JP2722866B2 - Particle size distribution analyzer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a particle size distribution measuring apparatus based on an arbitrary measuring principle, and in particular, a powder process or the like in which it is necessary to continuously measure a particle size distribution to grasp its temporal change or fluctuation. A particle size distribution measuring device suitable for use in

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Methods for measuring the particle size distribution of a granular material include a sedimentation method, a laser diffraction method, an electric resistance method, a shading method, a sieving method, and a microscopic method. An apparatus for automatically measuring the particle size distribution using the principle has already been put to practical use. By the way, in a powder process or the like, it is necessary to know a temporal variation of a particle size distribution of a manufactured powder or a powder used as a raw material. Conventionally, a particle size distribution measuring device having a function of displaying data on such a temporal change in the particle size distribution already exists.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are views showing display examples of a temporal variation of a particle size distribution by a conventional apparatus. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the vertical axis represents the particle diameter, and the horizontal axis represents the measurement order (file number).
And how the integrated distribution, for example, the 80% diameter, the 10% diameter, the mode diameter, etc., has changed over time.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the vertical axis represents the particle amount, and the horizontal axis represents the measurement order. For example, how the particle amount of 1 μm or 5 μm changes is displayed. It is composed.

[0005]

By the way, in the conventional display method as described above, a change in a specific portion of the particle size distribution can be recognized, but information other than a designated parameter (point) is not shown. Here, the particle size distribution is inherently continuous, and often changes at a point outside the designated point. In a powder process or the like, continuous information is particularly required. Further, information using the particle size as a parameter cannot be read from the time-dependent change graph using the particle size as a parameter, and it is not possible to know a change in the particle size and the particle size in both directions.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and data capable of grasping the temporal change of the particle size distribution from both the particle amount and the particle diameter without setting a point or the like. It is intended to provide a particle size distribution measuring device capable of displaying.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve this object, a particle size distribution measuring apparatus according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. Storage means b for storing, and this storage means b
A plurality of sets of particle size distribution data stored in
A calculating means c for performing calculation so as to be displayed on a graph composed of three axes of the particle amount and the measurement order, and a display means for displaying the calculation result in a three-dimensional graph including three axes of the particle diameter, the particle amount and the measurement order d.

[0008]

When a continuous particle size distribution curve having two axes of the particle diameter and the particle amount is arranged on an axis orthogonal to the two axes in accordance with the measurement order, the entire continuous particle size distribution is represented in time series. It is possible to determine the relationship between an item on any one of these three axes and an item on another axis without setting a point to be noted, and to obtain information on a change in particle size distribution. It will increase dramatically.

[0009]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the present invention. The particle size distribution measurement unit 1 is a measurement system based on an arbitrary principle such as a laser diffraction method or a centrifugal sedimentation method. Data measured here is sent to a computer 3 via an input / output interface 2. The data from the particle size distribution measuring unit 1 may be data in the form of a particle size distribution, or may be raw measurement data. The computer 3 converts the particle size distribution data into the former data and the particle size distribution data into the latter data, and stores the converted data in the memory 4 together with the measurement order information.

The above operation is repeated a plurality of times, and time-series particle size distribution data is accumulated in the memory 4. An input terminal 5 for inputting commands and the like to the computer 3 is connected to the input / output interface 2, and the computer 3 has a display device for displaying a three-dimensional graph of a change in particle size distribution described later. 6
Is connected. Then, by inputting output conditions and the like from the input terminal 5, the computer 3 calculates the particle size distribution data stored in the memory 4 so that the data can be displayed in a three-dimensional graph, and causes the display device 6 to display the calculated data. ing.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the procedure for obtaining the temporal variation of the particle size distribution using the embodiment of the present invention.
Hereinafter, the method of use and operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. After the particle size distribution is measured a required number of times by the particle size distribution measuring unit 1, an output condition and an output command are input from the input terminal 5 as necessary. Thereby, the computer 3 retrieves the corresponding data from the memory 4, performs data processing so that the data can be displayed on a graph having the particle diameter, the particle amount, and the measurement order as axes, and supplies the data to the display device 6.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a display example by the display device 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The differential type particle size distribution curve with the relative particle amount% on the vertical axis and the particle diameter μm on the horizontal axis is shown in FIG. It is a graph showing changes over time of a three-dimensional particle size distribution arranged on an axis orthogonal to the axis according to the measurement order.
In the graph according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, the temporal change of the continuous particle size distribution itself can be understood at a glance, and without setting a particular point of interest, any item of the particle diameter and the particle amount, and the measurement order It is possible to immediately read the relationship with other items.

By using a CRT or the like as the display device 6, the particle size distribution data is stored in the memory 4 every time the particle size distribution is measured by the particle size distribution measuring unit 1, and the data is displayed on the display device 6 in real time. It can be configured to additionally display. Further, in the example of FIG. 4, the particle size distribution curve is a differential type curve having the relative particle amount on the vertical axis, but an integrated type particle size distribution curve having the integrated particle amount on the vertical axis may be used.

Further, the way of taking three axes (the correspondence between each parameter and the axis in each direction) is not limited to FIG.
Needless to say, a graph in which each item is taken along an axis in an arbitrary direction can be used.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, the particle size distribution data measured a plurality of times is stored in the memory, and the data is converted into a three-axis graph of the particle diameter, the particle amount, and the measurement order. Since the display is configured to be displayed, the temporal change of the continuous particle size distribution can be grasped at a glance. As a result, it is not necessary to set a point of interest as in the related art, and therefore, it is possible to know the change in the overall particle size distribution without overlooking the change. As described above, the fact that the mutual relationship among the particle diameter, the particle amount, and the three items in the measurement order can be grasped at a glance, the information on the change in the particle size distribution is dramatically increased as compared with the conventional two-dimensional graph. This means that the apparatus can be an optimal apparatus particularly for controlling the particle size distribution in the powder process.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic conceptual diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the measurement procedure.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a display example of a change in particle size distribution according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a display example of a change in particle size distribution by a conventional apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a display example of a change in particle size distribution by the conventional apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ··· Particle size distribution measuring unit 2 ··· Input / output interface 3 ··· Computer 4 ··· Memory 5 ··· Input terminal 6 ··· Display device

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus for measuring a particle size distribution of a sample powder and granules, a storage means for storing a plurality of sets of particle size distribution measurement results, and a plurality of sets of particle size distribution data stored in the storage means, Calculating means for calculating so as to be displayed on a graph constituted by three axes of the particle amount and the measurement order;
A particle size distribution measuring device comprising a display means for displaying the calculation result in a three-dimensional graph comprising the three axes.