Rheometer with axial resistive force measurement

The present invention relates to rheometry and rheometers to find out the rheometric characteristics of a substance.

Several forms of rheometers are known that depend on the determination of the torque required to rotate a member through the body of the material, of which rheometric characteristics are being investigated. 5

Indeed, the pair is a measure of the resistance to movement of the member presented by the substance. Examples of known rheometers can be found in Chapter III “Some Commercial Rotary Viscometers” in the book “A Laboratory Rheology Manual” by Van Wacer et al, Interciencia 1966. Such devices are used to measure characteristics such as viscosity, for example. , fluidity, homogeneity, etc. The torque required to rotate the member through the substance is related to the resistance to movement presented by the substance itself. Although this book has a considerable antiquity, it is still true that its contributions are widely representative of the prior art with respect to the current state of the field of rheometry. Something common among the techniques of known devices is the use of a rotating member. However, because the characteristic movement of the member is rotatable, it is cyclic. In certain circumstances the cyclic nature of the movement of the member implies that it passes through a turbulent zone of the substance after the member's first pass. Thus, unless the substance is such that it allows it to fully recover before the next disturbance by the member at the speed at which it is rotating, the torque required to move the member will be different from one cycle to another.

The book cited above describes a modification of the Brookfield viscometer on page 144, in which the basic hand held Brookfield instrument is mounted on a "Helipath" that is held above a vessel containing the substance under investigation. The mounting for the device on the bracket is moved by a motor so that the viscometer can be lowered at the same time as it is rotating. The member describes a helical trace as it progresses. Under this helical progression, the member finds only material not removed as it rotates. As stated in the book, Brookfield Helipath Viscometer is used for materials with high resilience values ​​or with thicsotropic or rheptic end effects. In short, materials unable to recover after the passage of a blade can be measured more precisely to find their rheometric characteristics 35

by a member that describes a helical trace through the material. In line with the rest of the conventional rheometric practice, the rheometric characteristics are measured by monitoring the torque required to rotate the member at a given rotational speed.

A final example of a rheometer is described in EP-A-5 07985499. In the described device the member is again rotated and linearly moved in the substance. Although controlling the axial force produced is presented as an option, it is done to control the compression of the substance or as confirmation of the control of the device. Although powders are mentioned, it fails to distinguish between them, and viscous liquids and solids. The rheometric measurement of a characteristic of the substance involves only measuring the torque in accordance with conventional practice. In this way, the pair is maintained as the recognized quantification by which the rheometric investigation is performed.

European Patent Application EP1102053A2 describes a rheometer incorporating a blade mounted to rotate about an axis. During use, the blade 15 is placed inside a container. The container is located on a force and torque measurement table, and a force and torque transducer unit measures the axial force exerted on the material inside the container as it is displaced by the blade, and thus the torque imposed on the material is measured. twenty

In accordance with the present invention, a rheometer is provided comprising: a container for a substance to be investigated rheometrically; a blade member; actuation means for axially rotating and moving the blade member through the substance in the container; means for measuring a parameter indicative of the axial resistant force of the substance as the member passes through the substance; and requests to deduce the rheometric characteristics of the substance only from the parameters measured in the axial direction of the blade member.

The inventors of the present invention have found that it is possible to deduce valid rheometric readings of the measurement of the axial force generated from the progression of the member through the substance, in particular a powder, and to ignore the rotational forces. This contradicts decades of previous thinking that has been based on the deduction of such readings from rotating forces. Moreover, the measurement of axial force is particularly simple, versatile and reliable compared to torque. Torque measuring devices are more expensive than 35

linear force transducers. Torque sensing devices are more difficult to install, tune and calibrate. Moreover, torque sensing devices are less reliable during use and are prone to contaminant ingress. As with conventional rheometers, the member in the present invention is also rotatable. However, rheometric research is not based on measuring the rotating aspects of movement in the present invention.

By measuring the axial force, or an indicative parameter thereof, the distance traveled, the work done can be measured. Such axial measurement can be carried out in one direction or both. The distance may be established within the substance or it may be a distance between the upper surface of the substance and a chosen lower position.

