43 0 0 0 0 rH rH 0 0 ■ 41 43 0 0 0 i-f in a 0 CQ Φ Φ Φ H -H 0 0 CQ 0 CJ ϋ Φ o 4H rH EH Ti 0 -H 0 < 0 0 ->! 0 Ά, 41 tn 43 Φ • H tn rH Φ 0 0 Ti •-. Ti TS a -H -H -ø Φ Φ Ti Φ >, a CQ ε 0 0 90 rH 43 43 0 0 a -H rH rH 0 Φ Φ Φ rH rH 43 43 0 0 0 CQ ε rH 0 43 0 • H rH 0 Φ a ε CJ 0 0 CQ 0 ϋ 4H TJ X 0 0 0 Φ 0 0 0 Φ Φ CQ 0 0 0 ε 4H & Φ 0 tn o a 0 41 0 -H CJ 0 Φ ε -H 0 • H 0 O 0 41 0 0 0 41 41 Φ o 0 0 ε 41 Φ 0 0 0 43 Φ 0 Ti 4H CQ Hi Ti CQ 43 0 0 4H CQ ϋ ϋ 43 a a ϋ a 43 > 4H 3 ε Φ 43 ε 0 -H c o neously, but the image must be divided into a plurality of images of one particle each. According to a further alternative embodiment, the mirrors of the mirror-supporting means could be arrang- ed at a different angle to the center axis. The image- recording means would then need to be dislodged accordingly, so that the mirror image of the particle stands still seen from the image-recording means. The optical measurement can be any kind of light- sensitive measurement. The detector need not record an image but can record the light intensity in certain points or some kind of averaging among a plurality of properties, such as directly reflected light compared with diffusely reflected light. An image-recording means could be, for instance, another type of digital camera, such as a CMOS camera. Furthermore the sample-feeding unit need not rotate during continuous movement, but this is in most cases advantageous since it causes insignificant wear on mecha- nical parts.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for optical measuring of small particles (5), such as grains from cereals and like crops, for analysis of the quality of the particles (5) , which comprises a sample-feeding carrier (2) which is adapted to take up particle samples, which each comprise at least one particle (5) , in sample holders (6) and transport the particle samples to a place for optical measurement, a mirror-supporting means (3) which follows the movement of the carrier (2) and has a mirror (7) for each sample holder (6), a device for illuminating (12) a particle sample when this is positioned for optical measurement, and a detector (13) which is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation for recording at least one result of an optical measurement of the illuminated particle sample, a mirror (7) in the mirror-supporting means (3) reflecting the particle sample so that a mirror image of the particle sample stands essentially still seen from the detector (13), when the measurement is being recorded, owing to the fact that the mirror image of the par- tide sample falls on a center axis of the movement of the mirror-supporting means (3) . 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sample-feeding carrier (2) is adapted to feed the particle samples during continuous movement. 3. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the detector (13) is an image-recording means which records an image of the particle sample in the optical measurement . 4. The device as claimed in claim 3, further com- prising a means for image analysis of the recorded image, an image of a particle sample, which comprises a plurality of particles (5) , being, with the aid of the means for image analysis, divisible into images of one particle (5) each. 5. The device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 , wherein the image-recording means is a digital camera. 6. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sample holders (6) are adapted to take up only one particle (5) . 7. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (2) is circular and rotates to feed the particle samples. 8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mirror-supporting means (3) and the carrier (2) are interconnected by a center shaft (4) and thus follow each other' s movements . 9. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mirrors (7) in the mirror-supporting means (3) are arranged at an angle of 45° to the center axis, the distance between the particle sample and the associated mirror (7) being the same as the distance between the mirror (7) and the center axis for the mirror image of the particle sample to fall on the center axis. 10. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sample holders (6) of the carrier (2) comprise indentations which offer a space for a particle sample. 11. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the sample holders (6) of the carrier (2) comprise through holes in the carrier (2) and a lower particle holding disk (10) which prevents the particles (5) from falling through the holes, the holes and the particle holding disk (10) thus offering a space for a particle sample. 12. