Abstract
A device and a method for providing granular matter is described. The device includes a receiving container configured and adjusted for receiving the granular matter. The receiving container has an output for providing the granular matter to a further processing. The device has a measuring unit configured for measuring a density of the granular matter in the receiving container using terahertz spectroscopy.
Claims
1. A device for providing a granular matter, the device comprising: a receiving container configured and adjusted for receiving the granular matter, wherein the receiving container has an output for providing the granular matter to a further processing, and a measuring unit configured for measuring a density of the granular matter in the receiving container using terahertz spectroscopy.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit is configured for measuring the density of the granular matter during providing the granular matter through the output.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit is configured for emitting primary electromagnetic radiation into the receiving container and for receiving secondary electromagnetic radiation, generated by an interaction between the primary electromagnetic radiation and the granular matter.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit comprises a terahertz generating unit configured for generating the primary electromagnetic radiation, a radiating unit configured for radiating the terahertz electromagnetic radiation to the receiving container and for receiving the secondary electromagnetic radiation.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit is arrangeable on the outside of the receiving container for preventing interaction with the granular matter.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving container comprises an inlet coupled to the receiving container for receiving granular matter, wherein the granular matter is moving from the inlet to the output of the receiving container, wherein the measuring unit is configured for measuring the density if the granular matter is moving.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving container further comprises a calibration unit configured to calibrate the measuring unit for the measurement of the respective granular matter density received inside the receiving container.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the calibration unit comprises a force applying element configured for applying a force to the granular matter for compressing the granular matter adjusting density parameters of the granular matter.
9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving container is configured as at least one of the group consisting of a feeder, a blender, a rotary container of a capsule filling machine, a storage device, a granulator, roller compactor, twin-screw granulator, a tamping pin device, and tableting machine.
10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving container is rotatable, around a rotation axis of the receiving container for rotating the granular matter.
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving container is movable along a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the receiving container and/or along a direction parallel to the rotational axis.
12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving container further comprises a vibration unit configured for vibrating the receiving container and the granular matter.
13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving container comprises a material permeable for terahertz radiation.
14. A method of providing a granular matter, the method comprising: receiving the granular matter in a receiving container, wherein the receiving container has an output for providing the granular matter to a further processing, and measuring a density of the granular matter in the receiving container by terahertz spectroscopy.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the density is measured during providing the granular matter through the output.
16. The method according to the claim 14, wherein information indicative of the density is detected in a plurality of consecutive time intervals or continuously over time.
17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the measuring is conducted while the granular matter is moving.
18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: comparing of the measured density of the granular matter with a desired density of the granular matter.
19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: averaging measured density by an average filter for reducing noise.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates a device for providing granular matter comprising a measuring unit according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates a device for providing granular matter equipped with a calibration unit according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates a device for providing granular matter according to an exemplary embodiment, configured as a dosator system.
[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates a device for providing granular matter according to an exemplary embodiment, configured as a tamping pin system.
[0042] FIG. 5 illustrates a density variation measured by the measuring unit according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 6 illustrates a device for providing granular matter according to an exemplary embodiment, configured as a compacting roller system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0044] The illustrations in the drawings are schematically presented. In different drawings, similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference signs.
