AU630357B2 - Process and apparatus for automatic determination of physical-chemical parameters of a batch of grains - Google Patents
Process and apparatus for automatic determination of physical-chemical parameters of a batch of grains Download PDFInfo
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- AU630357B2 AU630357B2 AU36822/89A AU3682289A AU630357B2 AU 630357 B2 AU630357 B2 AU 630357B2 AU 36822/89 A AU36822/89 A AU 36822/89A AU 3682289 A AU3682289 A AU 3682289A AU 630357 B2 AU630357 B2 AU 630357B2
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 46
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 title claims description 7
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 claims description 36
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 claims description 36
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 claims description 22
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000004364 calculation method Methods 0.000 claims description 16
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000012800 visualization Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000013339 cereals Nutrition 0.000 description 70
- GXCLVBGFBYZDAG-UHFFFAOYSA-N N-[2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]-N-methylprop-2-en-1-amine Chemical compound CN(CCC1=CNC2=C1C=CC=C2)CC=C GXCLVBGFBYZDAG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 19
- 229920002472 Starch Polymers 0.000 description 10
- 235000019698 starch Nutrition 0.000 description 10
- 239000008107 starch Substances 0.000 description 10
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 8
- 241000209219 Hordeum Species 0.000 description 6
- 235000007340 Hordeum vulgare Nutrition 0.000 description 6
- 230000035784 germination Effects 0.000 description 6
- 229920000881 Modified starch Polymers 0.000 description 5
- 239000004368 Modified starch Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 235000019426 modified starch Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 5
- LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethanol Chemical compound CCO LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000003292 glue Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000975 dye Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004848 polyfunctional curative Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920001187 thermosetting polymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 101100013486 Arabidopsis thaliana FRS9 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 229920003319 Araldite® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002498 Beta-glucan Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004593 Epoxy Substances 0.000 description 1
- RZSYLLSAWYUBPE-UHFFFAOYSA-L Fast green FCF Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].C=1C=C(C(=C2C=CC(C=C2)=[N+](CC)CC=2C=C(C=CC=2)S([O-])(=O)=O)C=2C(=CC(O)=CC=2)S([O-])(=O)=O)C=CC=1N(CC)CC1=CC=CC(S([O-])(=O)=O)=C1 RZSYLLSAWYUBPE-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 235000013405 beer Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000004040 coloring Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000994 contrast dye Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010903 husk Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004890 malting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N platinum Chemical compound [Pt] BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
- G01N15/10—Investigating individual particles
- G01N15/14—Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
- G01N15/1429—Signal processing
- G01N15/1433—Signal processing using image recognition
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/02—Food
- G01N33/10—Starch-containing substances, e.g. dough
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
- G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
- G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
- Investigating, Analyzing Materials By Fluorescence Or Luminescence (AREA)
Description
OPI DATE 12/12/89 APPLN. ID 36822 8Y PIr OJP DAI1 E 25/01/90 PCT NUMBER PCT/FR89/00238 DEM'vANDE INTERNATIONALE PUBLIEE EN VERTU DU TRAITE DE COOPERATION EN M'vATIERE DE BREVETS (PCT) (51) Classification internationale des brevets 4 Nunm~ro de publication internationale: WO 89/1164.4 GO IN 21/64 Al (43) Date de iublication internationale: 30 novemnbre 1989 (30.11.89) (21) Numrno de la deniande internationale: PCT/FRS9/00238 (81) Etats d~sign~s: AT (brevet europ~enJ. AU, BE (brevet europeen), CH- (brevet europ~en), DE (brevet europ~en), DK.
(22) Date de dip6t international: IS mal 1989 (18,05.89) FR (brevet europeen), GB (brevet europ~en), IT (brevet cuiropeen), JP, LU (brevet europeen), NL (brevet europ~en), SE (brevet europeen). US.
Donn~es relatives A la priorit6: 88/06778 20 mai 1988 (20.05.88) FR Publike A icc rapport de recherche' iniernaionalc.
(71) D~posant (pour icus les Eta is (Msign&s sauf US): TEPRAL SOCIETE ANOINYME [FR/FR]; 20, rue Jacob, F- 67200 Strasbourg (72) Inventeurs; et j Inventeurs/D~posants (US seuleieni) CARNIELO, Michel [FR/FR]; 2, aII~e des Bouleaux, Residence Bois-le-Duc, F-54500 Vandoeuvre OORTWIJN, Jan [NL, FR]; 23, rue de Wissemnbourg, F-67300 Schiltigheim (FR).
