AU625967B2

AU625967B2 - Measuring apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU625967B2
Application number: AU30128/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Raymond Francis Datodi
Original assignee: Australian Meat and Live Stock Research and Development Corp
Current assignee: Australian Meat and Live Stock Research and Development Corp
Priority date: 1988-02-17
Filing date: 1989-02-17
Publication date: 1992-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-17
Also published as: AU3012889A

Description

NOON

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRT P at e nts A ct 1 952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (original) FOR OFFICE USE 1:1 4

A

j4 11 Application Number: P16824 Lodged: 17/2/88 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Class Int. Class TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: 0@ 0 0 0@ 0 @0 00 000000 0 0000 0 0* 00 0* 0 0 THE AUSTRALIAN MEAT AND LIVE-STOCK CORPORATION Address of Applicant: Aetna Life Tower, Hyde Park Square, Corner of Elizabeth and Bathurst Streets, Sydney, in the State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia.

Actual Inventor: RAYMOND FRANCIS DA.TODI Address for Service:- 0000 0 0 0@ 0 0S 00 0 Wray Associates Pri.mary Industry House 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth Western Australia 6000.

F:.4C1 5 10C 0 _3r e.9 SComplete Specification for the invention entitled: "Measuring Apparatus" 0000 00@~ 0 *00000

S

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:-

U_

I

I r ~l~u 2- THIS INVENTION relates to apparatus for penetrating a medium and measuring the depth of penetration.

The apparatus according to the invention has been devised particularly, although not exclusively, for measurement of tissue thickness of slaughtered animals as an aid to carcass classification.

In one form the invention resides in apparatus for penetrating a medium and measuring the depth of penetration, comprising: a body; penetrating means rigidly mounted on the body for penetrating the medium; measuring means for measuring the depth of penetration said measuring means comprising movable means in the form of a sleeve which fully guards said penetrating means and which is' mounted on the body in close association with said penetrating means for engagement with the surface of the medium and for movement relative to said penetrating means off*: upon insertion of said penetrating means into the medium, the extent of said relative movement being indicative of the depth of penetration.

00 OS o Preferably, said movable means is biased towards an outermost position.

o Preferably, said movable means has a substantial surface see* i for contacting the surface of the medium.

A plate may be provided at the outer end of said sleeve to provide said substantial surface.

Preferably, said penetrating means comprises a blade. The blade preferably has a leading edge extending generally i~ .r 0~1~

F

3 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the blade.

Additionally, it is preferred that the longitudinal sides of the blade be sharpened at least in the region adjacent said leading edge.

Where the apparatus according to the invention is used to measure tissue thickness of an animal carcass, such measurement would generally be taken over a bone; that is, the measurement would provide an indication of the thickness of tissue between the bone and the exterior surface of the animal. In this application, the penetrating means would be introduced into the carcass of the animal until it made contact with the bone and the depth of penetration would be indicative of the tissue thickness between the bone and the exterior surface of the animal. While the movable means may cause some deflection of the exterior surface of the animal as it is pressed against it, such deflection would generally not be significant in terms of the overall measurement.

The measuring apparatus may be provided with a locating S means to facilitate location of the penetrating means over a bone of the animal carcass. Where the tissue i. measurement is to be taken over a rib of the carcass, the locating means may be arranged to locate in the region between the two ribs thereby to facilitate accurate location of the penetrating means over a rib for measurement purposes. In such circumstances, the locating means is conveniently in the form of a probe which is inserted into the carcass of the animal.

:0..00 The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:- *see o0oo i! ooooo

BJ

0f 611- 0!0- 9 4 Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a measuring apparatus F.ccording to the embodiment, illustrating said movable means in an extended position so as to be coextensive with said penetrating means; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the exception that said movable means is shown in a retracted position so as to expose said penetrating means; Figure 3 is a plan view of the measuring apparatus in the position shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front view of the measuring apparatus; Figure 5 is a rear view of the measuring apparatus; and Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the measuring apparatus.

The embodiment shown in the drawings is directed to a measuring apparatus for measuring the tissue thickness of slaughtered sheep as an aid to carcass classification.

Together with other factors such as age, carcass weight 0 °j and sex, tissue thickness provides an indication of the yield of saleable meat from the slaughtered animal. The tissue is generally measured over one of the ribs of the j slaughtered animal and may comprise exterior surface, muscle and fat tissue.

The apparatus comprises a body 11 incorporating a pistol grip handle 13. The body has a rear end 15 at which there i is provided a visual display screen 17 and a front end 19 'V S having a front face 21. A cavity 23 is provided in the S front end 19, as best shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.

A penetrating means 25 is mounted on the body and extends 00.9 outwardly from the front face 21. The penetrating means o* J 0e99 i i i i 1 5 is in the form of a blade 27 which is detachably mounted onto a support 28 received within the cavity 23.

