GB2280133A - Abrasive instrument for sample collection. - Google Patents

Abrasive instrument for sample collection. Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2280133A
GB2280133A GB9314719A GB9314719A GB2280133A GB 2280133 A GB2280133 A GB 2280133A GB 9314719 A GB9314719 A GB 9314719A GB 9314719 A GB9314719 A GB 9314719A GB 2280133 A GB2280133 A GB 2280133A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
instrument
abrasive member
abrasive
web
sample
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9314719A
Other versions
GB9314719D0 (en
Inventor
Peter Edmunds Rueben Mucci
John Arthur Amner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ford Motor Co
Original Assignee
Ford Motor Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ford Motor Co filed Critical Ford Motor Co
Priority to GB9314719A priority Critical patent/GB2280133A/en
Publication of GB9314719D0 publication Critical patent/GB9314719D0/en
Publication of GB2280133A publication Critical patent/GB2280133A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N1/04—Devices for withdrawing samples in the solid state, e.g. by cutting
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N2001/028—Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/28—Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q
    • G01N1/286—Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q involving mechanical work, e.g. chopping, disintegrating, compacting, homogenising
    • G01N2001/2866—Grinding or homogeneising
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
    • G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
    • G01N21/31—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry
    • G01N21/35—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light
    • G01N21/3563—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)

Abstract

An instrument for collecting a sample of material for analysis, comprises an abrasive member 2 and means for advancing the abrasive member 2 in discrete steps past a location at which the abrasive member can be brought into contact with the material to be sampled to abrade the material so that a sample is collected on a predetermined section of the abrasive member 2. <IMAGE>

