# US 2014/0190242 A1 · Method and Apparatus For Testing Consistency of Frozen Beverages

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- Number: US 2014/0190242 A1
- Document ID: US20140190242A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/205,036
- Filed: 2014-03-11
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2010-01-12
- Assignees: IMI Cornelius Inc.
- Inventors: Nicholas M. Giardino; Derek Choi; Lawrence Oetjens; Andrew J. Tobler; Scott E. Sevcik
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190242A1

## CPC

- G01N 11/10: by moving a body within the material
- G01N 3/303: generated only by free-falling weight
- G01N 11/00: Investigating flow properties of materials, e.g. viscosity, plasticity; Analysing materials by determining flow properties
- G01N 2203/0092: Visco-elasticity, solidification, curing, cross-linking degree, vulcanisation or strength properties of semi-solid materials
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A method and apparatus using sample test container filled with beverage, a penetrator holder, a penetrator and release means is disclosed. In the method a sample, is drawn into the test container and the penetrator dropped into the sample, and a reading of the stiffness of the sample is made based on the depth of penetration of the penetrator onto the sample.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for determining the stiffness of a beverage, comprising the steps of:
drawing a standard sample of beverage into a standard test sample container;
striking the sample to a constant level in said test container;
mounting a penetrator a fixed distance above the test container;
dropping the penetrator into the sample;
detecting a measurement indicative of the penetrator onto the sample; and
using the detected penetration, if need be, to make or not make adjustments to achieve a consistent beverage stiffness.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
placing the penetrator on said standard test sample container;
placing a clean penetrator in a penetrator holder;
setting a penetrator release to hold the penetrator on said penetrator holder; and
setting off the penetrator release to drop said penetrator in said penetrator holder into said sample in said standard test container.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
noting the depth of the penetrator into the sample;
adjusting one or more of refrigeration and/or gas or air inclusion, if need be, to achieve a desired consistency; and
repeating the test to check the consistency after any adjusting.

### Claim 4

A method for determining the stiffness of a beverage, comprising the steps of:
placing a penetrator holder on a standard test container;
placing a clean penetrator in said penetrator holder;
setting a penetrator release to hold the penetrator on said penetrator holder;
setting off the penetrator release to drop said penetrator in said penetrator holder into a sample in a standard test container;
noting the depth of penetration of the penetrator into the sample;
adjusting one or more of refrigeration and/or gas or air inclusion, if need be, to achieve a desired consistency;
cleaning the penetrator; and
repeating the above steps to check the consistency after any adjusting until the desired consistency is achieved.

### Claim 5

A method for determining the stiffness of a beverage, comprising the steps of:
providing a penetrator with one of a slot and rib;
providing a penetrator holder with the other of the slot and rib and with a turning tab;
placing the penetrator on said standard test container;
placing a clean penetrator in said penetrator holder;
setting the penetrator release with said slot and rib misaligned to hold the penetrator on said penetrator holder;
turning said turning tab to align said rib in said slot; and
dropping said penetrator in said penetrator holder into said sample in said standard test container.