US 12,247,997 B2
Froth bubble moving speed measuring device and method of measuring froth bubble moving speed, flotation apparatus and flotation method using same
Jun Sugihara, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/455,076.
Application 17/455,076 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/019592, filed on May 18, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-097860 (JP), filed on May 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0074965 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. B03D 1/02 (2006.01); B03D 1/16 (2006.01); G01P 5/20 (2006.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01)
CPC G01P 5/20 (2013.01) [B03D 1/02 (2013.01); B03D 1/16 (2013.01); G06T 7/0002 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flotation apparatus, comprising:
a flotation tank;
an agitator blade provided in the flotation tank;
an air supply shaft provided in the flotation tank and supplies air from below the agitator blade at the lower end of the air supply shaft;
a light source configured to illuminate an upper surface of the flotation tank;
an imaging unit configured to capture at least a part of the upper surface of the flotation tank;
a memory; and
a processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
process an image captured by the imaging unit;
calculate a moving speed of a froth bubble by calculating a moving distance of the froth bubble based on the image processed; and
adjust a driving speed of the agitator blade based on the moving speed of the froth bubble calculated.