The member is preferably mounted on a shaft or pivot and can be moved by one or more suitable electric motors, such as a stepper motor, to provide the degree of control and resolution on its axial movement and, when applicable, its rotational movement. fifteen

The member is preferably a multi-blade device, but it could be a device with a single blade, which has a blade or blades extending outwardly from the shaft member. It has been found that a particularly suitable member has a blade or blades having surfaces that define an aspect ratio, and that are arranged so that the leading and trailing edges 20, relative to the movement of the member, are defined along a substantially axial path. For example, a helix shape could be used for the blade. This is a particularly appropriate construction. The speed of progression and rotation of the member can be established so that the blade progresses through the material without practically sliding, thereby minimizing the turbulence in the substance contained in the container.

The means for monitoring can be a load cell, such as a tension indicator, attached to the rheometer in order to measure the axial force with sequence of the progression of the member through the substance. The load cell may be arranged on a support for the container, thereby measuring the force transmitted through the substance to the container. Alternatively, the load cell may be arranged in relation to the conductive means for measuring the transmitted reaction force of the substance through the member.

Other means for monitoring a parameter indicative of axial force 35

they can be deducted from an indication of the conductive means on the work done to move the member. For example, when the drive means are an electric motor, the work done can be deducted from the current by means of a sensor device of the electric supply current to the motor. The movement (for example, revolutions or partial revolutions) of the drive means can be monitored to provide additional data for analysis.

By measuring a parameter indicative of the axial force it is possible to make a first movement of the blade member through the substance until a predetermined load is reached and then perform rheological measurements 10, or an additional one, at that point. Rheological measurements can be carried out both in the forward and reverse movement of the blades.

The invention also extends to a method of rheometric analysis of the substance comprising: preparing a substance for analysis in a container; rotate and axially move a blade member through the substance to shear it; measure a parameter indicative of the axial resistance force of the substance to the movement of the member through the substance; and derive a rheometric measurement of the substance from the measured parameter.

The present invention can be practiced in several ways, some of which will be described below by way of an example and 20 by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a general section of a rheometer according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial view of the rheometer of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an expanded view of the porch of the rheometer; 25

Figure 4 is an expanded view of part of the porch of the rheometer;

Figure 5 is an expanded view of the rheometer base;

Figure 6 is a detail of a vessel and a rheometer blade, and

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a rheometric measurement system incorporated into the rheometer of Figure 1. 30

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, one embodiment of a rheometer has a frame 10 comprising a foot 12, a pedestal 14 that extends from the rear of the foot 12 and a portico 16 that extends from the pedestal on the foot 12 A platform part 18 is formed on the foot 12 supporting a test vessel 20 on a strand 22 mounted on the platform 18 on the head 35

sensor of a load cell (not described). The container in this embodiment has an inner diameter of 50mm and can contain a sample of 140 ml, approximately a height of 70 mm. Other container sizes and adjusting blades can be used properly.

In Figure 3, the arm 16 comprises a base plate 24 on which a rotation drive motor 26 is mounted which has a drive shaft 28 that lifts a gear 30 and extends along the base plate 24 A bearing assembly 32 is mounted on the plate 24 above the container 20. A toothed rubber and woven conductive belt 33 connects to transmit the movement the gear 30 fixed to the driving shaft 28 of the motor to an input gear 34 of the bearing assembly 32.

A rotor member 36 is fixed to the outlet 38 of the bearing assembly 32 by a threaded retaining strainer 40. As can best be seen in Figure 6, the rotor member 36 has propeller blades 42 at the end of a vertical axis 44 that is placed with its axis on the center of a circular container 15. The propeller blades can rotate in other ways. The rubber transmission type belt 33 is considered to provide a particularly smooth and reliable form of transmission.

Referring also to Figure 4, the gantry 16 is mounted for linear movement on the container 20. A threaded joint 48 is fixed to the gantry 20 16. The fastener 48 is engaged by a thread with a vertical drive rod 50 passing through the gantry 46. The rod 50 is mounted by upper and lower bearings 52 on the frame 10 between the front and rear vertical support guides 54 on which the gantry 46 moves vertically. Below the lower bearing 52, the drive rod 50 is provided with a drive wheel 56. An additional drive belt 58 transmits the rotation from an additional stepper motor 60 to the drive wheel 56. As the rod 50 rotates, the gantry 46 moves linearly along the thread, guided between the vertical guides 54.

