Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or... – Involving viable micro-organism
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-03-06
Leary, Louise N. (Department: 1623)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or...
Involving viable micro-organism
C435S014000, C435S968000, C435S283100, C435S004000, C422S050000, C422S068100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06197538
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method of determining the quality or the composition or both of milk by means of measurements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such a method if known from the German offenlegungsschrift 27 59 126 in which a light source is described that irradiates the milk and in which a light-sensitive element is described by means of which a color change of the milk is determined. When the milk shows a deviating color, such as due to the presence of blood or pus, the milk is separated and collected in a separate reservoir. This method has the disadvantage that only rough deviations in the color of the milk can be determined and that subtle color differences, such as due to the presence of exiguous contaminations or as a result of the fact that the animal has consumed grass, instead of concentrate, are not detected.
An alternative method is known from the document Dutch Application NL 1004980. This document discloses a method in which the intensity values of a number of colors in the milk are determined and in which the milk is produced by individual animals. By comparing the intensity values with the values recorded during previous milkings, the presence of specific substances, such as contaminates can be determined. This method has the disadvantage that the intensity values of the milk vary to a great extent, depending on the amount of surrounding light. Moreover, the results cannot be interpreted quantitatively, as only changes relative to previous milkings are recorded.
Finally document Dutch Application NL 94022010 describes a sensor for the detection of contaminates in the milking systems of a milking machine, making use of radioactive radiation or ultrasonic sound. This sensor has the disadvantage of only being suitable for detecting contaminates in the milk and not being able to perform other qualitative measurements on the milk, such as detecting blood, diagnosing mastitis or determining the cell count.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention aims to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks or at least to minimize same. In accordance with the invention this is achieved in that one or more sources irradiate the milk consecutively or simultaneously with radiation of one or more different wavelengths or different intensities or both, while, during at least part of the time when the sources are switched on, one or more receivers determine one or more reflected or adsorbed or both radiation intensities received during a period of time. The values of the thus obtained radiation intensities are stored in a memory and are compared mutually as well as with previous values recorded during one or more previous measurements, whereupon the results of this comparison process are displayed. Because of the fact that during the measurements, the sources irradiate the milk simultaneously or consecutively with radiation of different wavelengths or different intensities or both, and the different reflected or adsorbed or both radiation intensities are determined during a period of time, color changes are detected over a wider wavelength range. This has the advantage that subtle color changes can be detected, such as in the case that small quantities of blood, pus, rinsing liquid or urine are present in the milk. Another advantage of irradiating the milk by a source is that disturbances of the detected radiation intensities by the presence of the radiation sources in the neighborhood, such as the lamps in the shed or the sunlight are available.
During a measurement one or more sources can be switched off, while, during at least part of the time when the sources are switched off, one or more receivers determine one or more background reflected or absorbed or both radiation intensities during a period of time. The values of the thus obtained radiation intensities are stored as background values in a memory. The background values are incorporated in the values obtained during the period of time when one or more sources are switched on and the values are modified by the background values are stored in a memory. In this manner the radiation intensity of the background is established. This makes it possible to correct the radiation intensities that are measured when the sources are switched on. In a preferred embodiment the periods of time for establishing the reflected or absorbed or both radiation intensities are constant. In this manner, the radiation intensities as so determined, can easily be compared in one or more receivers. One or more values of one or more determinations of reflected or absorbed or both radiation intensities can be stored in a memory, so that the values can be compared with previously obtained values.
On the basis of the values of determinations of radiation intensities one or more proportions of the values are ascertainable and may be used in lieu of full valves. A calibration value is formed by the progressive average of the values or proportions or both of the values obtained for a specific animal during a defined number of most recent milkings. A calibration value can also be formed by one or more measurements of a calibration means such as a transparent liquid, a reference milk, a calibration rod, white paper, a white tile, rinsing liquid or water. The values can also be compared with previous calibration values. In a preferred embodiment, the values or proportions or both of values are compared, both mutually and with previously ascertained values including calibration values or proportions recorded during one or more previous measurements, and the results of this comparison process are made available to an operator. According to an inventive feature, the results of the comparison process are displayed in such a manner that the presence or concentrations or both of specific substances, such as contaminates in the milk, can be read immediately.
According to a further inventive feature, one or more further receivers receive the radiation directly from the source, and the value obtained by the first receiver is adjusted with the aid of one or more values obtained by the further receivers. In this manner it is possible to determine the intensity of the radiation emitted by the source. When the source ages, which is not only relevant to radioactive sources, but also to incandescent lamps, or when the source is contaminated, the intensity of the radiation will decrease. This will affect the value of the source's radiation intensity. Said value can be corrected by means of the value of the radiation intensity of a further receiver. It is also possible to adjust one or more proportions of values by means of values obtained by one or more further receivers receiving the radiation directly from the source.
In a preferred embodiment one or more sources and one or more receivers are coupled to be a periodic signal, such as a square signal or a saw-tooth signal, one or more receivers determining the radiation intensity when one or more sources have attained an almost constant intensity. By means of the periodic signal there is achieved a synchronization of the sources and the receivers. First the source is switched on, whereupon the receiver establishes the radiation intensity. Many sources have warm-up time before attaining a constant or maximum intensity. After the warm-up time has elapsed, it is possible for the receiver to establish the radiation intensity. The source can also be turned on directly by the periodic signal.
According to another inventive feature, one or more sources comprise light sources emitting radiation having one or more discrete wavelengths relate to the absorption characteristic of specific substances in the milk, such as proteins or fats, and one or more receivers determine the radiation intensity, and the present or concentration or both of one or more substances in the milk is ascertained. In this way the milk is irradiated with a radiation having a wavelength which is absorbed by specific substances in the milk. By comparing the intensity of the emitted radiation with the radiation received by the receiver, it is
van den Berg Karel
van Lier Wilco
Vijverberg Helena G. M.
Albright Penrose Lucas
Leary Louise N.
Maasland N.V. A Dutch Company
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