Device for rapid testing of the quality of cereals, grits and flours by measuring the aggregation of gluten
AssigneeBrabender GmbH & Co. KG
InventorJens Dreisoerner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and a device for rapid testing of the quality of cereals, grits and flours measures the aggregation of gluten. The sample to be tested in aqueous solution/suspension containing mineral salts and/or acids and/or liquors in a specific amount in a sample cup is stirred with an electrically driven stirring paddle and the resistance opposed to the paddle by the sample during the stirring process is measured, the torque loads acting on the rotatably mounted electric drive motor being measured from the beginning of the stirring process using extensometric gauges, the measurement being completed once the maximum rotating torque is reached and the measuring process being monitored, controlled and analyzed by software.
Claims3
A device for measuring gluten aggregation, the device comprising:
- an electric motor mounted to rotate at a speed of rotation between 1000 and 6000 rpm, the speed of rotation being able to be stabilized electronically;
- a stirring paddle comprising a flat metal plate, the flat metal plate having an outline, longitudinal side edges, an inside surface, first recesses in the longitudinal side edges, and second recesses in the inside surface, the first recesses being exteriorly open, the second recesses being closed in themselves, and the stirring paddle being electrically driven by the electric motor;
- a sample beaker, the sample beaker being smooth-walled, having a longitudinal cross-section, and being disposed below the electric motor in such a manner that the stirring paddle can be moved into the sample beaker from above, the longitudinal cross-section of the sample beaker essentially agreeing with the outline of the stirring paddle;
- extensometric gauges able to measure torsion forces acting on the electric motor during rotation of the stirring paddle;
- and
- software able to monitor, control, and evaluate a measurement by the extensometric gauges of the torsion forces acting on the electric motor during rotation of the stirring paddle;
- wherein via the electric motor, the stirring paddle, the sample beaker, the extensometric gauges, and the software, the device is configured to measure gluten aggregation of a sample of grains, crushed grains, or flours in an aqueous solution or suspension contained in the sample beaker, the aqueous solution or suspension including at least one of mineral salts, acids and bases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.