Radiant energy – Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling – Infrared responsive
Patent
1985-12-09
1988-05-03
Howell, Janice A.
Radiant energy
Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling
Infrared responsive
250304, 250339, 2503591, 356 36, G01N 2101
Patent
active
047422289
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an infrared measuring apparatus as well as to a process for the continuous quantitative measurement of components of flour or other groundable food products in a tubular measurement segment with forced transport of the material to be measured.
STATE OF THE ART ON WHICH THE INVENTION IS BASED
Infrared spectroscopy has already been used for some time in the grain processing industry for measuring various components (such as protein and water) in flour. These components exhibit a quite typical light-absorption and light-reflection behavior under infrared light.
On account of the natural factors of soil, climate and climate stability, very different grain harvests are a fact of life, especially, for example, in the European and adjoining areas. Also, with regard to grain production, other areas such as the USA, Canada and Australia are additionally privileged, not only owing to the fact that there are fewer climatic variations, but also because the soils and the climate permit the best qualities of grain to be produced, insofar as the bulk of the international grain trade is taken into consideration. Here also, as with many other goods, it is true that higher prices have to be paid for higher quality. In addition, there is the fact that each country attempts to keep as much as possible of the production of agricultural products in its own country. The consumer demands bread products, which correspond to his own concepts, whether they be taste, lightness, nutritional value, price, etc. The excesses and deficits are compensated for through international trade, however, with the disadvantage of widely varying qualities of the grain components. It becomes the task of the mill and the bakery (taking national interests into consideration) to optimize, so as to produce the best possible flour or bread with and etc.)
At the present time, the market has the property that supply and price are subject to rapid changes, so that it is no longer acceptable for a mill to mix grain and add water according to the values of past experience. The market and, especially, the accounting point of view demand constant adaptation to existing conditions and this calls for the use of computers.
Extensive investigations and, especially, an examination in the laboratory of the best infrared measuring instruments known at the present time, led to the conclusion that the problems of laboratory measurement, but not those of continuous measurements during manufacture, can be regarded as solved.
In one respect, the handling of laboratory data is very simple; if the result deviates from reality, the measurement is repeated in ones' own or in an outside laboratory. However, the laboratory data can also be ignored and the manufacturing process continued, if all other data (including that obtained by sensory evaluation) suggests that such a course of action is justifiable. Man intervenes here with his decision.
In an investigations of the complex of problems, three "barriers", which are unsolved, have so far emerged: equipment can be conceived for environmental influences of a lesser magnitude. If, however, laboratory measuring equipment is used in a manufacturing operation, the errors, which are caused by environmental influences, can in many cases not be separated from other malfunctions. researched from a theoretical, and especially from a physical, chemical and mathematical point of view, is checked in the laboratory, and if the system, which has been recognized as usable, is subjected to the realities of use, it frequently turns out to be unfit for practical applications (that is, inexplicable errors and deviations occur). not be derived with sufficient reliability from practical measurements of individual samples.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONS
It is an object of the invention to develop an apparatus and a process for continuously determining individual components of flour or other groundable food products, which avoid the disadvantages that have been described and, in particular, lead to represe
REFERENCES:
patent: 3321636 (1967-05-01), Karrer
patent: 4260263 (1981-04-01), Kummer
patent: 4422760 (1983-12-01), Webster
patent: 4479055 (1984-10-01), Perten
patent: 4563581 (1986-01-01), Perten
patent: 4640614 (1987-02-01), Roberts et al.
Gebruder Buhler AG
Hannaher Constantine
Howell Janice A.
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