Rock fragment and soil analysis tray

Abstract

A rock sample analysis tray for visual and / or instrumental analysis of crushed rock samples is provided. The analysis tray includes a plurality of compartments having side walls spanning between a closed end and an open end. Each compartment includes opening at the open end and tapered wall sections extending from the side walls to the opening. The opening includes a lip. The analysis tray is configured to be attached to a specimen tray that is commonly used to transport and store rock samples. The analysis tray includes an attachment mechanism to attach the analysis tray to the specimen tray. Upon attachment, the lip of each opening nestles into a corresponding compartment in the specimen tray such that samples contained in the specimen tray can be easily transferred to the analysis tray for measurements and easily returned to the specimen tray thereafter.

Description

ROCK FRAGMENT AND SOIL ANALYSIS TRAYTechnical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to containers for storing specimen samples, and, in particular to a tray for rock fragment and soil analysis.Introduction

[0002] Specimen trays such as the tray 10 shown in FIG. 1 , are typically used to store and transport rock fragment samples (e.g., crushed, semi-crushed, broken, and / or powdered rock) or soil samples. The tray 10 is divided into a plurality of rows / compartments 12 for holding rock samples and includes a lid 11 for covering the compartments 12. Individual compartments 12 have dimensions of up to ~50 mm in length, ~30mm in width ~30 mm in depth.

[0003] For most investigations, the size of compartment 12 is too small to allow for a full visual analysis (e.g., photography) or instrumental analysis (e.g., reflectance spectroscopic analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis, etc.) of all rock fragments contained in each compartment. The analysis is typically restricted to the material that is exposed on the top surface of the sample in the compartment, whereas material that is located deeper within the compartment, which commonly includes finer-grained material, is not accessible to the analysis. Limiting the analysis to material that is near the surface of a compartment can produce measurements that are biased to these exposed materials and are not representative of the entire sample within the compartment.

[0004] To obtain a more representative visual or instrumental analysis of all material within a compartment, rock samples must first be emptied from the tray 10, and after the visual and / or instrumental analysis has been performed, the contents of the compartment must be returned to the tray 10 for storage, which is inconvenient and time consuming. In addition, care must be taken to return a given sample to its original compartment to avoid sample cross-contamination.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for new trays for performing a visual and instrumental analysis of rock samples.Summary

[0006] According to some embodiments, there is a rock analysis tray comprising an open end and a closed end. A plurality of compartments defined by a plurality of side walls span between the open end and the closed end. Each compartment has an opening at the open end and tapered wall sections extending from the side walls to the opening. Each opening has a lip. The rock analysis tray further includes an attachment mechanism configured to removably attached the rock analysis tray to a specimen tray, wherein upon attachment, the lip of each opening nestles into a corersponding compartment in the specimen tray. The dimensions of each opening in the analysis tray match dimensions of the compartment in the specimen tray.

[0007] According to an embodiment, the attachment mechanism includes resilient clips configured to return to a straightened state after bending. The clips may be disposed on end side walls of the analysis tray. According to other embodiments, the attachment mechanism may include magnetic, friction-fit or interference-fit means of attachment.

[0008] The analysis tray is constructed of, or coated with, an opaque material that is low reflective, non-reflective, or non-transmissive to visible light and / or short-wave infrared light.

[0009] Other aspects and features will become apparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the art, upon review of the following description of some exemplary embodiments.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification. In the drawings:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a traditional specimen tray;

[0012] FIGS. 2A-2B are top perspective views of a rock fragment analysis tray, according to an embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 2C is a bottom perspective view of the rock fragment tray shown in FIGS. 2A-2B;

[0014] FIGS. 2D-2E are top and side views, respectively of the rock fragment tray shown in FIGS. 2A-2C;

[0015] FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective and side views, receptively, of the rock fragment tray of FIGS. 2A-2D, shown in relation to a specimen tray; and

[0016] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the rock fragment analysis tray of FIGS. 2A-2D attached to a specimen tray in a vertical configuration, according to an embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the rock fragment analysis tray of FIG. 4A attached to a specimen tray in a horizontal configuration, according to an embodiment; and

[0018] FIG. 40 is a side view of the rock fragment analysis tray of FIG. 4B attached to a specimen tray in a horizontal configuration.Detailed Description

[0019] Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide an example of each claimed embodiment. No embodiment described below limits any claimed embodiment and any claimed embodiment may cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed embodiments are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below.

