Particle collection media cartridge with tensioning mechanism
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10684209-B1
Publication Date
2020-06-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus for collection and detection of airborne particles includes an optical imaging system having an exposure time, a particle inspection zone, and a flexible substrate with an adhesive coating. The flexible substrate passes through the particle inspection zone. The flexible substrate alternates between an advancing state of moving through the particle inspection zone and an imaging state of not moving through the particle inspection zone. In the imaging state the flexible substrate is so tensioned so that a portion of the flexible substrate in the particle inspection zone moves at most a small distance during the exposure time.
Core Innovation
The invention concerns an apparatus for collection and detection of airborne particles that uses an optical imaging system having an exposure time and a particle inspection zone. A flexible substrate with an adhesive coating passes through the particle inspection zone and alternates between an advancing state of moving through the particle inspection zone and an imaging state of not moving through the particle inspection zone.
In the imaging state, the flexible substrate is tensioned so that a portion of the flexible substrate in the particle inspection zone moves at most a small distance during the exposure time. The small distance is smaller than a diameter of the airborne particles being detected, and in another independent formulation the small distance is less than one micron.
A separate cartridge architecture houses the flexible substrate and includes supply and uptake reels, a tape guide comprising a first portion associated with a particle intake zone and a second portion associated with the particle inspection zone, and a roller. The roller pulls the flexible substrate or tape flat against the second portion of the tape guide during the imaging state, while the motor provides the advancing state and switches to the imaging state where the roller tensions the flexible substrate.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00002, clm-00003, clm-00010, and clm-00020. They collectively define an airborne-particle collection and detection apparatus and system using an optical imaging system, a flexible adhesive-coated substrate that alternates between advancing and imaging states, and cartridge-based implementations with reels, a tape guide, and a tensioning roller to limit substrate motion during exposure.
Advancing and imaging states with tensioned motion constraint
An optical imaging system having an exposure time and a particle inspection zone; a flexible substrate with an adhesive coating passes through the particle inspection zone; the flexible substrate alternates between an advancing state of moving through the particle inspection zone and an imaging state of not moving through the particle inspection zone; in the imaging state the flexible substrate is tensioned such that a portion of the flexible substrate in the particle inspection zone moves at most a small distance during the exposure time; and the small distance is smaller than a diameter of the airborne particles being detected.
Micron-limited substrate motion during imaging
An optical imaging system having an exposure time and a particle inspection zone; a flexible substrate with an adhesive coating passes through the particle inspection zone; the flexible substrate alternates between an advancing state of moving through the particle inspection zone and an imaging state of not moving through the particle inspection zone; in the imaging state the flexible substrate is tensioned such that a portion of the flexible substrate in the particle inspection zone moves at most a small distance during the exposure time; and the small distance is less than one micron.
Cartridge housing with reels, guide, keying, and roller pulling tape flat
The flexible substrate is housed in a cartridge separate from the optical imaging system, the cartridge comprising supply and uptake reels within the cartridge, at least one of the uptake or supply reels comprising a pair of flanges; a tape guide comprising a first portion associated with a particle intake zone and a second portion associated with the particle inspection zone; one or more keying nubs protruding from an outside surface of the cartridge and configured to mate with a complementary groove; and a roller, wherein the flexible substrate extends from the supply reel, across the tape guide, and to the uptake reel, and wherein the roller pulls the flexible substrate flat against the second portion of the tape guide associated with the particle inspection zone during the imaging state.
Particle collection cartridge with adhesive tape and tensioning roller
A housing comprising a first side with a particle intake region and a second side with a particle inspection region; supply and uptake reels within the housing; a tape guide comprising a first portion associated with the particle intake region and a second portion associated with the particle inspection region; a tape wound about the supply reel, extending across the tape guide, and terminating at the uptake reel, the tape comprising an adhesive surface to collect particles entering the particle intake region; and a roller wherein the roller pulls the tape flat against the second portion of the tape guide associated with the particle inspection region.
Removable cartridge system with motor advancing and roller tensioned imaging
A system comprising an airborne particle monitor comprising an optical imaging system having an exposure time, a motor, and a particle inspection zone; and a cartridge removable from the airborne particle monitor and comprising supply and uptake reels, the motor engaging at least one of the supply or uptake reels when the cartridge is inserted into the airborne particle monitor; a flexible substrate with an adhesive coating and extending from the supply reel, passing through the particle inspection zone, and terminating at the uptake reel; and a roller to tension the flexible substrate; wherein the motor provides an advancing state of moving the flexible substrate through the particle inspection zone and an imaging state of not moving the flexible substrate through the particle inspection zone; and wherein during the imaging state the roller tensions the flexible substrate such that a portion of the flexible substrate within the particle inspection zone will move at most a small distance during the exposure time.
Across clm-00001, clm-00002, clm-00003, clm-00010, and clm-00020, the common inventive core is an optical imaging particle-inspection zone combined with a flexible adhesive-coated substrate that alternates between an advancing state and a tensioned imaging state that limits motion of the substrate portion during the exposure time. In cartridge-based formulations, supply and uptake reels, a tape guide defining intake and inspection regions, and a roller that pulls tape or substrate flat are included, and quantitative constraints bound the maximum allowable motion relative to particle diameter and/or to less than one micron.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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