Apparatus for determining the shape and/or size of little particles

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for determining the shape and/or size of small particles, comprising a cell into which the particles are placed, at least one light source for illuminating the particles, and at least one one-dimensional image sensor for measuring an image of the illuminated particles. The cell is embodied as a conduit through which the particles can be transported, and the image sensor is placed in the immediate vicinity of the conduit or into the conduit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for determining the shape and/or size of small particles, comprising a conduit through which the particles can be transported, at least one light source for illuminating the particles, and at least one one-dimensional image sensor for measuring an image of the illuminated particles which is placed in the immediate vicinity of the conduit, in the near field (Fresnel zone) of the particles, wherein the apparatus comprises multiple light sources and image sensors that are grouped around the conduit for the formation of the image.  
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the image sensor comprises a structure of elongated photosensitive elements that are placed in the conduit and substantially at right angles to the flow of particles through the conduit.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the image sensor comprises at least one one-dimensional array of light-sensitive elements that are placed into the conduit, and substantially at right angles to the flow of particles through the conduit.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the image sensor comprises two one-dimensional arrays of light-sensitive elements placed one behind the other in the conduit, and substantially at right angles to the flow of the particles through the conduit.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein viewed in the flow direction, the light-sensitive elements of the first array are placed next to the light-sensitive elements of the second array.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of conduits arranged next to each other, each of them provided with at least one image sensor.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus comprises a selection actuator for directing particles through one of the conduits.