JPH02143147A - Quality evaluating device for coffee bean - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate evaluation without making the sensory inspection by the taste which has individual differences and chemical quantitative analysis by constituting the quality evaluating device of narrow band-pass filters, a near IR spectrochemical analysis apparatus, a device for storing the component conversion coefft. value of coffee beans and the specific coefft. for calculating quality evaluation, an arithmetic unit, a display device, etc. CONSTITUTION:The quality evaluating device 1 is operated to be turned on a light source 31 of the near IR spectrochemical analysis apparatus 3 and the entire part of the apparatus 3 is preheated until the near IR ray arriving at a measuring section 37 stabilizes. A sample container mounting box 5 is drawn out of a cabinet 2 of the device 1 upon lapse of the prescribed time. A ground beam sample 55 is packed therein and the container 5 is returned to the home position. The optimum filter among the narrow band-pass filters 33a to 33f is selected and the sample 55 is irradiated with the near IR ray and the reflected absorbancy is measured. The angle of inclination of a reflecting mirror 32 is changed at this time and the reflected light from an integrating sphere 34 is used as the reference quantity of irradiation. This light is made incident to detectors 35a, 35b and is compared with the quantity of the reflected light from the sample 55. The light is then inputted to the respective devices 4a to 4c, 5 for processing, storing, computing and displaying.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) This invention relates to a method for evaluating the quality of coffee beans, particularly green beans before roasting.

(Conventional technology and its problems) Commercially available coffee beans are produced by drying, threshing, and selecting 1 q of ripe coffee beans, which are then put into a roasting machine and processed through the D-stir process. It is given a fragrance. In other words, roasting causes chemical changes in the components of green coffee beans, producing volatile aromas and carmela color, and the taste of coffee, including sourness, bitterness, sweetness, and aroma, is influenced by the roasting conditions. However, on the other hand, there are differences in the properties of green beans due to differences in coffee varieties and cultivation conditions)4
It is clear from scientific analysis that there is a large difference in taste, and if the roasting conditions are the same, the taste of coffee is almost determined by the quality of the green beans.

By the way, the quality of these coffee beans is judged by a so-called sensory test, in which the coffee beans roasted in the roasting process are crushed, heated to boiling temperature, and the extracted product is actually tasted. This required multiple personnel and a long time. Moreover, the judgment is made based on human taste, which is greatly influenced by human factors, and cannot be objectively and universally determined, and therefore requires a skilled person.

From the above, it goes without saying that there is a desire for the development of a coffee bean determination device that can objectively and easily perform coffee bean determination without being influenced by human factors.

[Purpose of the invention]

Therefore, the present invention measures the content of the main components contained in green coffee beans and determines the taste of coffee, such as protein, lipid, chlorogenic acid, caffeine, water, and sucrose, in a short time. Provides a coffee bean quality evaluation device that objectively calculates and displays a coffee bean quality evaluation value based on measured values and specific coefficients for quality evaluation set corresponding to the components, and makes a judgment based on the state of the green beans. It is to be.