Description

AN INSTRUMENT The present invention relates to an instrument, and particularly, but not exclusively, to an instrument for abrading a material surface to obtain a sample for identification or diagnostic purposes.
It is known to obtain an infrared spectrum by using an abrasive member to abrade the surface of a material to be characterised and then by measuring an infrared reflectance spectrum from particles of the material that are retained on the abrasive member. The abrasive member will typically be a flexible web-like substrate on one face of which abrasive particles are secured. In this method the abrasive material must not absorb strongly in the infrared region that is to be used to obtain the spectrum.
According to the present invention there is provided an instrument for collecting a sample of material for analysis, the instrument comprising an abrasive member and means for advancing the abrasive member in discrete steps through a pre-set distance past a location at which the abrasive member can be brought into contact with the material to be sampled to abrade the material so that a sample is collected on a predetermined section of the abrasive member.
By using the instrument to abrade the surface a controlled sampling technique may be achieved.
The abrasive member may comprise a disc which is rotated when in contact with the sample material.
In a preferred embodiment the abrasive member comprises a flexible abrasive web which is contained within a housing and stored on a supply spool, and the instrument includes a stepping drive for advancing the web through a pre-set discrete distance.
Preferably the drive advances the web from the supply spool to a take-up spool.
In a preferred embodiment the abrasive web and the supply and take-up spools are contained within a removable cartridge for convenient loading in the instrument.
The web may be a two-ended tape, or it may be endless.
In a preferred embodiment the instrument is adapted to be held in the hand.
The abrasive properties of the abrasive member may be provided by particles of any suitable material which does not absorb too strongly in the infrared region. Preferred materials are silicon carbide and alumina.
The abrasive member may be continuously abrasive, or it may be provided with discrete areas of abrasive material (abrasive sectors).
The abrasive member may be advanced in discrete steps by any suitable means. Preferably the means is an electric motor, and particularly a battery powered electric motor. In a hand held instrument the motor may conveniently be operated by means of a trigger.
By holding the sample preparation instrument so that the abrasive member is in contact with the sample, and operating the trigger, the abrasive member may be made to advance by a pre-set distance over the surface of the sample and abrade the surface. Subsequent operation of the trigger will cause a fresh part of the abrasive member or a fresh abrasive sector to advance over the already abraded surface and collect some particles of the material for identification.
A spectrum may be obtained from the abrasive member either by removing the abrasive sector from the web or disc and placing it on a sample support inside a spectrophotometer, or by placing the abrasive sector against the sample support whilst it is still on the web or disc and/or in the sample preparation instrument.
In a preferred embodiment, the part of the abrasive member that has been used to abrade a surface is then exposed so that it may be scanned by a spectrophotometer whilst the abrasive member is retained in the instrument. When the abrasive member is a flexible web this may be achieved by arranging for the web to pass over the outer surface of the housing for a part of its length, or by providing a suitable aperture in the housing.
The abrasive member may be provided with an identifying mark or marks, for each discrete step, on the part of the member that is used to collect a sample. Each mark may comprise for example a notch, a printed number, a bar code, or any other suitable identifying character. The marks may be preformatted into the abrasive member during manufacture, or they may be created by the instrument during its operation.
Each time the abrasive member is advanced the instrument could record, for example, a number corresponding to the sample. The number may be readable by eye, by a bar code or other reader, by a spectrophotometer or by any other suitable means so as to permit subsequent matching of a part of the abrasive member with the sample material and its output spectrum or other characterising record.
Although it is convenient to mount the web in a cartridge, the invention is not restricted to this embodiment. The web could, for example, be provided wound on a spool and when loaded the free end could be wound on to a second spool within the instrument in a similar manner to the loading of film into a camera.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a sample preparation instrument in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is schematic view of the sample preparation instrument shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a sample preparation instrument in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1 shows an instrument for use in abrading samples for infrared spectroscopy. The instrument has a head 4 and a handle 6 provided with a trigger 8. The head 4 houses a flexible web 2 of abrasive material of low absorbency and reflectivity in the infrared region to be scanned. The web 2 is supported for part of its length 2a by a low friction rigid support 10. By pulling the trigger 8 the web 2 is made to advance from its upper supported position 2a to a lower position 2b. To abrade a sample, the instrument is pressed against the sample surface so that the web 2a is sandwiched between the support 10 and the sample surface.
The trigger 8 is then pulled, causing the web 2 to advance a discrete distance in the direction of the arrow 3 and abrade the sample surface.
A spectrum may be obtained from particles of sample material on the surface of the web in the area 2b. Alternatively or additionally, the sample may be further abraded by repeating the above process with a fresh part of the abrasive web 2a to obtain a cleaner sample of particles or to measure the chemical nature of the bulk of the sample.
Figure 2 shows how the sample preparation instrument works.
The instrument comprises a housing 22 in which is loaded a cartridge 20 with a supply spool 16 and a wind-up spool 18.
A flexible abrasive web 2 from the supply spool 16 is passed around a first roller 14, a rigid support 10 and a second roller 12 to be taken up by the take-up spool 18. The takeup spool 18 is connected to a motor 24 by means of a drive band 28 and a capstan 26. Pulling of the trigger 8 causes the motor 24 to rotate the capstan 26, and'this in turn causes the take-up spool 18 to turn and pull the web 2 through a pre-set distance.
Although the sample preparation instrument is shown here as using a motor to drive the web, the invention is not limited to this embodiment. Any other suitable drive mechanism may also be used. For example, a direct or geared mechanical linkage between the trigger and the take-up spool would also be suitable.
Similarly, the cartridge is not an essential part of this embodiment of the sample preparation instrument. It would be possible to load a flexible abrasive web into the instrument without mounting it in a cartridge.
Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the instrument.
The instrument shown here comprises a handle 30 and an abrasive disc 34. The disc 34 is mounted on a shaft 32 which is driven by a motor (not shown) contained within the handle 30. The surface of the disc 34 is divided into discrete sectors 36 of abrasive material by non-abrasive gaps 38. Each sector 36 is provided with a mark 44, shown here in the form of printed numerals, for identification.
The handle 30 is provided with indentations 40 for gripping, and with a spring-loaded trigger 42. Pushing and releasing the trigger 42 causes the motor to turn the disc 34 through one sixth of a revolution. By pressing a sector 36 of the disc 34 against a material from which a sample is to be taken and simultaneously pressing the trigger 42 the sector 36 is made to advance over the surface of the material and collect a sample.
For spectroscopic analysis, the disc 34 may be removed from the handle 30 of the instrument and mounted in a spectrophotometer, or alternatively a spectrum may be taken from the disc 34 when it is mounted in the instrument.
Although the invention has been described in terms of its use for preparing samples for infrared spectroscopy, the invention is not limited to this use. The instrument may be used to prepare samples for other spectroscopic applications, or for any other sample preparation method which requires small particles.