(74) NMandataires: ORES, Ir~ne etc. Cabinet Ores, 6, avenue de Messine, F-75008 Paris (FR).
(:54)Title: PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC DETERMINATION OF PHYSICAL-CHEM%,ICAL PARA- METERS OF A BATCH OF GRAINS (54)Titre: PROCEDE DE DETERMINATION AUTOMATIQUE DE PARAMETRES PHYSICO-CHIMNIQUES D'UN LOT DE GRAINS, ET APPAREIL DE MIISE EN OEUVRE DE CE PROCEDE (57) Abstract Apparatus and process for the automatic determination of a 2 relation between a F irst surface of a grain cutting previously coloured in function of a physical-chemical parameter of intereGI, and a second surface corresponding to the albumine of the grains of the cutting. The apparatus comprises in combination: an obje~t 6 holder (20) which supports the grain cutting to be analyzed, a 0 'a 2 1 first assembly (15a, 15b) for illuminating the cutting with selec-E :7a S tive light to display said First surface, a second assembly (5a, for illuminating the Cutting with selective light to display said DOaoco DD second surface, a video camera cooperating with an optical /0 0 .7cO Filter, a numerical image analyzer a microcomputer (40) for LOcontrolling the apparatus. Application to the food stuff industry o o 00 0 and in particular to brewing. (57) Abr~g6 Appareil et proc~d6 de determination automiatique d'un rapport entre une premiere surface d'une coupe de grains, pr~alablement color~e en foniction d'un param6tre physico-chimique recherch6, et une deuxi~me surface correspondant a l'albumen des grains de Ia coupe. L'appareil comprend en combinaison: une platine porte-objet (20) destin~e d supporter Ia coupe de grains Ai analyser; uin premier ensemble (I5a, 15b) d'6clairage de Ia coupe en lumi~re selective pour visualiser ladite premiere surface; un deuxi~me ensemble d'6clairage (5a, Sb) de Ia coupe en lumi~re sielective pour visualiser ladite deuxi6mne surface; une camera de prises de vues vid~c coop~rant avec un Filtre optique; un dispositif d'analyse num~rique d'images un micro-ordinateur (40) de pilotage de l'appareil. Application 6I lindustrie alimentaire et notamnment 6 Ia brasserie. c 1 A METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINING PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF A BATCH OF GRAINS, AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD The present invention relates to a method of automatically determining a physico-chemical parameter of a batch of grains, in particular both the modification of a batch of barley grains that have been malted for brewing, and also the uniformity of the batch of grains. The invention also relates to apparatus for implementing the method.
A known method of determining the modification and the uniformity of a batch of malted barley grains is based on the Calcofluor method (cf. Analytica-EBC, 4th edition: 4.13 Malt modification, Calcofluor Carlsberg Method).
The method is based on the specific coloring given to betaglucanes by Calcofluor, thereby visualizing the nonmodified starch fraction in each grain which is fluorescent when illuminated by actinic light (ultraviolet light).
Before treating the grains chemically with Calcofluor, the following operations are performed to prepare a plate of grains for analysis: grains fror. the same batch of malted barley are applied in the dorsal position to a plate of thermosetting plastic material, with the grains being fixed on the plate by pressing them into the deformable plate, with each grain being pressed down to about half its thickness; and longitudinal sections of the grains are prepared by grinding.
The visual effect is reinforced by a contrast dye.
After the plate has been washed and dried, the grains are visually examined one by one using a magnifying glass, and they are classified into six predefined classes corresponding to the following modification percentages: 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%.
It is thus possible to determine the area of modified starch relative to the total starch area.
Analysis is performed by a person capable of distinguishing the fluorescent starch area the non-modified starch) 2 and the total starch area both modified and non-modified) by observing the malted barley grains after treatment with Calcofluor and under actinic light illumination.
For purposes of statistical validity related to visual estimation of the fraction of the area occupied by modified starch, the observation is performed on two plates of the above-mentioned type, thus requiring 100 grains to be visually inspected, after which modification and uniformity are calculated manually using formulas known to the person skilled in the art This method thus makes it possible to evaluate the overall degree of modification and uniformity of the malt prior to it being used in the beer manufacturing process.