(Means for Solving the Problem) According to the present invention, there is provided a coffee bean quality evaluation device that measures the content rate of a predetermined component contained in coffee beans and evaluates the quality of the coffee beans based on the measured value. The device transmits only a light source and a specific wavelength of light emitted by the light source that is suitable for measuring the content of the component to be measured in the coffee beans,
A near-infrared spectrometer comprising a narrow band filter that generates near-infrared light that is irradiated onto a measurement section, a detector that detects measurement light from coffee beans that is exerted on the measurement section, and the component to be measured. A component conversion coefficient value for calculating the content of the measured component of the coffee beans, which is set corresponding to the measured component, and a specific coefficient for quality evaluation calculation, which is set corresponding to the measured component, are stored. a storage device, and an operation for calculating the content rate and quality evaluation value of the measured component of the coffee beans based on the component conversion coefficient value stored in the storage device, the specific coefficient, and the detection signal from the detector; a control device having a control device; a display device connected to the control device and displaying visually or printed the quality evaluation value of the coffee beans calculated by the arithmetic device; By providing a coffee bean quality evaluation (illi device) consisting of a measuring section and a sample placement section that provides the coffee beans, the problem can be solved.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a coffee bean quality evaluation device that measures the content of a predetermined component contained in coffee beans and evaluates the quality of the coffee beans based on the measured value, the device comprising a light source and a light source. , a narrow band pass that allows only a specific wavelength suitable for measuring the content of the component to be measured in the coffee beans to pass among the light emitted by the light source, and generates near-infrared light that is irradiated to the measuring section)
, a near-infrared spectrometer having a filter and a detector arranged in the measurement section to detect measurement light from coffee beans, and a measurement target of the coffee beans set corresponding to the component to be measured. A device for storing component conversion coefficient values for calculating content rates of components and specific coefficients for calculating quality evaluation values set corresponding to the measured components; and the components stored in the storage device. A control device having a calculation device that calculates a content rate of a measured component of coffee beans and a quality evaluation value based on a conversion coefficient value, the specific coefficient, and a detection signal from the detector; A display device is connected to display the quality evaluation value of the coffee beans calculated by the arithmetic device visually or in print; The problem was solved by providing a coffee bean quality evaluation device comprising a sample supply device for transporting the sample container to the measurement section of the near-infrared spectrometer after filling the container.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the coffee bean quality evaluation apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a coffee bean quality evaluation apparatus 1 according to the present invention viewed from the front. Inside the cabinet 2, a near-infrared spectrometer 3 and a control device 4, the detailed configuration of which will be explained with reference to FIG. 2 below, are disposed. On the front panel of the cabinet 2, there is a sample container mounting box 5 for mounting a sample container (sample placement section) containing coffee beans to be measured, and a light emitting diode or CRT type display for visually displaying the operating procedures and calculation results of the device. A display device 6, operating buttons 7, and a printer 8 capable of making a hard copy of the calculation results are provided. The control device 4 includes an input/output signal processing device 4a that is connected to a light source, a detector, a display @ 6, an operation button 7, a printer 8, etc. of the near-infrared spectrometer 3 and processes various signals. , a component conversion coefficient value for calculating the content rate of each component, a specific coefficient individually set for each main component of coffee beans to calculate a quality evaluation value, and input device ei (keyboard) 9 is used to calculate the content. A storage device 4b for storing input bean prices for each brand or grade, various corrections, various control procedures, etc.;
It comprises a calculation device 4C for calculating a quality evaluation value of coffee beans based on the measurement value obtained by the near-infrared spectrometer 3 and the specific coefficient. Note that the specific coefficients and necessary correction values that are individually set for each main component of coffee beans are stored in a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as RO) in the storage device 4b.
M) is stored in advance. Also, printer 8
is not limited to a built-in type, and may be an externally connected type.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of an embodiment of the near-infrared spectrometer 3 disposed inside the cabinet 2. As shown in FIG. The illustrated near-infrared spectrometer 3 is of a reflective type, and has a light source 31, a reflecting mirror 32, a narrow band pass filter 33, an integrating sphere 34, and detectors 35a and 35b as main components. The light emitted from the light source 31 passes through an appropriate optical system (not shown) and becomes parallel light. After passing through the narrow band pass filter 33, the light becomes near-infrared light of a specific wavelength. A reflecting mirror 32 configured to freely change the direction of the integrating sphere 34 can be used to change the direction toward a lighting window 36 provided by opening the top of the integrating sphere 34. The near-infrared light reflected by the reflecting mirror 32 and entering the interior of the integrating sphere 34 through the lighting window 36 of the integrating sphere 34 is transmitted to the measuring section 37 provided by opening the bottom of the integrating sphere 34, and thus to the sample container. Coffee beans 55 in the sample container 52 described at a predetermined position behind the mounting box 5
is irradiated from directly above. The diffusely reflected light from the coffee beans 55 is reflected inside the integrating sphere 34, and finally,
The reflected light reaches a pair of detectors 35a and 35b arranged at symmetrical positions with the measurement unit 37 as the center, and the intensity of the reflected light is measured. In the illustrated embodiment, in order to correct the optical symmetry and efficiently receive the reflected light from the coffee beans 55, a pair of detectors, ie, two detectors indicated by reference numbers 35a and 35b, are provided. However, the number is not limited to two, and may be - or three or more.