[0045] In the following, referring to FIG. 1 a device 100 for providing granular matter 103 is illustrated. The device 100 comprises a receiving container 101 which may receive the granular matter 103 inside. The receiving container has an output 104 and an inlet 105 through which the granular matter 103 may flow. Through the output 104 the granular matter 103 is provided to further processing. Further, the device 100 comprises a measuring unit 102 which is configured for measuring a density of the granular matter 103 inside of the receiving container 101 using terahertz spectroscopy. The inlet 105 is coupled to the receiving container 101 for receiving the granular matter 103, wherein the granular matter 103 is moving from the inlet 105 to the output 104 of the receiving container 101. The measuring unit 102 may measure the density of the granular matter 103, when the granular matter 103 is moving from the inlet 105 to the output 104. In particular, the measuring unit may be configured for measuring the density of the granular matter 103 during providing the granular matter 103 through the output 104. The measuring unit 102 is configured for emitting primary electromagnetic radiation into the receiving container 101 and for receiving secondary electromagnetic radiation, generated by an interaction between the primary electromagnetic radiation and the granular matter 103. The measuring unit 102 comprises a terahertz generating unit 106 configured for generating the primary electromagnetic radiation and a radiating unit 107 configured for radiating the terahertz electromagnetic radiation to the receiving container 101 and for receiving the secondary electromagnetic radiation. The measuring unit 102 is arrangeable on the outside of the receiving container 101 for preventing interaction with the granular matter 103. In particular both the terahertz generating unit 106 and the radiation unit 107 are arranged outside of the receiving container 101. The radiation unit 107 may be arranged adjacent to the receiving container 101, or in particular adjacent with a low distance to the position at the device 100 where the measurement should be conducted. It may also be possible that the radiation unit 107 is in contact with an outer surface of the receiving container 101 such that the primary electromagnetic radiation may have a small distance to pass into the receiving container 101. The material of the receiving container 101 may be made of material permeable for terahertz radiation. The radiation unit 107 is positionable at a plurality of positions at the device 100. In FIG. 1 at least four possible positions are illustrated. For instance, the radiation unit 107 may be positionable at the inlet 105, at the output 104 at the side of the receiving container and/or at the bottom of the receiving container 107. It is also possible that all positions are used, such that for instance four radiation units 107 are used for the measuring of the density at the different positions. Each of the respective radiation units 107 may be coupled to the terahertz generating unit 106. On the other hand, it may also be possible that each of the respective radiation units 107 is coupled to a respective terahertz generating unit 106, such that according to FIG. 1 four terahertz generating units 106 and four radiation units 107 are used for the four positions. Further, the device 100 comprises a data processing unit 109 for processing the received information relating to the measured density of the granular matter 103. The data processing unit 109 may be coupled to the measuring unit 102, in particular the data processing unit 109 may be coupled to the terahertz generating unit 106. Further, the device 100 comprises a calibration unit 108 configured for calibrate the measuring unit 102 for the measurement of the respective granular matter 103 density received inside the receiving container 101. The calibration unit 108 may be coupled to the measuring unit 102, in particular the calibration unit 108 may be coupled to the terahertz generating unit 106.
[0046] In the following, referring to FIG. 2 a device 100 for providing granular matter 103 according to a further exemplary embodiment is illustrated. In particular, in FIG. 2 the calibration unit 109 is illustrated in detail. The calibration unit 109 comprises a force applying element 212 configured for applying a force to the granular matter 103 for compressing the granular matter. In this exemplary embodiment the receiving container 101 is configured as a rotary container in which the granular matter 103 is arranged. The inlet 105 of the receiving container 101 may be the top opening of the receiving container 101. On top of the granular matter 103 the force applying element 212 is arranged. The force applying element 212 is configured as a metal plate, in particular as a metal ring. The force applying element 212 may be attached to the inside of the receiving container 101. The receiving container 101 is rotatable along a rotation axis 211 of the receiving container 101. The rotation of the receiving container 101 may be performed by a motor 210. Further, the receiving container 101 is movable, along a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis 211 of the receiving container 101, for moving the granular matter. For example, the receiving container is movable from the left to the right side illustrated in FIG. 2. A radiation unit 107 is arranged at the receiving container 101 for measuring the density of the granular matter 103. Different densities may be applied to the granular matter 103 using the force applying element 212, wherein the force applying element is attached inside of the receiving container 101 at different heights. The adjustment of the height of the force applying element 212 may be performed by screws attaching the force applying element 212 to the receiving container 101. For each height a different density exists due to the differentiating forces applied to the granular matter 103. The calibration unit may store the measured densities for providing the measured densities as reference parameters to the measuring unit 102 of the device 100 for providing granular matter. The calibration unit 109 may be attached to a bench or a frame 213.
[0047] In the following, referring to FIG. 3 an exemplary embodiment of the device 100 is illustrated, wherein the device is configured as a dosator system 320. The dosator system comprises the receiving container 101, wherein the inlet 105 pf the receiving container 101 may be the top opening into which the granular matter is introduced. Further, the dosator system 320 may comprise at least one dosator 320, in FIG. 3 two dosators are illustrated. The dosator 320 is able to remove granular matter 103 out of the receiving container 101, such that the dosator 320 may function as the output of the receiving container 101. The dosators 320 are arranged at a support holding the dosators, wherein the dosators 320 are able to perform a movement along a dosator system axis 321 for removing granular matter out of the receiving container 101. In FIG. 3 one dosator is arranged inside the receiving container 101 and another dosator 320 is arranged outside of the receiving container 101. The dosator 320 comprises a dosator tip configured for receiving and/or for holding the granular matter for providing the granular matter to further processing. The dosator 320 arranged at the outside of the receiving container may hold granular matter in the dosator tip 322 such that the granular matter may be released from the dosator tip 322 to the further processing. The radiation unit 107 of the measurement system 102 is arranged for having an insight into the receiving container 101. Hence the radiation system 107 may be able to measure the density before inserting the dosator and after the insertion of the dosator. For instance, the radiation unit 107 may be able to measure the granular matter inside of the dosator tip 322.