However, it suffers from the major drawback of each grain being visually classified as a function of its percentage of fluorescence, which makes the method inaccurate (indeed it is doubly inaccurate given the approximate estimates both of the fluorescent area and of the total starch area), and also from the calculations being performed manually which is lengthy and tedious. In addition, this method requires qualified and trained personnel, and that is expensive.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method of determining the modification and the uniformity of a batch of grains, in particular malted barley grains, while avoiding the drawbacks mentioned above. The method is based on the unexpected fact of it being possible to visualize the total starch area (both modified and non-modified) under non-actinic illumination, which, in association with conventional visualization of the non-modified starch area under actinic illumin- 1 30 ation, lends the method to automatic evaluation by computer processing images of the areas concerned for determining modification and uniformity, thereby eliminating the two sources of inaccuracy mentioned above.
3 The present invention provides a method of automatically determining a ratio between first and second areas in a grain section prepared from a sample taken from a batch of grains, said grain section being priur treated chemically by means of a dye enabling said first area to be coloured as a function of a looked-for physico-chemical parameter in the grains, while said second area corresponds to the endosperm area of the grains in said section, the method being characterised in that it comprises the following steps: a) visualising said first and second areas, by illuminating said grain section successively by means of first and second respective light sources, said first and second light sources having first and second selective wavebands respectively, one of said light sources producing at least nonactinic radiation; b) detecting the first and second areas visualised by means of a video camera fitted with an optical filter, and digitising the areas detected by means of a digital image analyser; c) digitally calculating the first and second areas as digitised and then calculating the percentage ratio between said first and second areas; and, d) using said ratio to determine said parameter and also the uniformity of said batch of grains, with steps a) and d) being controlled by a computer.
In a preferred implementation of the method of the invention, the grain section is divided into n optical fields of substantially identical area, and each optical field is Sdivided into i calculation cells for which steps a) and c) are performed prior to moving on to the following field, with step d) being performed after analysing all n fields in this way.
In an advantageous mode of performing this implementation, the n optical fields are analysed in succession by rotating the grain section on successive occasions beneath the camera.
IN
r 4 In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, when said looked-for parameter is constituted by grain modification, the first illumination of the grain section is performed under actinic light, with the grain section being prior treated chemically using a dye enabling the non-modified endosperm area in each grain to be visualised under such actinic illumination, which area thus corresponds to said first area, while said second illumination of the grain section is performed under non-actinic light, thereby enabling said second area to be visualised, i.e. the total endosperm area.
Naturally, illumination under non-actinic light may precede or follow illumination under actinic light.
The present invention also provides an apparatus for automatically determining a ratio between first and second areas in a grain section comprising: an object-carrying table for supporting the grain section to be analysed; a first illumination assembly for illuminating the grain section with light having a first selective waveband enabling said first area to be visualised; a second illumination assembly for illuminating the grain section with light having a second selective waveband enabling said second area to be visualised, one of said first and second illumination assemblies producing at least nonactinic radiation; a video camera co-operating with an optical filter; a digital image analyser; and, a microcomputer for controlling the apparatus.
In another preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, the object-carrying table is a turntable cooperating with a rotary drive motor enabling n optical fields of the grain section to be analysed in succession, each field having substantially the same area and being delimited by means of a visualisation diaphragm carried by the camera.
Preferably the number of image fields is n 4.
,i y.
.4
I
4A The invention includes other dispositions in addition to those mentioned above, and these appear from the following description.
The invention will be better understood from the following additional description which refers to the accompanying drawings, in which: t 4 7 «r~ 6y 6
X^
I
Figures 1 and la are respectively an overall diagram of apparatus in accordance with the invention and a theoretical diagram showing the connections between components; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the housing fitted to apparatus of the invention, with the access door omitted in order to show th. components contained in the housing; Figure 3 is a plan view of the housing shown in Figure 2 with its ceiling omitted in order to illustrate the dispositions of the various components relative to one another; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a plate for analysis; Figure 5 is a graph showing the correlation that exists between modification as obtained using the method and the apparatus of the invention and modification as obtained using the official Analytica IV EBC (European Brewery Convention) manual method; and Figure 6 is a graph showing the correlation between uniformity values as calculated using a computer included in the apparatus of the invention, and as obtained by using the method of calculation suggested by the EBC.
It should naturally be understood that the drawings and the corresponding description are given merely to illustrate the invention and that they do not constitute any kind of limitation.