Here, the configuration of the narrow band pass filter 33, which is provided between the light source 31 and the reflecting mirror 32, and through which the light emitted from the light source 31 becomes near-infrared light of a specific wavelength, and the requirements for this filter are explained. Explain the physical characteristics etc. The narrow band pass filter 33 is composed of a plurality of arbitrary filters (for example, six filters 33a to 33f) each having a different dominant wavelength pass characteristic, and these are mounted on a rotating disk and rotated by an appropriate angle. Accordingly, light source 3
The configuration is such that a desired filter can be sequentially selected and replaced so that it is located on the line connecting the reflector 1 and the reflecting mirror 32. Note that in the transmission characteristics of a filter, the dominant wavelength refers to the maximum transmission wavelength of near-infrared rays that are transmitted when the incident optical axis is perpendicular to the filter surface. Another specific example of the structure of the narrowband transmission filter 33 is to place a prismatic reflecting mirror 32 inside and place a plurality of filters 33a to 33f at positions facing each surface of the reflecting mirror. There is also a configuration in which it is configured in a prismatic shape and is rotatable. In addition, when the narrow band pass filter 33 is disc-shaped, if the inclination angle of its rotating surface with respect to the incident optical axis can be finely and continuously adjusted by means such as an electric motor, each filter can be adjusted finely and continuously. It is possible to continuously produce near-infrared light of different wavelengths shifted from the main wavelength of the transmission characteristic possessed by This is a well-known phenomenon within membranes.
This is due to the phenomenon that when the angle of the incident optical axis with respect to the surface of the filter is changed from 90 degrees, the maximum transmission wavelength shifts within a range of several tens of nanometers in accordance with the change in angle.

Next, the physical characteristics required of the narrow band pass filter 33 will be explained based on FIG. 3. Figure 3 is a graph showing the relationship between irradiation wavelength and absorbance when different coffee beans are irradiated with near-infrared light whose wavelength changes continuously (
absorbance curve). The absorbance 1oo1o/I is the common logarithm of the reciprocal of the ratio of the amount of reflected light I from the sample rice to the reference irradiation light aperture (total irradiation light ff1) Io. It can be easily understood that the amount of content ω of each of the above components is clearly expressed as a difference in absorbance. Since the present invention utilizes this phenomenon to measure the content of a predetermined component contained in coffee beans, the wavelength of near-infrared light irradiated onto coffee beans for measurement is within the wavelength range fa. Among 1100 to 2500 rv, specific peaks can be seen on the absorbance curve for each component (in this example, An..., 3n10l...Fnm
). Therefore, each of the filters 33a to 33f included in the narrow band pass filter 33 has a specific pass characteristic, that is, a main It is required to have it as a wavelength.

Next, the specific operation of the coffee bean quality evaluation apparatus of the present invention having the above configuration will be explained. First, the light source 31 is turned on by operating the operating button 7, and the near-infrared spectrometer Preheat the entire 3. After a predetermined period of time for preheating has elapsed, the sample container mounting box 5 is pulled out from the apparatus cabinet 27'J11, and the test v1 container 52 filled with the ground coffee bean sample 55 is placed in a predetermined position. , complete the measurement of premature ejaculation by inserting it into the cabinet 2. In addition,
The coffee beans 55 are desirably ground to a particle size of about 50 microns or less in order to avoid errors in the measured values, but this is not necessarily the case. In addition, in order to reduce light loss due to diffused reflection, the ground coffee beans 55 are filled into the sample container 52 with the surface thereof being flat, and some pressure is applied using a transparent glass plate. It is preferable to cover the surface while adding it.