[0020] The term “about,” or a tilde (~) when preceding a value herein, refers to the usual error range for the respective value readily known to the skilled person in this technical field. For example, a tilde (~) is used herein, may signify a range of ± 10% of the indicated value (e.g., ~1.0 means between 0.9 to 1.1 ).

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2A-2D, shown therein is an analysis tray 100, according to an embodiment. The analysis tray 100 includes a plurality of rows / compartments 102 (one representative row / compartment 102 is shown) for holding rock fragment samples or soil samples for visual analysis (e.g., photography) or instrumental analysis (e.g.,reflectance spectroscopic analysis, x-ray fluorescence analysis, etc.). Generally, one sample is held in one row / compartment 102.

[0022] The analysis tray 100 includes a closed end 104 and an open end 106. Each compartment 102 spans a distance between the closed end 104 and the open end 106 and is bounded by side walls 116, 117. The open end 106 includes a plurality of openings where each row / compartment 102 is aligned with an opening 108 through which rock fragments are added to, and removed from, the compartments 102, as described below. Each opening 108 includes a lip 122 around the opening 108. The dimensions of the opening 108 and the lip 122 are generally sized to match the dimensions of the compartments in a traditional specimen tray (e.g., tray 10).

[0023] The analysis tray 100 includes an open side 110 and a closed side 112. Reflectance spectroscopy measurements are performed by aiming a reflectance spectroscopy scanner (such as the hand scanner disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 611391 ) at the open side 110 to scan the sample in each compartment 102. The analysis tray 100 is constructed of, or coated with, an opaque material that is low- reflective to, or does not reflect, visible or short-wave infrared light and is non- transmissive to visible or short wave-infrared light so as not to interfere with reflectance spectroscopy measurements.

[0024] The analysis tray 100 includes a mechanism for removably attaching the analysis tray 100 to a traditional specimen tray as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C. According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the attachment mechanism is clips 114. The clips 114 are semi-rigid and resilient to return to a straight position after bending. According to an embodiment, the clips 114 are disposed on end side walls 116 of the analysis tray 100. According to other embodiments, one or more clips 114 may be disposed on the closed side 112, in addition to, or instead of clips 114 on the exterior side walls 116. According to other embodiments, the attachment mechanism may include magnetic, interference-fit or friction-fit means of attachment.

[0025] The open end 106 of the analysis tray 100 includes tapered wall sections 118 extending from the side walls 116, 117 to the opening 108 of each compartment 102.The tapered wall sections 118 are joined to a girder 120 spanning the open end 106. The tapered wall sections 118 are substantially triangular.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 3A-3B, the analysis tray 100 is shown in relation to a traditional specimen tray 20. Generally, the number of compartments 102 in the analysis tray 100 is equal to the number of compartments 12 in the specimen tray 10 it is to be attached to. According to various embodiments, the rock fragment tray 100 and the specimen tray 10 include a plurality of compartments 12, 102, not limited to 5, 10, 15, or 20 compartments 12, 120.

[0027] The dimensions A, B of the openings 108 in the analysis tray 100 match the dimensions AA, BB of the compartments 12. A length, C, of the clip 114, is slightly longer than a depth, CC, of the specimen tray 10 to allow for the clip 114 to clasp around the specimen tray as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C. The lip 122 of the openings 108 has dimensions slightly smaller than the dimensions A, B, and configured such that the lip 122 nestles into the corresponding compartment 12 when the analysis tray 100 is attached to the specimen tray 10.

[0028] Prior to attaching the analysis tray 100 to the specimen tray 10, the lid 11 of the specimen tray 10 is removed to expose the rows / compartments 12 and the rock or soil samples therein. The specimen tray 10 may be placed on a flat surface or held in a user’s hand. The analysis tray 100 is positioned above the specimen tray 10, with the openings 108 facing downward such that the openings 108 are substantially aligned with the rows / compartments 12 in the specimen tray 10. The trays 100, 10 are then brought together, while the analysis tray 100 is substantially vertical and the specimen tray is substantially horizontal 10, such that the lip 122 of each opening 108 in the analysis tray 100 nestles into a corresponding compartment 12 in the specimen tray 10, and the attachment mechanism on the analysis tray 100 engages the specimen tray 10 to removably attach the trays 100, 10. In the embodiment shown, the attachment mechanism includes clips 114 that pass around the specimen tray 10 to removably clamp the trays 100, 10 together as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4A, during initial attachment of the trays 100, 10 the specimen tray 10 is maintained substantially horizontal, so that the samples held in thespecimen tray 10 remain therein. Referring to FIGS. 4B, 40 after attachment of the trays 100, 10, the samples contained in the specimen tray 10 are transferred to the analysis tray 100 by tilting the attached trays 100, 10, such that the analysis tray 100 is substantially horizontal and specimen tray 12 is substantially vertical the contents of the specimen tray 10 transfers through the openings 108 into the analysis tray 100. Before or while the trays 100, 10 are tilted, the lid 11 of the specimen tray 10 may be pressed against the tapered wall sections 118 of the analysis tray 100 to avoid samples contained in different rows / compartments 12 from mixing during transfer from the specimen tray 10 to the analysis tray 100.