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, further comprising a means for generating a subatmos- pheric pressure on the underside of the carrier (2), the sample holders (6) of the carrier (2) comprising holes to which particle samples adhere by means of the subatmospheric pressure. 13. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of places for optical measurement are arranged, which each have a detector (13), the illumination being variable between the places for different analyses. 14. A method for optical measuring of small particles (5) , such as grains from cereals and like crops, for analysis of the quality of the particles (5) , comprising the steps of feeding particle samples which each comprise at least one particle (5) , to a place for optical measurement , following the movement of a particle sample with a mirror (7) in such manner that, in the place for optical measurement, a mirror image of the particle sample falls on a center axis of the movement of the mirror (7) , illuminating the particle sample when positioned for optical measurement, and recording at least one result of an optical measurement of the illuminated particle sample by means of a detector (13) which is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation, the mirror image of the particle sample standing essentially still seen from the detector (13) , when the measurement is being recorded, owing to the fact that the mirror image of the particle sample falls on the center axis of the movement. 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the particle samples are fed during continuous movement. 16. The method as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein the detector (13) is an image-recording means which records an image of the particle sample in the optical measurement . 17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of dividing an image of a particle sample which comprises a plurality of particles (5) , into images of one particle (5) each. 18. The method as claimed in claim 16 or 17, further comprising the step of analyzing the recorded image by image analysis for determining the quality of the particle sample. 19. The method as claimed in any one of claims 16- 18, wherein a digital camera is used as the image- recording means . 20. The method as claimed in any one of claims 14- 16, wherein only one particle (5) is fed in each particle sample . 21. The method as claimed in any one of claims 14- 20, wherein the particle samples are fed by sample holders (6) in a circular carrier(2), which is rotated to feed the particle samples. 22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein a mirror-supporting means (3), which supports mirrors (7), which follow particle samples, is connected to the carrier (2) via a center shaft (4) and thus made to follow the movements of the carrier (2) and the particle samples . 23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the mirrors (7) of the mirror-supporting means (3) are arranged at an angle of 45° to the center axis, the distance between a particle sample and the associated mirror (7) being the same as the distance between the mirror (7) and the center axis for the mirror image of the particle sample to fall on the center axis. 24. The method as claimed in any one of claims 21- 23, wherein the sample holders (6) of the carrier (2) comprise indentations which offer a space for a particle sample . 25. The method as claimed in any one of claims 21- 23, wherein the sample holders (6) of the carrier (2) comprise through holes in the carrier (2) and a lower particle holding disk (10) which prevents the particles (5) from falling through the holes, the holes and the particle holding disk (10) thus offering a space for a particle sample. 26. The method as claimed in any one of claims 21- 23, wherein a means for generating a subatmospheric pressure is arranged on the underside of the carrier (2) , the sample holders (6) of the carrier (2) comprising holes to which particle samples are made to adhere by the subatmospheric pressure. 27. The method as claimed in any one of claims 14- 26, further comprising the step of recording a plurality of optical measurements of each particle sample with different kinds of illumination during the measurements, the recordings occurring in different places by means of a plurality of detectors (13) .

Inventors: HANSSON PETER, JONASON TOMAS, LEIDE ERLAND, WEDELSBAECK HAAKAN, WIHLBORG NILS, YLIKANGAS ROGER, HANSSON, PETER, JONASON, TOMAS, LEIDE, ERLAND, WEDELSBAECK, HAAKAN, WIHLBORG, NILS, YLIKANGAS, ROGER
Applicants: FOSS TECATOR AB, HANSSON PETER, JONASON TOMAS, LEIDE ERLAND, WEDELSBAECK HAAKAN, WIHLBORG NILS, YLIKANGAS ROGER, HANSSON, PETER, JONASON, TOMAS, LEIDE, ERLAND, WEDELSBAECK, HAAKAN, WIHLBORG, NILS, YLIKANGAS, ROGER
Application year: 2001
Main classification: G01N15
IPC codes: G01N15, G01N21