The method of determining the modification and the uniformity of a batch of grains, and in particular malted barley grains for brewing purposes, requires prior preparation of a section of grains to be analyzed, as shown in Figure 4.
About 6 grams of grains 10 (corresponding to about 150 grains) are disposed on a plate 1 and are fixed thereto by means of a glue including a hardener, e.g. a glue of the Araldite or fast-setting epoxy type.
In the example shown, the plate is a plate of glass that is 85 mm long, 60 mm wide and 3 mm thick, and the use of a plate of thermosetting plastic material has been abandoned in the context of the present invention for the following reasons: poor light contrast for taking usable images; and poor retention of the grains during grinding, giving rise to irregularity in grain sectioning and therefore to considerable errors in interoretation.
The grain section, i.e. rhe plate, is prepared as follows: about 6 g of grains are weighed out (corresponding to about 150 grains), and they are placed on a first plate of glass and spread out thereover; a thin uniform layer of thoroughly mixed glue and hardener is applied to a second plate, after which the glue-covered plate is placed on the plate having the grains disposed thereon, the resulting "sandwich" is then turned over, and the grains are spread out so as to avoid overlaps, but without aligning them in any way; this plate is allowed to set in an oven at 50'C for two hours; the plate is held in a vice and the grains are ground down to half thickness; centiliters (c2) of Calcofluor solution is poured over the grains and allowed to act for 15 to 20 seconds, after which the plate is washed in ethanol solution and the excess is absorbed using blotting paper; and cZ of fast green solution is poured over the grains and allowed to act for 15 to 20 seconds, the plate is then washed again in ethanol solution with the excess being absorbed, and it is allowed to dry in air, after which the plate is ready for automatic reading.
Once the plate 1 has been prepared as described above, it is placed on a numerically controlled turntable 20 disposed inside a housing 30 with the turntable being proud on the bottom 22 of the housing, which housing is suitable for being closed against ambient light (the door for closing the housing is not shown). The housing also contains two lamps 5a and for emitting non-actinic light in diffuse form, and in particular white light, together with two lamps 15a and 15b for emitting actinic light, likewise in diffuse form, and in particular constituted by violet colored light. These lamps r are disposed in a cross-configuration around the turntable and the plate to be analyzed 1, as shown in Figure 3, and they are fixed to two mutually parallel side walls 23 and 24 of the housing In Figures 2 and 3, there can be also seen four position sensors 7a to 7d for co-operating with a positioning notch 8 provided in the periphery of the turntable A monochrome video camera 50 having a 25 mm/i.8 objective lens for taking close-up pictures and provided with a Y48 optical filter (not shown) is fixed to the ceiling 25 of the housing 20 and is disposed relative to the plate to be analyzed in such a manner as to observe a quadrant thereof each time the turntable 20 rotates (cf. Figure Abutments 21 prevent the plate to be analyzed from moving undesirably, particularly during successive occasions on which the supporting turntable is rotated.
After the housing has been closed, all of the operations and calculations take place automatically under the control of specific control, image processing, and calculating software, with the software being run on an 8-bit microcomputer 40 having a keyboard 45 and a 3" disk drive, together with a controlling input/output interface This computer is also capable of co-operating with a monochrome monitor screen 60 having graphics capabilities, and with a printer 70 for printing out analysis results. Figure 1 also shows a power supply 55 and a real time image digitizer which is directly connected to the camera In accordance with the invention, a first area measurement is performed over substantially 1/4 of the plate 1 illuminated using the lamps 5a and 5b, i.e. using non-actinic licht, so as to visualize the total starch area (comprising both the modified portion and the non-modified portion thereof).
Thereafter, under the control of the above-mentioned software, the lamps 15a and 15b are used to provide illumination under actinic light and the area of the nonmodified starch portion of the grains 10 is measured. The turntable 1 is then rotated through 1/4 of a turn and the same -11 measurements are preformed for a second quadrant thereof. The turntable 20 is rotated four times in this way and it is stopped each time by a corresponding one of the four abovementioned sensors 7a to 7d detecting the notch 8 in the turntable 20. Each of the four quadrants of the plate is subdivided into a plurality of cells by the software. The number of cells selected in the present example is equal to 9, giving a total of 36 analysis units. The software also serves to calculate the percentage ratio of the area measured under actinic illumination to the area measured under non-actinic illumination, with both measurements being performed by the camera 50 and with the areas being digitized by the device By a suitable selection of gray levels, individual computer processing of pairs of superposed images for each cell makes it possible to take into consideration only that portion of each image which is strictly relevant to the calculations in question, namely: the total area of malt starch 10b (modified and not modified), by ignoring the plate background and the remaining portion of each grain 10 the germ 10c and the husk); and the fluorescent area 10a from respective ones of the images (in order to simplify the drawings, the non-modified starch area 10a and the total starch area 10b are shown for a single grain only in Figure 4, with the total area corresponding to the area of each sectioned grain 10 minus the area of its germ 10c). It is thus possible to calculate the areas exactly, and consequently to calculate reliable values for modification and for uniformity.