Claims (15)

1 An instrument for collecting a sample of material for analysis, the instrument comprising an abrasive member and means for advancing the abrasive member in discrete steps through a pre-set distance past a location at which the abrasive member can be brought into contact with the material to be sampled to abrade the material so that a sample is collected on a predetermined section of the abrasive member.
2 An instrument as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the abrasive member comprises a disc which is rotated when in contact with the sample material.
3 An instrument as claimed in Claim 1; wherein the abrasive member comprises a flexible web which is contained within a housing and stored on a supply spool, and the instrument including a stepping drive for advancing the web through a pre-set distance.
4 An instrument as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the web and the supply and take-up spools are contained within a removable cartridge.
5 An instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abrasion of the abrasive member is provided by particles of silicon carbide.
6 An instrument as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4 wherein the abrasion of the web is provided by particles of alumina.
7 An instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abrasive member is provided with discrete areas of abrasive material.
8 An instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the instrument is adapted to be held in the hand.
9 An instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abrasive member is exposed for spectroscopic scanning after it has been used to abrade a surface, while the abrasive member is retained in the instrument.
10 An instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abrasive member is advanceable in discrete steps by means of an electric motor.
11 An instrument as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the motor is battery powered.
12 An instrument as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abrasive member is provided with one or more identifying marks, for each discrete step, on the part of the member that is used to collect a sample.
13 An instrument as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the abrasive member is marked prior to its being loaded in the instrument.
14 An instrument as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the abrasive member is marked by the instrument during the operation of the instrument.
15 A cartridge containing an abrasive web for use with an instrument as claimed in any one of Claims 3-14.
r 16 An instrument substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.
GB9314719A 1993-07-15 1993-07-15 Abrasive instrument for sample collection. Withdrawn GB2280133A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9314719A GB2280133A (en) 1993-07-15 1993-07-15 Abrasive instrument for sample collection.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9314719A GB2280133A (en) 1993-07-15 1993-07-15 Abrasive instrument for sample collection.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9314719D0 GB9314719D0 (en) 1993-08-25
GB2280133A true GB2280133A (en) 1995-01-25

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9314719A Withdrawn GB2280133A (en) 1993-07-15 1993-07-15 Abrasive instrument for sample collection.

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2280133A (en)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1995027892A1 (en) * 1994-04-07 1995-10-19 Ford Motor Company Limited Plastics identification
EP0774654A1 (en) * 1995-11-20 1997-05-21 Perkin-Elmer Limited Carrier and its use in the preparation of samples for spectroscopy
EP0819929A2 (en) * 1996-07-16 1998-01-21 Perkin-Elmer Limited Carrier and its use in the preparation of samples for spectroscopy
US5823592A (en) * 1996-06-28 1998-10-20 Kalidindi; Sanyasi Raju Flexible swabbing tool
EP0901621A1 (en) * 1996-03-29 1999-03-17 Israel Levy Device for colorimetric detection of explosives and narcotics
US6332368B1 (en) * 1998-07-14 2001-12-25 Queensland University Of Technology Live line insulation sampling
EP1691183A1 (en) * 2005-02-15 2006-08-16 Innovent e.V. Technologieentwicklung Method and device for taking a sample for surface analysis
WO2008052836A1 (en) * 2006-10-31 2008-05-08 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method for the detection of impurities on a surface
JP2009053189A (en) * 2007-08-10 2009-03-12 Tongfang Nuctech Co Ltd Portable sampling device and sampling method to prevent sampling swipe deformation
WO2010060899A1 (en) * 2008-11-26 2010-06-03 Eads Deutschland Gmbh Sample collector and sample collecting device for an analysis device and method for the operation thereof
WO2012175820A1 (en) * 2011-06-20 2012-12-27 Long Lasting Innovation - L2I Method of determining the surface concentration of active molecules of a surface of an active element and device for the implementation thereof
EP2604120A1 (en) * 2011-12-13 2013-06-19 Parlanca Limited Apparatus and method for automated sampling

