US 6,643,599 B1 · Automated machine and method for fruit testing

Abstract

A fruit tester provides a motor driven intrusive plunger with associated sensors to determine digital data indicative of plunger position, force resisting plunger intrusion and constant pressure creep. Sensor data is presented to a computer for storage, analysis and feedback control of the plunger. The plunger powering train includes a belt driven ball screw translator to convert rotary to linear motion and an “S” type stress block with plural bridge interconnected strain gauges to sense pressure resisting intrusion to allow accurate measurements. Methods of analysis are disclosed to determine both resistance to plunger penetration and plunger creep at fixed pressure, in each of at least two concentric zones of a fruit, which are related by software for accurate determination of fruit condition as a function of time, both present and future.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for determining the maturation state and condition of a fruit with a computer serviced intrusion type plunger tester, comprising the steps of:

classifying a soft tissue fruit into three concentric zones consisting of a first zone extending spacedly inward from the fruit periphery, a third zone including the fruit core and a second zone bounded by the first and third zones;
mechanically moving an elongate plunger into the fruit through at least one data point in each of the said three zones of the fruit and determining plunger position relative to the fruit surface at each of the data points;
determining data relating to the viscoelastic properties of the fruit at each data point within the fruit;
analyzing the data relating to the viscoelestic maturation state to determine the condition and maturation state of the tested fruit.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automated machine and method for fruit testing

Life of this patent

Automated machine and method for fruit testing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10