CALCULATING MODIFICATION The 36 cells provide 36 area ratios and the mean thereof corresponds to the percentage of non-modified area. The result (100 X) corresponds to the modification. The calculation is performed automatically by the software.
CALCULATING UNIFORMITY A modification value is available for each cell. These 36 modification values are used for calculating uniformity in the manner known to the person skilled in the art and described below.
9 In order to test the reliability of the method and the apparatus of the invention, a correlation has been established between results obtained in this way and results obtained using the EBCmethod. To this end, N=28 malts were analyzed using the EBC method (see Table i, specifying the types of malt analyzed). The set of samples was read twice over by the same operator. Thereafter, analysis was performed using the automatic apparatus of the invention, implementing the method proposed by the Applicant. Table 2 gives the modification obtained automatically in comparison with the modification obtained by the reference manual method. A linear correlation calculation gives rise to a correlation coefficient r 0.95, as shown in Figure 5. Given the coefficients of repeatability and reproducibility obtained using the official method to 11%, as a function of malt modification), this correlation coefficient is satisfactory.
For the correlation between uniformity obtained manually and that obtained automatically, the following should be specified: on the basis of the modification values for the 36 above-mentioned fields, the standard deviation of the modification in the 36 cells was calculated (3 grains on average per cell, o' oJ3) and considered as being representative of the uniformity of the malt. A percentage modification was calculated and compared with the calculation recommended by the EBC and known to the person skilled in the art (with the results being shown in the graph of Figure 6).
In this case, uniformity H is obtained by the following calculation: H 100 (1 as shown in the article "Determination of malt modification" by Jense and Aastrup, published in the journal Cerevisia, 1985, 3, page 113.
The correlation coefficient between this method of calculation and the results obtained using the reference EBC manual method is 0.90.
Given that the method of the invention is not based on any kind of classification, but on real modification values, it makes it possible to retain a maximum amount of information: modification values are continuous in the automatic reading method whereas they are distributed discontinuously in the manual method.
The above-mentioned correlation coefficient is also good with respect to the coefficients of repeatin, -i ty and reproducibility given the EBC to 17% depending on malt modification).
REPEATABILITY
A repeatability test has also been performed (30 values) on the reading and calculation of modification in two malts: Malt 1 Malt 2 Modification: Mean 79.5% 55.3% Standard deviation 3.0 Variation coefficient 3.8% 2.7% Uniformity: Mean 71.4% 63.9% Standard deviation 5.1 1.8 Variation coefficient 7.1% 2.8% The variation coefficient is defined in this case by the formula 100 x (standard deviation/mean).
In Figures 5 and 6, the coefficients a and b represent, respectively, the slope of each line and its intercept on the Y axis, and N 28 specifies the number of malts analyzed.
j- I, Sample No.
1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 TABLE 1 NATURE OF SAMPLES
NATURE
2RP Malt 2RP Malt 2RP Malt 2RP Malt Spring Malt Spring Malt Spring Malt Spring Malt Spring Malt Winter Malt Winter Malt Winter Malt Winter Malt Wet 39 33 28 21 18 Dry 61 67 72 79 92 3rd 3rd 4th 4th day day day day day day germination germination germination germination germination germination Dry Dry
SAMPLE
1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 TABLE 2 MODIFICATION RESULTS Manual modification 88 63 66 72 89 85 90 93 91 75 81 87 62 46 54 59 62 69 76 88 57 64 84 84 97 98 96 96 Video modification 88 69 84 92 93 91 82 79 89 67 52 64 68 73 83 89 82 91 92 96
XV
SAMPLE
1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 TABLE 3 UNIFORMITY RESULTS Visual uniformity 64 68 69 70 70 70 77 75 73 61 56 67 62 4 7 4 6 12 18 41 45 47 69 56 73 73 72 75 Uniformity using Sigma 72 63 69 72 79 76 86 83 83 79 58 76 69 41 48 34 58 69 69 72 79 76 72 79 /0 i
I
The method and apparatus of the present invention thus provide a satisfactory solution to the technical problem on which the invention is based, since they avoid subjective estimation of areas when determining the modification and the uniformity of a batch of grains.