[0048] In the following, referring to FIG. 4 a device 100 according to a further exemplary embodiment is illustrated, wherein the device 100 is configured as a tamping pin device. The device 100 comprises at least one tamping pin 440 configured for compressing a part of the granular matter 103 in the receiving container 101. As can be seen in FIG. 4 different states of the tamping pin 440 are shown, which illustrate the different compression states of the granular matter 103. On the other side, it may also be possible that the device 100 comprises a plurality of tamping pins 440. The receiving container 101 may comprise an output 104 through which the granular matter 103 is releasable by the tamping pin 440, wherein the tamping pin is configured in such a manner that the tamping pin 440 is movable through the inner volume of the receiving container 101 and through the output 104 of the receiving container. In the last state, shown in the right side of FIG. 4, the compressed granular matter 103 is ejected out of the receiving container 101 and provided to further processing. The receiving container may have a plurality of outputs 104, such that for each tamping pin 440 an output 104 is provided. The granular matter is released by the tamping pin 440 into a receiving element configured for providing the (compressed) granular matter 103 to further processing. The receiving element 441 may be a tablet or a compact/plug which is filled into a capsule. The radiation unit 107 may be arranged on the device 100 in such a manner that it is able to measure the density of the granular matter 103 before the compressed state (wherein the radiation unit 107 is arranged adjacent to the receiving container 101) and/or in the compressed state, i.e. after compression (wherein the radiation unit 107 is not arranged at the receiving container 101, instead the radiation unit 107 is arranged at the further processing).
[0049] In the following, referring to FIG. 5 a measurement of the density of granular matter 103 is illustrated. The granular matter 103 is located inside of the receiving container 101. The granular matter 103 comprises a plurality of inclusions which influence the density of the granular matter 103. The radiation unit 107 is arranged at the receiving container 101 for measuring the density. Depending on the inclusions 550 the density measured by the radiation unit 107 may vary. For examples the density measured from the left side of FIG. 5 differs from the density measured from the top of the receiving container 101.
[0050] In the following, referring to FIG. 6 a device 100 according to a further exemplary embodiment is illustrated, wherein the device 100 is configured as a roller compactor. The roller compactor device 100 comprises a receiving container 101 formed as a funnel 662, such that the granular matter 103 may flow from the top of the funnel 662 to the bottom of the funnel 662. The top of the funnel 662 may be the inlet of the receiving container 101 and the bottom may be the output of the receiving container 101. The radiation unit 107 measures the density of the granular matter 103 inside of the funnel 662. The device in FIG. 6 further comprises compacting roller 660, which are configured for compacting the granular matter 103 leaving the funnel 662. A further (or also the same) radiation unit 107 measures the density of the compacted granular matter 103 leaving the funnel 662. Inside of the funnel 662 a spinner 661 may be arranged, which may be configured for stirring the granular matter 103 and therefore for being arranged for changing the density of the granular matter 103 inside of the funnel 662.
[0051] It should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Also, elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined.
[0052] Implementation of the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments shown in the figures and described above. Instead, variations are possible which use the solutions shown and the principle according to the invention even in the case of fundamentally different embodiments.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0053] 100 device for providing a granular matter [0054] 101 receiving container [0055] 102 measuring unit [0056] 103 granular matter [0057] 104 output [0058] 105 inlet [0059] 106 terahertz generating unit [0060] 107 radiation unit [0061] 108 calibration unit [0062] 109 data processing unit [0063] 210 motor [0064] 211 rotation axis [0065] 212 force applying element [0066] 213 bench [0067] 320 dosator system [0068] 321 dosator system axis [0069] 322 dosator tip [0070] 440 tamping pin [0071] 441 receiving element [0072] 550 inclusion [0073] 660 compacting roller [0074] 661 spinner [0075] 662 funnel