After the measurement premature ejaculation work is completed, first
The filter 33A having l as its main wavelength is the light it! 31
and the reflecting mirror 32, and the process of measuring the reflected absorbance when the coffee beans 55 are irradiated with near-infrared light having a wavelength of Anm begins. The measurement work of reflection absorbance consists of measuring the total irradiation m irradiated onto the coffee beans 55, that is, the reference amount of light, and measuring the amount of light actually reflected by the coffee beans 55 when the coffee beans 55 are irradiated with the reference amount of irradiation light. It consists of two measurements: the measurement of the amount of reflected light. Although it is possible to carry out either of the two measurements on one filter first, in the following explanation, the measurement of the reference irradiation light aperture will be explained as being carried out first. Measurement of the reference irradiation light aperture is performed by rotating means using an electric motor or the like to adjust the inclination angle of the reflecting mirror 32, which is configured to have a variable inclination angle, to an angle such that the reflected light directly hits the inner wall of the integrating sphere 34. (not shown). By doing this, the light from the reflecting mirror 32 that is directly applied to the inner wall of the integrating sphere 34 is diffusely reflected on the inner wall in multiple directions, and finally reaches the detectors 35a and 35b, where it is detected as the reference irradiation light amount. be done. On the other hand, the measurement of the reflected light m from the coffee beans 55 is performed according to the above-described principle after the inclination angle of 1 tJI 32 is returned to the original position shown in FIG. In addition, the first filter selection after measurement preparation is completed,
It goes without saying that each execution up to the measurement of the reference irradiation light amount and the reflected light amount can be performed automatically according to a procedure program stored in the ROM in the storage device 4b of the control i10 device 4. Furthermore, it is also useful to increase measurement accuracy by measuring the reference irradiation light level and the amount of reflected light for one filter a plurality of times, and averaging them as the measured value. Based on the reference irradiation light amount detected by the detectors 35a and 35b and the reflected light amount from the coffee beans 55 (
Each measurement value is communicated to the control device 4 as actual measurement data for calculating each content rate of protein, lipid, moisture, etc. contained in the coffee beans, and is stored in a reloadable memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) in the storage device 4b. (say) to be remembered.

After the measurement of the absorbance at the irradiation wavelength, A, nm is completed, the process moves on to the measurement of the absorbance at the next irradiation wavelength, that is, BnIll in this example. Also here, the measurement of the reference irradiation light amount and the measurement of the reflected light amount are performed using the same method and procedure as in Anl described above.

As in the previous case, each measurement value is communicated to the control device 4 as actual measurement data for calculating the content rate of each component, and is sent to the storage device 4.
It is temporarily stored in RAM in b. Similarly, each of the remaining absorbance measurements, that is, wavelengths C nm, D nm, E n
Absorbance measurements at m and F nm are sequentially performed, and each measured value is communicated to the control device 4 as actual measurement data and stored in the RAM. Note that the operation of replacing and selecting each of the filters 33a to 33f of the narrow band pass filter 33 when the absorbance measurement at a specific wavelength is completed and the transition to the absorbance measurement at the next specific wavelength is normally performed by the storage device of the control device 4. R in 4b
This is automatically performed according to the procedure program written in advance in the OM, but even in the case of this embodiment, the above 6.
It is not necessary to perform absorbance measurement for all wavelengths, and the wavelengths to be measured can be arbitrarily selected in consideration of the accuracy required for the desired quality evaluation value, the time required for measurement, etc. The selection can be made using the measurement wavelength selection button in the operating button 7.

The absorbance measurement described so far is performed simply by using the six filters 33a to 33 set in the narrow band pass filter 33.
By sequentially exchanging r, each of the tiles 33a to 3
The method used was to measure the spot absorbance at each dominant wavelength of 3F, but as mentioned above, when the angle of incidence of the incident light on the filter surface is changed from the standard 90°, the maximum transmission wavelength changes from the dominant wavelength by several degrees. By utilizing the phenomenon of shift in the range of +nm, it is also possible to continuously measure absorbance in the wavelength range 11100n to 2500m, in which the difference in component content is noticeable in the difference in absorbance. In the case of the first embodiment shown in the drawings, the angle of the optical axis of incidence on the narrow band pass filter 33 configured in the shape of a disk is controlled by an appropriate adjusting means such as an electric motor (not shown) based on a command signal from the υJiIt device 4. This is possible by continuously varying ylm by .

