US 11,840,408 B1
Apparatuses and methods for measuring dustiness of a product
Saul C. Ovalle, Murrieta, CA (US); James Schnepf, Phoenix, AZ (US); and Amy Euske, Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Assigned to PETSMART HOME OFFICE, INC., Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed by PetSmart Home Office, Inc., Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed on Dec. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/077,792.
Int. Cl. B65G 47/44 (2006.01); G01N 15/02 (2006.01); B65G 11/20 (2006.01); B65G 11/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 47/44 (2013.01) [B65G 11/023 (2013.01); B65G 11/203 (2013.01); G01N 15/02 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0208 (2013.01); B65G 2203/042 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for measuring dustiness of a product comprising:
a wall;
a ramp comprising a dam, a receiving end, and a discharging end opposite the receiving end, wherein:
the ramp is configured to:
receive, at the receiving end, the product; and
allow gravity to move the product from the receiving end toward the discharging end to exit the ramp; and
the dam is configured to control a mass flow rate of the product exiting the ramp; and
a sensor configured to measure airborne particles generated by the product exiting the ramp and freely falling onto a support surface to determine the dustiness of the product, wherein the discharging end of the ramp is located between the sensor and the wall.