[0030] During / after tilting, the trays 100, 10 may be shaken slightly to ensure all of samples in the specimen tray 10 are transferred to the analysis tray 100. After the samples are transferred to the analysis tray 100, the samples in each row / compartment 120 may be spread evenly across that row / compartment 120 prior to performing visual inspection and / or analytical measurements. The specimen tray 10 and the analysis tray 100 may be detached prior to performing visual inspection and / or analytical measurements. To return the samples back to the specimen tray 10 after the visual inspection / analytical measurement, the attached (or re-attached) trays 100, 10 are tilted such that the analysis tray 100 is substantially vertical (as shown in FIG. 4A) and the specimen tray 10 is substantially horizontal to transfer samples transfer through the openings 108 into the specimen tray 10. During / after tilting, the trays 100, 10 may be shaken slightly to ensure all of samples in the analysis tray 100 are transferred back to the specimen tray 10. The lid 11 of the specimen tray 10 may then be closed.

[0031] While the above description provides examples of one or more apparatus, methods, or systems, it will be appreciated that other apparatus, methods, or systems may be within the scope of the claims as interpreted by one of skill in the art.

Claims

Claims:1 . An analysis tray, comprising: a plurality of compartments defined by a plurality of side walls spanning between an open end and a closed end; each compartment having an opening at the open end and tapered wall sections extending from the side walls to the opening; each opening having a lip; and an attachment mechanism configured to removably attach the analysis tray to a specimen tray, wherein upon attachment, the lip of each opening nestles into a corresponding compartment in the specimen tray.

2. The analysis tray of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compartments number 5, 10, 15 or 20 compartments.

3. The analysis tray of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes resilient clips configured to return to a straightened state after bending.

4. The analysis tray of claim 3, wherein the clips are disposed on end side walls of the analysis tray.

5. The analysis tray of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes magnetic, friction-fit, or interference-fit means of attachment.

6. The analysis tray of claim 1 , wherein the analysis tray is constructed of, or coated with, an opaque material that is low reflective, non-reflective, or non-transmissive to visible light and / or short-wave infrared light.

7. The analysis tray of claim 1 , wherein dimensions of each opening in the analysis tray match dimensions of the compartment in the specimen tray.

8. A method of transferring samples for analysis, the method comprising: positioning an analysis tray above a specimen tray such that openings in the analysis tray are substantially aligned with compartments in the specimen tray; bringing the trays tray together, while the analysis tray is substantially vertical and the specimen tray is substantially horizontal, so that a lip of each opening in the analysis tray nestles into a corresponding compartment in the specimen tray; and an attachment mechanism of the analysis tray engages the specimen tray to removably attach the trays; tilting the trays so that the analysis tray is substantially horizontal and the specimen tray is substantially vertical to transfer one or more samples from the specimen tray to the analysis tray through the openings; and performing visual inspection and / or analytical measurements on the one or more samples in the analysis tray.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing the analysis tray.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising pressing a lid of the specimen tray against tapered wall sections of the analysis tray prior to or while tilting the trays.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising evenly spreading the one or more samples in respective compartments of the analysis tray prior to performing the visual inspection and / or analytical measurements.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising shaking the trays during or after tilting the trays.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising detaching the specimen tray from the analysis tray prior to performing the visual inspection and / or analytical measurements.

14. The method of claim 14, further comprising: reattaching the specimen tray to the analysis tray after performing the visual inspection and / or analytical measurements; and tilting the trays such that the analysis tray is substantially vertical and the specimen tray is substantially horizontal to transfer the one or more samples from the analysis tray to the specimen tray through the openings.

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