Referring to Figure 5, in order to measure the axial resistance of a substance 30 to the movement of the handles 42 therethrough, a load cell 74 is mounted in the part of the base 72 of the platform 18. The load cell 74 extends from the edge of the base to the center and below an upper cover 76 mounted on the part of the base 72. A mounting adapter 70 protrudes through a central opening in the cover 76, supporting the collar 22 holding 35

container 20 (see Figure 1). The collar 2 is screwed to the mounting adapter 70 to hold it in place. The load cell is screwed to the base 72. In this arrangement the load cell measures only the axial forces exerted on it by the container 20. The output (not shown) of the load cell 74 is an electrical signal that is connected to the electronic circuits (not 5 shown) on the foot of the device. The electronics condition the output of the load cell to be fed to a process device, such as a personal computer (PC). This will be described in more detail below. The data is analyzed by the PC as necessary to provide quantitative rheometric results based on the force measured by the local cell 10 as a result of the progression of the rotor member 36 through the substance in the container. The load cell in this embodiment is a device based on a wire strain gauge well known to persons skilled in the art. Other devices, such as a semiconductor-based strain gauge or a variable linear differential transformer (LVDT), could be used to measure axial force.

Figure 7 shows a rheometric system comprising a rheometer 100 as described and an analog to digital converter 102 that is fed with the analog output of the load cell 74. The information of the load cell digitized by the converter 102 is fed to a processor 104 that is conventional in its construction and arrangement, having a memory 106 and an output connected to a plotter 108. An input / output user interface 110 is provided in the form of a keyboard / monitor or PC. The data obtained in the tests carried out with the system can be displayed in the monitor in numerical or graphic form according to known techniques. The processor 104 25 is programmed to control the motors that drive the blades linearly and angularly, and to obtain data at specific periods at specific points in the test cycle. For control applications based on the axial force applied in accordance with conventional techniques, it can be deduced from the output of the analog to digital connector 102. The information of the parameters of the motor and of the control signals to the motors for axial movement and angular of the blades is transmitted by lines 112 and 114, respectively.

The apparatus can be operated in several ways and the electronics, by means of which the motors are also controlled, are automatically programmed to carry out a sequence of operations according to the manner in which

You need them to operate. The program is conventional. The novel sequence of actions for rheometric measurement is described below.

The first operation is to arrange the blades 42 on the container containing the substance to be analyzed and to be lowered and raised in the substance at a predetermined speed by means of the motor 50 and at a rotation speed caused by the action of the motor 26, under the preprogrammed control of processor 104.

The blade 42 of the rotor member has a propeller profile that increases the pitch angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the blade with increasing radial distance from the shaft. Such a profile has a "constant advance" so that it can make an entry into the substance as clean as possible. Such profiles for propellers, by which the substance can be cut causing minimal turbulence, are well known to people skilled in the art. The displacement of a propeller blade following such a helical path is thus composed of an axial and radial progression simultaneously. fifteen These axial displacement and rotation speeds can be such that the propeller enters and progresses through the substance with a zero slip speed, but the blade can also be moved so that it progresses at an axial and radial speed that is greater or lesser. that the propeller angle of the blade itself by virtue of its total passage. Under such conditions a variable axial force is imparted on the substance. Additionally, a helical path as described can be followed both downwards and upwards. This axial resistance to the displacement of the propeller following such a helical path is measured as a tension in the load cell from which readings related to the viscosity of a liquid, or more generally fluid characteristics, can be deduced. 25

Once introduced (the blade) in the substance of the container the test can be performed at any desired depth. The blade is advanced to the appropriate position. The test itself consists of a combination of simultaneous or separate angular and axial movements that can be combined in a helical path or not. The reaction to these movements is the axial force that is measured. In this way, flow or rheological properties can be measured. The degree of fluidity is related to the inverse of the measured force. Varying the "slip" (these is the difference between the axial advance velocity of a propeller blade at a given rotational speed) can be used to the extent of the rheological properties of the substance. The control processor 104 can 35

be programmed to carry out the desired functions in a conventional manner.

The device is useful for determining viscosity readings in liquids and thicotropic materials. However, the invention is also particularly useful in the pharmaceutical industry and in others in which the rheometric characteristics 5 (for example, fluidity) of powders must be measured.

The apparatus can be programmed so that the blade rotates in the opposite direction to the propeller, determined by the passage of the propeller. This alternative propeller can be in the same direction and in the opposite direction to the propeller drawn by the passage of the blade. The action of advancing in such a propeller will involve compressing the substance as it moves into the container or raising (aerating) the substance as the blade moves upwards outside the container. The reaction to these movements also produces an axial force, which can be measured by a suitable transducer. This data can also be used to determine the rheological properties of the substance. Additional rheological properties of the substance can be investigated by rotating the blade faster or slower, causing a positive or negative sliding situation, with respect to this opposite helix.

