Spectrometric probe for sampling bulk material and automatic sample taker for sampling including the probe
View Patent ↗A spectrometric probe for sampling of bulk material and automatic sampler for sampling bulk material, which allows to obtain the composition parameters of the material to be sampled directly, avoiding the extraction and transfer of samples that shall be examined in external sections under the observation and analysis of trained and specialized personnel, thus optimizing operation times and reducing related costs.
1. A spectrometric probe for sampling bulk material, wherein the spectrometric probe comprises:
at least one sampling module mounted on a section of the probe and which is formed by a casing having at least one front wall having a transparent inspection window,
a capacitive sensor that is in the casing and protrudes outside the casing for contacting the mass of the bulk material to be sampled,
at least one optical sampling sensor within said casing and directed according to a reading path towards said inspection window, the optical sampling sensor being operatively connected to a remote control panel,
wherein said optical sampling sensor comprises a light source that defines a light beam along a path of illumination directed towards said window, and a reader of light reflected on the mass of the bulk material, wherein said reader is a fiber optic reader directed according to said reading path, said reader being connected to said control panel by optical fiber, and
wherein the sampling module has a linear actuator comprising an actuator connected to a piston that carries at its end a black plate and a white plate that lie between temporary operative positions in front of the reading path of the fiber optic reader.
2. A spectrometric probe according to claim 1 , wherein said light source and said fiber optic reader are mounted on a support and are arranged angularly offset between approximately 35° to 45°.
3. A spectrometric probe according to claim 1 , wherein said control panel is a spectrometer, while said optical sensor is an optical sensor that covers all the spectrometric bands.
4. A spectrometric probe according to claim 1 , wherein said capacitive sensor is operatively connected to an electronic control unit.
5. A spectrometric probe according to claim 1 , wherein said sampling module comprises said front wall, a rear wall and respective side walls made of a material selected from the group consisting of metallic, polymeric, ceramic materials and a combination thereof.
6. A spectrometric probe according to claim 1 , wherein said black plate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a matte black anodized aluminum laser cut and/or black EVA rubber while said white plate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a rectangular cut of a diffuse reflectance material from 2 to 4 nm thick.
7. An automatic sampler for sampling bulk material using the spectrometric probe according to claim 1 , wherein the automatic sampler comprises:
said probe that is driven by an articulated arm,
a plurality of nozzles located in at least one upper, intermediate and lower section of the probe for taking samples of material,
wherein the articulated arm fixed through one of its ends to a column that has a vertical support, and
wherein the articulated arm is driven by a cylinder selected from the group consisting of a pneumatic cylinder, an electro-pneumatic cylinder, and a hydraulic cylinder with the cylinder having an end fixed to the base of said vertical support and an opposite end, fixed to said articulated arm.