Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the dispersibility grade of particulate material by means of an image processing technique that employs machine vision. In one aspect, this invention provides a method for grading the dispersibility of particulate material, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) obtaining an image, in digitized form, of a sample comprising reconstituted particulate material;
(b) performing a series of image processing steps to determine the presence and magnitude of blobs;
(c) performing a blob analysis to obtain data relating to the distribution of the particulate material in the sample;
(d) comparing the result of the blob analysis with data in a database; and
(e) determining the grade of said particulate material by means of the comparison.
The sample of particulate material, which is typically in the form of a powder, is reconstituted preferably by means of agitating a container filled with the sample.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 18, 2001
Date of Patent:
January 27, 2004
Assignee:
Abbott Laboratories
Inventors:
Jianjun Wang, Randall Edwin Terflinger, Wilson G. Zeitler, David A. Mondiek