It has been found useful to describe the movements of the blade in the form of a vector, where the angle of this vector begins at 0 °, which will describe a turning movement clockwise but not axial movement and 90 °, which describes an axial movement but not a rotation. All angles between these two values ​​will include both movements, the rotational movement being in proportion to the cosine of the angle and the axial movement proportional to the sine of the angle. The angles above 90º and up to 180º, will follow the same 25 rules but the rotation would be counterclockwise. This method is well known in mathematics. The direction of axial movement is set as up or down in all cases. In this way the entire range of possible movements can be described simply by establishing an angle in degrees, an axial direction and finally the desired travel speed 30, or the magnitude of the vector in terms of millimeters per second. All these parameters refer to the tip of the blade, the processor is informed of which blade has been placed and is programmed to determine the relevant rotation and axial parameters necessary for the control by virtue of its programming.

Linear speed and rotation speed are not entered by the user 35

on the keyboard 110. Instead, the user is able to specify the type of blade, the speed of advance of the blade and the angle from which the processor 104 calculates the linear and rotational speeds. In everything that follows, a blade with a propeller is used on the left, or in simpler terms, a thread. Where angles and velocities are mentioned and simply to illustrate a method and can in practice vary widely from these values, since in fact the movements and the order of the movements will conform to the requirements of the experimenter or the substance being measure.

Although not shown in the drawings, the blade may have a protuberance protruding at its center to further reduce the turbulence 10 caused in the substance as the blade advances through it.

When the blade moves down towards the base of the container, a compaction of the dust occurs below the blade when the blade rotates clockwise.

The compaction occurs until the angle of progression of the specified test 15 reaches 90 ° in which the blade stops rotating, above 90 ° the blade begins to rotate counterclockwise and the action of the blade in general is He calls it "slip" including the special case of moving through the substance with zero displacement. The maximum compaction of a powder must occur when the face of the blade hits the dust at a normal angle 20 with respect to the angle of progression, in the case of a rotor with an angle of 135 ° this occurs at an angle of progression of 45 ° in The direction down.

When the blade moves up into the vessel, the elevation, or aeration of dust below the blade movement occurs when the blade travel moves in a counterclockwise direction. Aeration occurs at angles greater than 90 °, at angles below this it is said that the blade is slipping. This rotation and vertical movement of the blade is seen raising the sample on the blade face. As the upward movement continues along the sample column, the sample falls on the blade, thus providing aeration. With many powders 30 this mode of movement successively aerates the dust test samples in a uniform manner, removing the operator's dependence, so that the sampling is satisfactory.

The direction of rotation is chosen according to the test effect required in the sample and is specified by the angle. If a rotation is required 35

An angle between 1º and 90º is specified in the clockwise direction. If a rotation is required counterclockwise, an angle between 90º and 180º is specified.

Powders often have characteristics that are significantly different from both liquids and viscous solids to which the majority of rheometric measurement techniques have been applied, and for which all these techniques have been developed. However, for powders it has been found that other considerations apply, such as the formation of conglomerates and friction between particles. Clustering is the tendency of a powder to agglomerate or form lumps (not hard) during storage or transport. The friction between the particles, the cohesion of the powder and the stability to the flow are all parameters used to describe the properties of a powder under flow conditions. The friction between the particles can change as dust flow rates change. Thus, the information on the friction between the particles or the indicative information thereof, is very useful in the management of processes in a production facility, quality control and in the development of materials.

Through these movements described above, the substance can be removed for the purpose of stirring (aerating or mixing) in the container before a rheometric reading is performed. The purpose of this would be to ensure that 20 before starting any test the substance will be in a known unrepeatable state and that it does not depend on the condition in which an operator has filled the container. Such preconditioning by compression or aeration of the substance is particularly useful in powder applications, for example the pharmaceutical industry. 25

The apparatus can be preprogrammed to condition the dust column in the container 20. This can be done by rotating the blade 42 in a counterclockwise direction but with only a small amount of axial speed. The downward action is performed at a typical speed of 50 mm / s and at an angle of 175 °, and the upward action is performed at a typical speed 30 of 50 mm / s and at an angle of 178 °. This movement is normally performed twice over the entire height of the dust column, which in practice has been discovered as sufficient to precondition any dust column. The action performed by this movement raises the dust slightly along the entire column by aerating the dust, breaking at the same time 35

any conglomerate and then allowing the powder to fall gently on the upper edge of the blade and to rest under it.