The blade 27 includes a leading edge 29 which extends generally transversely of the longitudinal axis of the blade. The leading edge 29 of the blade is sharpened, as is the neighbouring portion 31 on each longitudinal side of the blade. The sharpened edges 29 and 31 create an incision in the carcass of the slaughtered animal as the blade penetrates the tissue undergoing measurement.

4, 0 0 10 A movable means 35 is mounted on the body 11 in close SSS*6S association with the blade 27. The movable means is in the 0600 form of a sleeve 37 which surrounds the blade and a face plate 41 is provided on the outer end of the sleeve 37 to provide a substantial surface for contacting the exterior surface of the slaughtered animal during measurement of tissue thickness. The plate is formed in two parts, one disposed to each side qf- the blade thereby to define a gap 43 through which the blade can pass. The sleeve 37 is mounted for movement between an extended position (as shown *.9 20 in Figures 1 and 6) in which sleeve 37 and face plate 41 *goeo are coextensive with the blade so as to provide a sheath for the.blade and a retracted position (as shown in Figure 2) in which the plate 41 is adjacent the front face 21 of the body so as to expose the blade. The sleeve is biased to the extended position under the influence of a spring.

During measurement of tissue thickness, the face plate is displaced from its outer most position and the extent of such displacement is indicative of the depth of penetration of the blade into the tissue undergoing measurement. In this connection, the sleeve 37 is coupled no 1 -6to a linear displacement transducer which measures the extent of such displacement. The displacement transducer may be of any suitable form such as a variable resistor, variable conductor, variable capacitor, or variable voltage or current transformer. In this embodiment, the linear displacement transducer is in the form of a capacitance transducer which causes a change in capacitance proportional to the depth of penetration of the tissue. This change in capacitance, when applied to a square wave oscillator, causes a change in frequency which is a function of the depth of penetration. The period of this frequency is measured by a microprocessor and its variation is converted to a reading which is displayed at the visual display unit 17. The reading may also be transmitted to a computer by way of a cable (not shown) connected to port 45 provided on the body 11.

The measuring apparatus is further provided with a locating probe 47 which extends from the front face 21 of 0 o the body. The locating probe 47 extends beyond the blade 2D 27 and is spaced laterally from the blade. The spacing between the probe 47 and the blade is so selected that oooo S* when the probe is inserted into the carcass of a slaughtered animal between two ribs thereof, the blade will be positioned above a rib ready for measurement of tissue thickness. This assists a user of the measuring apparatus in correctly locating the apparatus for measurement purposes.

0e00 In operation, a user approaches the carcass of a slaughtered animal and inserts the probe 47 between two i'.1f) ribs. At this stage the blade 27 is over a rib. The user manipulates the apparatus so as to bring the face plate 41 into contact with the exterior surface of the GTnb 0: o carcass. The user then pushes the body I of the 000 0 0 0 0 7 -7apparatus towards the carcass so as to cause the plate 41 to retract and the blade 27 to enter the carcass over the rib. The blade creates an incision as it penetrates the carcass. The face plate 41 continues to retract relative to the blade as the latter penetrates the carcass. When the leading edge of the blade strikes the rib bone, the extent to which the face plate has retracted is indicative of the thickness of tissue between the bone and the exterior surface. The extent of retraction is determined by the linear displacement transducer. The signal from the transducer is processed and the tissue thickness determined.

Although the invention has been described in relation to one specific embodiment it is not limited thereto and various alterations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

9.

g g* 0 9 0ff f o .i f t •i t f ft f ft ft",

Claims

8- THE CLAIMS defining the invention are as follows:- i. Apparatus for penetrating a medium and measuring the depth of penetration, comprising: a body; penetrating means rigidly mounted on the body for penetrating the medium; measuring means for measuring the depth of penetration said measuring means comprising movable means in the form of a sleeve which fully guards said penetrating means and which is mounted on the body in close association with said penetrating means for engagement with the surface of the medium and for movement relative to said penetrating means upon insertion of said penetrating means into the medium, the extent of said relative movement being indicative of the depth of penetration. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said movable means is biased towards an outermost position. 3. Apparatus according to either one of the preceding claims wherein said movable means has a substantial surface for contacting the surface of the medium. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a plate at the outer end of the sleeve to provide said substantial surface. S. S 5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said penetrating means comprises a blade. goes e ee 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said blade has a leading edge extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the blade. "N. A tVht I -9- 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said longitudinal sides of the blade are sharpened at least in the region adjacent said leading edge. 8. Apparatus according tr iny one of the preceding claims further comprising a locat means to facilitate location of the penetrating means over a bone of the carcass of a slaughtered animal, said locating means being mounted on the body for engagement with said carcass.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the locating means comprises a probe for insertion into the carcass of the animal. Apparatus substantially as herein described with' reference to the accompanying drawings. sa S S' DATED this seventh day of April, 1992 THE AUSTRALIAN MEAT AND LIVE-STOCK CORPORATION Applicant S WRAY ASSOCIATES Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for Applicant C), -i F