In addition, they make it possible to compare results provided by different operatives, since manual intervention is reduced to a minimum which explains the repeatability of the measurement.
In addition, the present invention contributes to making it practical to apply a test that evaluates the quality of malting.
As can be seen from the above, the invention is not limited in any way to the particular implementation, embodiment, and application that have been described in detail.
On the contrary, the invention extends to any variant that may occur to the person skilled in the art without going beyond the context or the scope of the present invention. In particular, it should be observed that although the description refers to using a source of violet color actinic light, any equivalent source could naturally be used in the context of the present invention, including an ultraviolet source. However, ultraviolet sources are not essential as might be thought from the EBC method. Further, although the description of how the different areas visualized under actinic illumination and nonactinic illumination are determined is limited to using image processing means, other equivalent means could naturally be used, at least in theory, for the same purpose. The two different areas are necessary for evaluating modification and uniformity of a batch of grains. The image processing means comprise a camera associated with an image digitizer and under the control of a computer including a program for performing modification and uniformity calculations as described above.
In addition, it is also possible to optimize the calculation of uniformity, and thus to measure the true value of uniformity, by disposing the grains on the analysis plate in such a manner as to ensure that there is only one grain per K cell (instead of three grains on average, as mentioned above in the standard deviation calculation), without thereby going outside the method of the present invention.
Claims (12)
1. A method of automatically determining a ratio between first and second areas in a grain section prepared from a sample taken from a batch of grains, said grain section being prior treated chemically by means of a dye enabling said first area to be coloured as a function of a looked-for physico- chemical parameter in the grains, while said second area corresponds to the endosperm area of the grains in said section, the method being characterised in that it comprises the following steps: a) visualising said first and second areas, by illuminating said grain section successively by means of first and second respective light sources, said first and second light sources having first and second selective wavebands respectively, one of said light sources producing at least non- actinic radiation; b) detecting the first and second areas visualised by means of a video camera fitted with an optical filter, and digitising the areas detected by means of a digital image analyser; c) digitally calculating the first and second areas as digitised and then calculating the percentage ratio between said first and second areas; and, d) using said ratio to determine said parameter and also the uniformity of said batch of grains, with steps a) and d) being controlled by a computer.
2. A method according to claim i, wherein the grain o section is divided into a plurality of optical fields of substantially identical area, and each optical field is divided into calculation cells for which steps a) and c) are performed on each calculation cell, prior to moving on to a following field, with step d) being performed after analysing all of said optical fields. ST R~4j ,z.O)6 17
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein each one of the optical fields is analysed in succession by rotating the grain section beneath said video camera.
4. A method according to any one of claims i, 2 or 3, wherein when said looked-for parameter is constituted by grain modification, the first illumination of the grain section is performed under actinic light, with the grain section being prior treated chemically using a dye enabling the ion-modified endosperm area in each grain to be visualised under such actinic illumination, which area thus corresponds to said first area, while said second illumination of the grain section is performed under non-actinic light, thereby enabling said second area to be visualised.
A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of illuminating the grain section with non-actinic light precedes the step of illuminating it with actinic light.
6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of illuminating the grain section in non-actinic light follows the o step of illuminating it in actinic light.
7. Apparatus for automatically determining a ratio between first and second areas in a grain section comprising: 0o an object-carrying table for supporting the grain section to be analysed; a first illumination assembly for illuminating the 0 grain section with light having a first selective waveband O enabling said first area to be visualised; C 0 a second illumination assembly for illuminating the grain section with light having a second selective waveband enabling said second area to be visualised, one of said first 4o 4 and second illumination assemblies producing at least non- actinic radiation; a video camera co-operating with an optical filter; a digital image analyser; and, i a microcomputer for controlling the apparatus. Lb 18
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first and second illumination assemblies are disposed inside a housing which is sealed against the ingress ambient light and which is fitted with a door to allow access to the inside of said housing.