A succession of upward and downward passes of the blade (for example two below and two above) according to a conditioning phase of a test creates a uniform density of the assembly in the powder, that is, it is free of distortions that of otherwise, they would be present due to, for example, a method of filling the container 20 with the powder to be tested, or the settling of the powder before the test. Although the initial conditioning movement of the blade is normally down, some tests 10 may require that the conditioning begin in the opposite direction from within the powder, thus requiring an inversion of the sequence.

As stated above, nodule formation is a rheometric property of a powder that is often of interest. The conditioning in which the blade is moved inversely within the powder can be used to compact the powder towards the base of the container with a predetermined force value. Then the blade is programmed to move forward by sliding through the compacted material with zero slippage, causing minimal disturbance of the sample in the process. This sequence of compacting and sliding through the material can be repeated a number of 20 times. The sequence progressively compacts the powder at the base of the container to homogenize it.

It is often of commercial interest to analyze the data in a way that gives information on the speed at which the conglomerate is formed. This is monitored by measuring the axial force in the container as compaction takes place in each cycle. At a given measured force value, corresponding to a desired level of compaction, the blade is then programmed to slide through the material to provide a reading of the resistance of the material to the axial movement of the blade. This output is indicative of the cohesion of the powder in the compacted state. 30

The tests are carried out in accordance with a written macro instruction for the processor. These are user selectable through a keyboard. The first is indicative of the speed at which the conglomerate is formed. In all cases, the speeds, angles, directions, both up and down, target forces and distances can be varied by the user.

objective.

After the pre-test conditioning described above, the upper surface of the dust column in the container may be non-homogeneous. To verify this, the rotor moves according to its compaction movement (this is clockwise for the realization of 5 Figures 1 and 2) towards the surface of the sample with a feed rate of 20 mm / s and a rotation speed equivalent to an entry angle for the blade of 2º. This smooth and gradual progression towards dust matches the top of the sample. When the load cell transmits a signal indicating a force of 5 g exerted on the sample by the blade, the equalization process is stopped. This procedure also allows the system to record the height of the column during the conglomerate test. This provides data on the extent to which the dust settles in storage.

When the force exerted reaches the target value of 5 g as indicated, the test of the sample continues with the recording of the data as the blade moves down through the dust at a feed rate of 20 m / s and an angle of progression of 20º. The compaction that takes place by virtue of this movement of the blade is programmed to stop when the load cell signal indicates an objective force in the 1 kg sample. At this point the rotor returns upwards through the sample at a speed of 10 m / s and at a 45 degree progression angle. This angle is equivalent to a speed of progression that provides a zero slip, since the angle of the blade is also 45 °, with an angle of 45 ° in the upward direction equivalent to one of 135 ° in the downward direction. This means that the blade cuts through the dust like a knife, creating minimal distortion as it does. This is repeated for five compactions and four returns. At the end of the fifth compaction, the blade is programmed to slide through the compacted powder of the sample at an angle of progression of 175º in tune with the passage of the blade. As the blade moves, the axial force required to do so is recorded from the beginning of the movement to the end. Finally, the blade returns 30 up through the sample and out of it at a feed rate of 10 mm / s and even an angle of 175 °.

Of these test movements the macro instruction records:

<dl>&lt;dt /&gt;<dd> the height of the column at the beginning of each compaction cycle, determined by the force on the sample exerted by the 5 g blade. 35</dd></dl>

<dl>&lt;dt /&gt;<dd> the distance traveled when the “final force” of 1 kg is reached, this is the conglomerate height for each cycle. </dd></dl>

<dl>&lt;dt /&gt;<dd> the main force and the work done (gr / m) to slide through the conglomerate (compacted) sample after the five compaction cycles. 5</dd></dl>

The data is applied to a spreadsheet in which the ratios between volume and cluster height are established based on the height of the material column. Similarly, the compaction force is established in the spreadsheet as the main axial force and the work performed (the area under the force / distance curve for the displacement of the blade through the sample). 10

