Patent ID: 6882423

Claim:
An apparatus for precision measurement of fiber length and fiber length distribution comprising: (a) two spaced-apart and longitudinally extending electrode plates wherein said plates have a significant voltage difference or potential between them; (b) an endless rotating belt extending between and parallel to said two electrode plates, said belt being next adjacent and in contact or close proximity to one of said electrode plates, and the distance between said belt and the other electrode plate being greater than the length of fibers to be tested; (c) a fiber introduction system to introduce a plurality of individual fibers such that one end of said fibers will adhere to said belt adjacent one of said electrode plates and the other end of said fibers will be attracted to the other of said electrode plates and thereby said fibers straightened; (d) an imaging system positioned above said belt to generate image data corresponding to the length of individual fibers being transported by said rotating belt between said two electrode plates; and (e) a data processor for analyzing the image data to determine the length of fibers passing beneath said imaging system.