Next, the arithmetic unit 4c of the control device 4 executes R of the storage device 4b.
A large amount of actual measurement data obtained by absorbance measurement stored in the AM, that is, measured values of the reference irradiation light amount and reflected light amount at each measurement wavelength, and content calculations of each component stored in advance in the ROM of the storage device 4b. Ingredient 1 for! i! ! Based on the calculation coefficient value, each content rate of protein, lipid, water, etc., which are important components in evaluating the quality of coffee beans, is calculated. The component conversion coefficient value, which is written in advance in the ROM of the device 4b for each component, is based on the content of each component measured using, for example, a chemical quantitative analysis method for a large number of coffee beans. This is a constant obtained by signal processing the absorbance measurement value from the detector and using multiple regression analysis.

Next, the arithmetic unit 4C calculates a quality evaluation value using a formula based on each content rate of protein, lipid, water, etc. determined as described above.

The calculated quality evaluation value is visually displayed on the display device 6 at the same time as the calculation is completed in the calculation device 4c, and is also output as a hard copy from the printer 8 automatically or based on a command to the operating push button 7. It will be done. Also, proteins and lipids determined during the process of determining quality evaluation values.

The content of each component such as moisture may be visually displayed on the display device 6 at the same time as the quality evaluation value.

The component content and quality evaluation value of each coffee bean calculated by this quality evaluation 1iIi device can be stored as data in an external storage device using a magnetic medium such as a floppy disk. When calculating the coffee bean blend ratio, etc., it is also possible to load data from an external storage device into the RAMI, P' of the storage device 4b in this device and perform the necessary calculations based on this data.

In the above description, ground coffee beans were used, but the coffee beans do not necessarily have to be ground. However, in this case, it goes without saying that the accuracy of the quality evaluation value (q) decreases to some extent.

Next, a second embodiment of the coffee bean quality evaluation apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. Components or parts that are the same or equivalent to those of the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals.

The biggest difference between the quality evaluation device of the second embodiment and that of the first embodiment is that the quality evaluation device of the second embodiment, the detailed configuration of which will be explained below, is not included in the first embodiment. ,
A coffee bean pulverizer that converts coffee beans into pulverized particles necessary for measurement and a sample container containing the pulverized coffee beans are automatically moved to the measurement section of the near-infrared spectrometer 3.
It is equipped with a sample supply device having the provided sample transport device as a main component device.

In Fig. 4, reference number 1 is for receiving and receiving unnecessary samples after the coffee beans ground by the coffee bean grinding device are filled into the sample container as long as necessary, and samples discharged after the measurement is completed. The receiver indicates a box, which can be put in and taken out from the front panel of the cabinet 2. Reference number 12 is an external supply section for supplying coffee beans to the measurement section from outside. Reference numbers 20 and 40 indicate a coffee bean grinding device and a sample transport station, respectively, both of which are arranged inside the cabinet 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of essential parts of the near-infrared spectroscopic analyzer 3 used in the apparatus of the second embodiment. The difference from the near-infrared spectrometer 3 used in the first embodiment is that a plurality of filters 3
The narrow band pass filter 33 consisting of 3a to 33f is configured not in a disk shape but in a prismatic shape. The narrow band pass filter 33 has a plurality of reflecting mirrors 32 formed in a prismatic shape inside, facing each filter, and is connected to an adjusting means (not shown) such as an electric motor to form a prismatic shape. It is configured to be freely rotatable around an axis P. The measuring section 37 of the integrating sphere 34 is sealed with a transparent glass plate 39 made of quartz. Near-infrared spectroscopy analysis rate in the first example
In Embodiment 3, the grinding and filling work of coffee beans is carried out outside the apparatus, so the transparent glass plate 39 for sealing the measuring section 37 was not necessarily required, but in the apparatus of the second embodiment,
Since the work of crushing the sample and filling the sample container in the apparatus is performed, it is necessary to attach the transparent glass plate 39 to the measuring part 37 in order to prevent scattered powder from entering the integrating sphere 34. be.

