JP2946843B2 - A method for judging the degree of ripening of fruits and the like and a sensor for judging the degree of ripening - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for judging the degree of ripening of fruits and the like, and a sensor for judging the degree of ripening which can easily judge the degree of ripening by detecting changes in the state of various fruits and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the determination of the degree of ripening of fruits and the like described above is based on a method of visually, olfactory or tactile examination of color, fragrance, softness, etc. (sensory test), and component analysis of sugar content, etc. There is a component analysis method of quantitatively measuring using an apparatus or the like.

[0003]

However, in the method of simulating, the standard is ambiguous, and there are many uncertain factors such as the judge's experience, sharpness, and value standard.

On the other hand, the component analysis method requires destruction of a sample, such as a fruit, and is expensive or requires a component analysis device, and is not suitable for field work.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for judging the degree of ripening of fruits and the like which can solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for judging the degree of ripening of a fruit or the like for judging the degree of ripening of the contents by measuring the change in the electric conductivity or the dielectric constant of the fruit or the like with a ripening degree judging sensor. Using a maturity determination sensor consisting of an excitation electrode connected to a high-frequency oscillator and a reception coil insulated from the excitation electrode and receiving an electromagnetic wave oscillated from the excitation electrode, around the reception detection coil The maturity of the fruit or the like is measured by capturing the change in the state of the fruit or the like as a change in the electric conductivity or the dielectric constant and capturing the change in the resonance voltage or the resonance frequency induced in the detection coil for reception.

The maturity determination sensor comprises an excitation electrode connected to a high-frequency oscillator, and a reception coil insulated from the excitation electrode and receiving an electromagnetic wave oscillated from the excitation electrode. A change in the state of a fruit or the like forming the periphery of the detection coil is captured as a change in the electric conductivity or the dielectric constant by a change in a resonance voltage or a resonance frequency induced in the reception detection coil.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

First, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the structure of a sensor for judging the degree of ripening of fruits or the like according to the present invention will be described.

As shown in the figure, the shield container 11 includes a shield container main body 12, an insulator cover 13, and the like. The shield container body 12 is made of aluminum and has a diameter of 40
One end is closed by about mm, and an insulator cover 13 is attached to the open end side of the shield container body 12 via a packing 14.

An insulating plate 15 is provided in the shield container 11 on the insulator cover 13 side. A disk-shaped excitation electrode 16 having a thickness of about 0.5 mm is provided inside the insulating plate 15. On the insulator cover 13 side of the plate 15, as shown in FIG. 3, a planar spiral receiving detection coil 17 is provided.

That is, the excitation electrode 16 and the receiving detection coil
The sensor head 17 is placed in a non-contact state with a fruit A such as a tangerine (see FIG. 4).

A high-frequency oscillator 19 using a dry cell 18 as a power source is built in the shield container 11, and one output terminal of the high-frequency oscillator 19 is connected to an excitation electrode 16 via a lead wire 20, and the other output terminal ( (Ground terminal) is shield net 21
It is connected to the. The detection coil for reception 17 is connected to a DC voltmeter 23 via a diode 22 for high-frequency detection.
Reference numeral 24 denotes an operation switch provided on the top of the shield container main body 12.

Next, a method of judging the maturity of the fruit A by the maturity judging sensor S having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

Now, the sensor head of the ripening degree judging sensor S is brought close to or in contact with the surface of the outer skin a of the fruit A.

Next, when the operation switch 24 is turned on, the high-frequency electromagnetic field is excited by the high-frequency oscillator 19 as an excitation electrode.
By applying the electromagnetic wave oscillated from the excitation electrode 16 to the reception detection coil 17, a resonance peak can be observed at a certain frequency. Figure 5 shows the measurement results.
Shown in

[0017] In FIG. 5, frequencies F ₁ is rather related to conductivity, peak accordance conductivity increases increases. Resonance peak at the frequency F ₂ than those related to the dielectric constant, the peak becomes larger as the dielectric constant increases.

[0018] Thus, by the case inside b fruit A is conductive is that set in the vicinity of the frequency F _1, when the internal b is the dielectric is previously set in the vicinity of the frequency F _2, The decay determination sensor S can easily detect the internal maturity.

As described above, in this embodiment, the excitation electrode 16
Can be arranged outside the fruit A, so that even if the fruit A is not visible inside, the ripening degree is represented by a current value or a voltage value, so that the decay determination can be performed easily and accurately. Further, since the sensor head of the ripening degree determination sensor S may be simply applied to the fruit A, the measurement can be easily performed, and the fruit and the like are not damaged. Further, since the maturity determination sensor S is substantially composed of only the high-frequency oscillator 19, the excitation electrode 16, and the reception detection coil 17, it can be manufactured inexpensively and compactly.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, a change in the electric conductivity or the dielectric constant inside a fruit or the like is measured by the ripening degree determination sensor to determine the ripening state of the fruit or the like. Further, the maturity degree determination sensor is insulated from the excitation electrode connected to the high-frequency oscillator and the excitation electrode,
It consists of a receiving coil that receives electromagnetic waves oscillated from the excitation electrode, and changes in the internal properties of fruits and the like around the receiving coil are guided to the receiving coil as changes in electrical conductivity and dielectric constant. The configuration is such that the change is detected by a change in resonance voltage or resonance frequency.

Therefore, since the excitation electrode can be disposed outside the fruit or the like, even if the inside of the fruit or the like cannot be visually observed, the ripening degree appears as a current value or a voltage value, so that the decay can be easily and accurately performed. A determination can be made. Further, since the sensor head may be simply applied to the fruit or the like, the measurement can be easily performed and the fruit or the like is not damaged. Furthermore, the maturity determination sensor can be manufactured inexpensively and compactly because it is substantially composed only of a high-frequency oscillator, an excitation electrode and a receiving detection coil.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sensor for determining the maturity of fruits and the like.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an internal structure of the maturity determination sensor.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line II of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a use state of the sensor for judging the maturity of fruits and the like according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between a resonance voltage and a resonance frequency of a fruit or the like.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Fruit S Ripeness judgment sensor 16 Excitation electrode 17 Receiving detection coil 19 High frequency oscillator

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-9856 (JP, A) JP-A-62-123340 (JP, A) JP-A-2-26955 (JP, A) JP-A-62-28649 (JP) , A) JP-A-59-136643 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01N 27/00-27/24 G01N 22/00-22/04 G01N 33/02

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A change of the conductivity or dielectric constant, such as fruits, as measured by maturity determination sensor, result determines maturity of contents
In an actual maturity determination method, an excitation electrode connected to a high-frequency oscillator and an excitation electrode
Receiving the electromagnetic wave oscillated from the excitation electrode.
Aging sensor consisting of a detection coil for reception
And changes in the state of fruits and the like around the detection coil for reception.
Induced to the detection coil for reception as a change in conductivity or permittivity.
Captured by induced resonance voltage or change in resonance frequency
It is characterized by measuring the degree of ripening of fruits etc.
A method for judging the degree of ripening of fruits and the like. 2. An excitation electrode connected to a high-frequency oscillator, and a reception coil insulated from the excitation electrode and receiving an electromagnetic wave oscillated from the excitation electrode.
Fruits characterized in that a change in state of a fruit or the like around the detection coil for reception is detected as a change in electric conductivity or dielectric constant by a change in resonance voltage or resonance frequency induced in the detection coil for reception. Sensor for determining the degree of maturity.