Another form of analysis is focused on measuring different parameters during a test sequence, these being: the friction between the particles and their change as the flow rate changes, the cohesion of the dust and the flow stability. The latter is essentially an investigation of the change in flow characteristics due, for example, to the effects of friction. This 15 properties are investigated during the dust flow test depending on the speed. This information is important for:

<dl>&lt;dt /&gt;<dd> process modifications: if a manager needs to increase production speeds, it is necessary to know how the dust that is a constituent component of the production process will behave at a different level of flow. </dd></dl>

<dl>&lt;dt /&gt;<dd> Quality control: manufacturers and customers need to analyze samples to check the suitability of the lots. </dd></dl>

<dl>&lt;dt /&gt;<dd> process monitoring. </dd></dl>

<dl>&lt;dt /&gt;<dd> modification of ingredients. 25</dd></dl>

For the dependence test with the flow rate of the powder, it comprises a sequence of two conditioning cycles to indicate homogeneity in the sample. The rotor moves down the sample at a speed of 50 mm / s and at an angle of 175 °. Each cycle is then completed with an upward movement through the sample at a speed of 50 mm / s 30 and at an angle of 178 °.

The test phase comprises a number of sets at different speeds, each of two cycles. The first set of two cycles is as follows:

the rotor is programmed to move down the dust column at 35

a feed rate of 10 mm / s and an angle of 5 °, compacted the dust in the column. While this is being done, the system is capturing data on force, axial distance, and time. These data correspond to the resistance of the powder to be pushed at a controlled flow rate, for example the friction between the dust particles. At the bottom of the dust column, the rotor is programmed to slide through the dust at an axial speed close to zero and no data is measured, serving this purpose to prevent any strongly compacted layer from forming. The rotor is then programmed to move up through the dust at a feed rate of 50 mm / s and at an angle of 178 °. Again, data is recorded. These data correspond to an indication of the cohesion 10 of the powder.

Once these two cycles have been completed the next two cycles begin immediately in the same way, but with a downward velocity of the compacting blade of 20 mm / s. At the end of these two cycles the compaction speed is changed to 50 mm / s, and then two more cycles at a compaction speed of 100 mm / s, finally followed by two cycles at 10 mm / s. Data on force, distance and time are recorded as before.

Using the macro in the system, the positive and negative areas of force and distance for the up and down paths of the blade through the sample, respectively, are recorded and entered into a spreadsheet of 20 results. The spreadsheet is programmed to calculate the averages of the two areas for compaction data (as the blade moves down through the dust column) at each blade travel speed. These will be recorded as the compaction coefficients at 10, 20, 50 and 100 mm / s. Cohesion (as the rotor moves up through the powder 25 and lifts and separates the compacted powder) is also recorded for the first two cycles and obtained the average. The compaction coefficient for the two final cycles at 10 mm / s is averaged and the ratio for such average with the average of the two initial cycles at 10 mm / s is derived to calculate if the powder has crumbled during the test. This is shown in the result sheet as flow stability. 30 A flow stability figure close to 1.00 means that it has not changed at all during the test. If the figure is greater than 1.00, it is an indication that the sample has changed during the test (giving a higher compaction coefficient). If it is less than 1.00 the sample has changed to give a lower compaction coefficient. 35

If the flow stability is close to 1.00 and the compaction coefficient is increased at higher flow rates, the product is more resistant to flow at high flow rates (and may result in a lack of filling in a production environment). If the flow stability is close to 1.00 and the compaction coefficient drops to high flow rates, this shows that the product is less resistant to flow (i.e. it flows more easily) at high flow rates. This can be used to prevent overfilling in a production environment. If the flow stability is different than 1.00 this shows that the product can generate friction during the process or transport that can be further investigated using a texture analyzer to perform a compaction test on the powder or granulate and measure the force necessary to fracture the product, and also to test its elasticity characteristics.

In an alternative test, the substance can be compacted to a specified practically constant contraction. The machine has the ability 15 to measure the height of the column before compaction (as described above). Thus it is able to determine how much the rotor must be introduced into the vessel to create a specific degree of contraction. Contraction in this context is defined as "change in length" divided by "original length" of the substance column in the container. The rotational movement necessary to maintain the helical progression under these circumstances may be determined by the user or not used at all. Data recording during this mode of operation is optional. This mode of operation can be determined by the specified time delay or by a reading of the force exerted.