Next, details of the coffee bean supply device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the near-infrared spectrometer and sample supply device, and FIG. 7 is the sample transport device 40.
FIG.

First, the configuration of the sample crushing device 20 of the sample supply device will be explained. The upper right side of the cabinet 2 is opened, and the hopper 202 is installed there. Lower opening 2 of hopper 202
04 is provided with a shutter 208 operated by a manual lever 206 or an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown).

Below the frontage 204 of the hopper 202, there is a pair of crushing rollers 210a having a large number of sharp protrusions on the peripheral surface.
, 210b are pivoted to face each other. Further below, there is a pair of crushing rollers 21 with smooth surfaces.
28.212b are oppositely pivoted. A pair of crushing rollers 212a and 212b with smooth surfaces are pivotally mounted to face each other roughly below the crushing rollers 212a and 212b. These crushing rollers 210a, 210b and crushing roller 21
Each axis 2a and 212b is driven by an electric motor 151 (not shown).

Coffee beans adhering to the surfaces of the grinding rollers 210a, 210b and the grinding rollers 212a, 212b are removed by spray nozzles provided facing the surfaces of the square rollers and elastic blades provided to lightly contact the surfaces of the rollers. It is removed by cleaning devices 214a to 214d consisting of. Each of the above components includes a case member 216 whose lower part is opened so as to face a sample transport device 40, which will be described next.
surrounded by.

Next, the sample pulverized into fine particles by the ship pulverizer 20 is
The sample transport device 40 that fills the sample container 52 in a state where the absorbance can be measured and moves the sample container 52 to a position directly below the measurement section 37 of the near-infrared spectrometer 3 will be described. The sample container 52 can be freely inserted into and removed from a guide groove 406 provided in a container holder 404 fixed to the sample container movement guide 402. Sample container movement guide 4.0
A support shaft 408 having a round cross section is inserted into the hollow shaft of No. 2, and one side of the support shaft 408 is inserted into a rotating handle 410,
Further, the other side is pivotally supported by a bearing stand 412. A rack 414 is fixedly installed along the length of the outer circumference of the sample container moving guide 402, and a pinion gear of an electric motor 418 mounted on a motor stand 416 loosely fitted to the sample container moving guide 402 is attached to this rack 414. 420 meshes. Motor pedestal 416 is coupled to fulcrum mount 426 by electromagnet 424 with telescoping rod 422 . This fulcrum stand 426 is fixed to a pedestal 428 fixed to the bottom wall of the cabinet 2. Reference number 4.30 is a rotary roller for compressing and filling the crushed sample on the sample container 52 and removing excess sample to make the surface flat; number 432 is a rotating roller for removing the sample after measurement from inside the sample container 52 A spray nozzle 434 for discharging and cleaning the sample container 52 is a cleaning device that contacts the transparent glass plate 39 and cleans it when the sample container 52 is moved.

Next, the specific operation of the coffee bean quality evaluation apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be explained. In addition,
The method for measuring absorbance at each wavelength using the near-infrared spectrometer 3 is the same as that of the first practical tM example device described above, so its explanation will be omitted, and here, the characteristic device of the second example device will be explained. The function and operation of the sample supply device will be mainly explained.

Coffee beans are put into the hopper 202 and temporarily stored there, and then the electric am is started and the grinding rollers 210a, 21
0b and the crushing rollers 212a and 212b are rotated. The electric motor 418 is activated by operating the operating button 7.
is rotated, and the sample container 52 is moved to a predetermined position directly below the coffee bean grinding device 20 by its driving force.

The movement of the sample container 52 to the predetermined position is completed, and the electric motor 41
8 has stopped, the shutter 208 is opened using the manual lever 206 or an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown),
Coffee beans in hopper 202 are discharged through opening 204.