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB736331A (en) * 1953-10-13 1955-09-07 Charles Henry Vivian Improvements relating to tools for sanding and like operations
GB2175827A (en) * 1985-06-01 1986-12-10 Richard Northey Abrasive tool with abrasive strip cartridge
USH901H (en) * 1989-09-13 1991-03-05 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Method of identifying the composition of a material sample

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB736331A (en) * 1953-10-13 1955-09-07 Charles Henry Vivian Improvements relating to tools for sanding and like operations
GB2175827A (en) * 1985-06-01 1986-12-10 Richard Northey Abrasive tool with abrasive strip cartridge
USH901H (en) * 1989-09-13 1991-03-05 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Method of identifying the composition of a material sample

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1995027892A1 (en) * 1994-04-07 1995-10-19 Ford Motor Company Limited Plastics identification
EP0774654A1 (en) * 1995-11-20 1997-05-21 Perkin-Elmer Limited Carrier and its use in the preparation of samples for spectroscopy
US5703681A (en) * 1995-11-20 1997-12-30 Perkin-Elmer Ltd Carrier and its use in the preparation of samples for spectroscopy
EP0901621A1 (en) * 1996-03-29 1999-03-17 Israel Levy Device for colorimetric detection of explosives and narcotics
EP0901621A4 (en) * 1996-03-29 1999-11-24 Israel Levy Device for colorimetric detection of explosives and narcotics
US5823592A (en) * 1996-06-28 1998-10-20 Kalidindi; Sanyasi Raju Flexible swabbing tool
EP0819929A3 (en) * 1996-07-16 1998-08-26 Perkin-Elmer Limited Carrier and its use in the preparation of samples for spectroscopy
US5877435A (en) * 1996-07-16 1999-03-02 Perkin-Elmer Ltd. Carrier and its use in the preparation of samples for spectroscopy
EP0819929A2 (en) * 1996-07-16 1998-01-21 Perkin-Elmer Limited Carrier and its use in the preparation of samples for spectroscopy
US6332368B1 (en) * 1998-07-14 2001-12-25 Queensland University Of Technology Live line insulation sampling
EP1691183A1 (en) * 2005-02-15 2006-08-16 Innovent e.V. Technologieentwicklung Method and device for taking a sample for surface analysis
WO2008052836A1 (en) * 2006-10-31 2008-05-08 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method for the detection of impurities on a surface
US8363213B2 (en) 2006-10-31 2013-01-29 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method for detecting impurities on a surface
JP2009053189A (en) * 2007-08-10 2009-03-12 Tongfang Nuctech Co Ltd Portable sampling device and sampling method to prevent sampling swipe deformation
US8141441B2 (en) 2007-08-10 2012-03-27 Nuctech Company Limited Hand-held sampling device preventing deformation of sampling wipe and method of use thereof
WO2010060899A1 (en) * 2008-11-26 2010-06-03 Eads Deutschland Gmbh Sample collector and sample collecting device for an analysis device and method for the operation thereof
WO2012175820A1 (en) * 2011-06-20 2012-12-27 Long Lasting Innovation - L2I Method of determining the surface concentration of active molecules of a surface of an active element and device for the implementation thereof
EP2604120A1 (en) * 2011-12-13 2013-06-19 Parlanca Limited Apparatus and method for automated sampling

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9314719D0 (en) 1993-08-25

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