As an additional alternative, the substance can be compacted (or aerated) under conditions of constant force. In this mode you can specify a maximum speed at which the rotor will penetrate the substance. When a specified force is reached, instead of stopping or performing another action or movement, the rotor continues to move but at a new speed determined solely by the requirement to continue exerting the specified force on the substance. The speed control is carried out by conventional feedback of the resistance gauge output by the motor control. The rotation movement required to maintain the helical progression under these circumstances may or may not be used as determined by the user. Data recording during this mode of operation is optional. This mode of operation can be 35

determined by the elapsed time or the distance traveled.

By limiting the device to the measurement of axial force, the practical realization of a rheometer is simplified. Because rheometers are frequently used in polluted environments where dust and / or moisture entry, etc. is a problem, avoiding having to measure the force due to the relative rotation of the 5 parts is an advantage. In addition, the devices used to measure linear forces are easier to adjust and more reliable and versatile than the devices used to measure torque.

The suitable program provided with the dust flow analyzer of the present invention allows virtually any characteristic of the data 10 to be recognized and recorded, including peaks, intermediate trend peaks, gradients, elapsed time and distance events, line comparisons. compaction and sponge, and many other features. Additionally, analytical macros for data analysis can be written to fit any particular test event or to amplify a special characteristic of the samples. The data obtained include the displaced axial distance, the elapsed time and the axial force exerted. In general, for a particular powder the force or work performed both downwards (compaction) and upwards (aeration) provide high repeatability measures. In order to achieve this the object of the comparisons between samples, the starting height (or volume) of the samples within the sample containers must be the same after the initial conditioning carried out by the analyzer.

It has been appreciated that the data obtained by the rotor with the blade crossing the contents of the sample container are analyzed by processing the axial work performed (the axial force multiplied by the axial distance traveled) during a number of different levels of filling of the tube of samples. These data are obtained separately for the upward and downward movements and then represented on a graph as the work done on the Y axis by the volume of the sample on the X axis. The ratio 30 demonstrated by this technique shows that the work done is increased with the increasing volume of the sample according to an exponential function. However, the exponential magnitude of this curved function is so thin that it can be considered linear for the filling levels that are currently used (this is between 120 and 180 ml for a 50 mm inner diameter container). This find 35

It is important as it makes a comparison between samples of the same product using different possible volumes. In the pharmaceutical industry, sometimes very small quantities are only available and, in addition to this, samples can be prepared in different situations by different operators. 5

The measurement of axial force only in rheometric investigations is something unique to the present invention. Historically, the rheometers have investigated the torque since the associated rotational movement can be carried out indefinitely, without depending on the length of the sample layer or the depth of the container, nor on any other physical limitation. The mechanical measurement method 10 that has been used in the past requires the measurement of steady state forces due to the repetitive nature of the rotation cycle. However, according to the invention the movement of the blade in the helical shape, rotating at a certain speed, exerts a thrust on the sample. Therefore, the ability of the product to "flow" can be measured by simply measuring the axial force. The "flow" of any type of product will also depend on the density, and in the case of a powder, the packaging density is not necessary to measure the input torque. This will vary with the type of product but it is not a measure as sensitive as axial force. By moving the rotor axially simultaneously with the linear movement of the rotor, the action of the rotor can be a compression or an expansion. When actions are used in conjunction with a selectable data capture system, a very powerful analytical tool is provided.

It will be appreciated by people with a normal experience in this technique that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention. For example, a toothed transmission belt is illustrated in the specific embodiment, while the engine may be arranged to move the rotor member in a direct rotation or through other forms of transmission. The rotor member can also be moved linearly in a different way to a helical screw, such as belts, or the use of a direct drive from a linear motor. The relative movement between the blade and the container could also be perfectly achieved by the movement of the container. Additionally, even if the load cell is arranged to measure the forces transmitted through the vessel, it could be equally well disposed to measure the forces transmitted through the rotor member along the axis about 35

the recipient. Similarly, readings of the resistance to movement of the rotor member through the substance can be derived from the energy consumed by the motor that drives the linear member. For example, the current applied to the motor can be recorded. The blade has been described as the helix type in its profile so that it can be used in a manner in which the least distortion is created since the substance is cut by the leading edge of the blade. However, flat blades or profiles that are not propeller type can be used. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations in the described arrangements are possible without departing from the invention. In accordance with the foregoing, the above description of an embodiment and 10 of its variants is made by way of example and not with the intention of limiting. The present invention is intended to be limited only by the object of the following claims.