The coffee beans flowing down from the hopper 202 are first crushed by crushing rollers 210a and 210b, and then by fine crushing rollers 212a and 212 located below them.
In b, a pulverized sample with a particle size of 50 microns or less, which is required for absorbance measurement, is used. The fine powder sample thus produced is received in a sample container 52 located below, and if the sample exceeds the received amount and bulges on the container 52, resulting in an excessive amount, the sample falls into the box 10. Next, by operating the operating button 7, the lightning g machine 418 is reactivated, and the sample container 52 containing the sample is transported to a predetermined position directly below the measurement section 37 of the near-infrared spectrometer 3. Move to operation. During this conveyance process, the sample bulging in the sample container 52 is transferred to the rotating roller 4.
30, the sample is compressed and filled, excess sample is removed, and the surface of the sample is shaped into a flat surface. Once the sample container 52 is in place, the motorized g9418 automatically stops its operation.

Sample transport device 40 to measurement section 37 of near-infrared spectrometer 3
The sample 55 was transported by the same principle as explained in the apparatus of the first embodiment.

The method measures its absorbance and calculates the respective content and quality evaluation value of each of its constituent components.

When the absorbance measurement of sample 55 is completed, the signal #H! 41
8 is reactivated, and the sample container 52 is moved to a predetermined position below the coffee bean grinding device 20 in order to discharge the sample after measurement. At this time, the cleaner 434 comes into contact with the temporary transparent glass 39 and removes the deposits by sliding on the surface. At the same time that the sample container 52 reaches a predetermined position below the coffee bean grinding device 20 and the electric motor 418 stops operating, the cleaning devices 214a to 21 in the coffee bean grinding device 20
High pressure air blows out from 4d, and each roller 210a, 2
Clean the surfaces of 10b, 212a, and 21.2b. Next, by activating the electromagnet 424, the sample container moving guide 402 is rotated by 90 degrees, and the sample in the sample container 52 is discharged toward the box 10 located below. At the same time, the injection nozzle 432 is operated, and the high pressure air emitted from it cleans the inside of the sample container 52 in preparation for the next measurement. Note that the sample container 52 is opened by the operation of the electric tR418.
Although the case has been described in which the sample container 52 automatically reciprocates, the movement can also be performed manually by pushing and pulling the rotating handle 410, and the sample can be discharged from the sample container 52 using this rotating handle. This can be done by rotating 410 as appropriate. In addition, in order to discharge the externally prepared 'f4 independently into the measurement section 37 of the near-infrared spectrometer 3 without using a sample supply device, the sample container 52 is temporarily opened by pressing the rotating handle 410. After moving the sample container 52 to the lower part of the measurement section 37, the sample container 52 is pulled out from the external supply section 12, filled with a sample, and then inserted into the guide groove 406 of the container holder 404.
This is done by inserting it into

In the quality evaluation apparatus of the first and second embodiments described above, the absorbance when coffee beans are irradiated with near-infrared light of a specific wavelength is measured by measuring the intensity of reflected light from the coffee beans. We used a reflection-type near-infrared spectrometer,
It is also possible to use a transmission type near-infrared spectrometer that measures the intensity of the transmitted light that has passed through the coffee beans.Furthermore, it is possible to use a near-infrared spectrometer that measures the absorbance based on both reflected light and transmitted light. A precise near-infrared spectrometer can also be used.

(Effects of the Invention) As detailed above, according to the coffee bean quality evaluation apparatus according to the present invention, sensory tests based on individual differences in taste,
Alternatively, anyone can easily obtain an accurate quality evaluation value of coffee beans in a short time without using methods such as chemical quantitative analysis that are time-consuming and require skill.