9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 8, characterised in that the object-carrying table is a turntable co-operating with a rotary drive motor enabling a plurality of optical fields of the grain section to be analysed in succession, each field having substantially the same area and being delimited by means of a visualisation diaphragm carried by the camera.
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the number of optical fields is four.
11. A method of automatically determining a ratio between first and second areas in a grain section substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 2
12. An apparatus for automatically determining a ratio between first and second areas in a grain section substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the oaccompanying drawings. Dated this 4th day of August, 1992. o TEPRAL SOCIETE ANONYME By its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. NCcs"I ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for automatically determining a ratio between a first area of a grain section previously dyed as a function of a looked-for physico-chemical parameter, and a second area corresponding to the endosperm of the grains in the section. The apparatus comprises in combination: an object-carrying turntable (20) for supporting the grain section to be analyzed; a first assembly (15a, 15b) for illumin- ating the section in selective light to visualize said first area; a second assembly (5a, 5b) for illuminating the section with selective light for visualizing said second area; a video camera (50) co-operating with an optical filter; a digital image analyzer and a microcomputer (40) for controlling the apparatus. Application to the food industry, and in particular to brewing.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR8806778 | 1988-05-20 | ||
| FR8806778A FR2631704B1 (en) | 1988-05-20 | 1988-05-20 | METHOD FOR THE AUTOMATIC DETERMINATION OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF A LOT OF GRAINS, AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU3682289A AU3682289A (en) | 1989-12-12 |
| AU630357B2 true AU630357B2 (en) | 1992-10-29 |
Family
ID=9366482
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU36822/89A Ceased AU630357B2 (en) | 1988-05-20 | 1989-05-18 | Process and apparatus for automatic determination of physical-chemical parameters of a batch of grains |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0414783A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH03504275A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU630357B2 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK275190A (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2631704B1 (en) |
| GR (1) | GR920300007T1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1989011644A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2006177916A (en) * | 2004-12-20 | 2006-07-06 | Toyo Univ | Two-dimensional inspecting method of polished rice |
| WO2007068056A1 (en) * | 2005-12-14 | 2007-06-21 | Grains Research And Development Corporation | Stain assessment for cereal grains |
| JP6229278B2 (en) * | 2013-03-06 | 2017-11-15 | 株式会社サタケ | Grain fluoroscope |
| CN104678088A (en) * | 2015-02-04 | 2015-06-03 | 贾印峰 | Special protein inspection device |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3828173A (en) * | 1972-08-01 | 1974-08-06 | Dickey John Corp | Grain analysis computer circuit |
| US4713781A (en) * | 1985-09-19 | 1987-12-15 | Deere & Company | Grain damage analyzer |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1455244A (en) * | 1972-11-21 | 1976-11-10 | Image Analysing Computers Ltd | Methods and apparatus for analysing microscopically a dark area containing a few widely spaced small bright features |
| SE439545B (en) * | 1978-11-01 | 1985-06-17 | Forenede Bryggerier As | SET FOR MANAGING A SEPARATION PROCESS CHALLENGE BY FRON OR CORE |
-
1988
- 1988-05-20 FR FR8806778A patent/FR2631704B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1989
- 1989-05-18 WO PCT/FR1989/000238 patent/WO1989011644A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1989-05-18 AU AU36822/89A patent/AU630357B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1989-05-18 EP EP89906141A patent/EP0414783A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1989-05-18 JP JP1505567A patent/JPH03504275A/en active Pending
-
1990
- 1990-11-19 DK DK275190A patent/DK275190A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1992
- 1992-08-25 GR GR92300007T patent/GR920300007T1/en unknown
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3828173A (en) * | 1972-08-01 | 1974-08-06 | Dickey John Corp | Grain analysis computer circuit |
| US4713781A (en) * | 1985-09-19 | 1987-12-15 | Deere & Company | Grain damage analyzer |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DK275190A (en) | 1991-01-18 |
| EP0414783A1 (en) | 1991-03-06 |
| GR920300007T1 (en) | 1992-08-25 |
| FR2631704A1 (en) | 1989-11-24 |
| DK275190D0 (en) | 1990-11-19 |
| WO1989011644A1 (en) | 1989-11-30 |
| AU3682289A (en) | 1989-12-12 |
| JPH03504275A (en) | 1991-09-19 |
| FR2631704B1 (en) | 1992-10-09 |
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