Furthermore, when the quality evaluation device according to the present invention is equipped with a sample supply device, when measuring the content rate of a predetermined component of coffee beans and obtaining a quality evaluation value tiii of the coffee beans based on this, The grinding work into fine particles and the filling work into sample containers are all automated, making the measurement easier and more reliable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a coffee bean quality evaluation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of essential parts of a near-infrared spectrometer used in the quality evaluation apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a graph (absorbance curve) showing the relationship between near-infrared irradiation wavelength and absorbance for coffee beans of different brands, and FIG.
A front schematic view of the i device, a side sectional view of the main part of the near-infrared spectrometer used in the quality evaluation device shown in FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of a sample transport device of the sample supply device shown in FIG. 6. In the figure, 1... coffee bean quality evaluation device, 2...
...Cabinet, 3...Near-infrared spectrometer, 4...
・Control device, 4a... Input/output signal processing device, 4b...
・Storage device (ROM, RAM), 4C... arithmetic device,
5... Sample container mounting box, 6... Display device, 7...
Operation button, 8...Printer 9...
Input device @ (keyboard), 10...The receiver is a box, 12...
・External supply unit, 20...coffee bean grinding device, 40・
...Sample transport device, 31...Light source, 32...Reflector, 33...Narrow band pass filter, 33a to 33f.
...filter, 34...integrating sphere, 35a, 35b...
...detector, 36...lighting window, 37...measuring section, 3
9...Transparent glass plate, 52...Sample container, 55...
・Sample (coffee beans>, 202...hopper, 204
...Opening, 206...Electric lever 208...
Shutter, 210a, 210b...Crushing rollers 214a-d...Cleaning device, 216...Case member, 402...Sample container movement guide, 404...
- Container holder, 406... Guide groove, 408... Support shaft, 410... Rotating handle, 412... Bearing stand, 414... Rack, 416... Motor stand, 4
18... Electric motor, 420... Binion gear, 422
...Telescopic rod, 424...N magnet, 426...
Fulcrum stand, 428... Support is stand, 430... Rotating roller 432... Injection nozzle, 434... Cleaner.

Claims (12)

[Claims] (1), B. A light source and a narrow band pass that allows only a specific wavelength of the light generated by the light source to pass through, which is suitable for measuring the content of the component to be measured in coffee beans, and creates near-infrared light that is irradiated to the measuring section. a near-infrared spectrometer having a filter and a detector arranged in the measuring section to detect measurement light from coffee beans; a storage device for storing a component conversion coefficient value for calculating the content of the measured component and a specific coefficient for calculating the quality evaluation value set corresponding to the measured component; a control device having a calculation device that calculates the content rate and quality evaluation value of the measured component of coffee beans based on the component conversion coefficient value, the specific coefficient, and the detection signal from the detector; c. a display device that is connected to the device and displays visually or in print the quality evaluation value of the coffee beans calculated by the arithmetic device; and (d) a sample placement unit that provides the coffee beans to the measurement unit of the near-infrared spectrometer. What is claimed is: 1. A coffee bean quality evaluation device that measures the content of a predetermined component contained in coffee beans and evaluates the quality of the coffee beans based on the measured value. (2) The narrow band pass filter of the near-infrared spectrometer is suitable for measuring the content of proteins, lipids, chlorogenic acid, caffeine, water, and sucrose among the components that form the taste of coffee beans. The coffee bean quality evaluation device according to claim 1, which has wavelength-passing characteristics. (3) The narrow band filter disposed between the light source and the measuring section of the near-infrared spectrometer has a variable inclination angle so that the angle of incidence of the incident optical axis with respect to the surface of the filter can be changed. Claim (1) or (2)
) The coffee bean quality evaluation device described in ). (4) The narrow band pass filter possessed by the near-infrared spectrometer consists of a plurality of filters each having a specific wavelength pass characteristic for any plurality of wavelengths in the wavelength range of 1100 nm to 2500 nm, and the filter is arranged in a disc shape. A coffee bean quality evaluation device according to claim 1, comprising: (5) The coffee bean quality evaluation device according to claim (1), further comprising an input device for storing information in a storage device of the quality evaluation device. (6) The coffee bean quality evaluation device according to claim (1), wherein the display device of the quality evaluation device displays the content rate of the component to be measured in addition to the quality evaluation value of the coffee beans. (7), A. A light source and a narrow band pass filter that allows only a specific wavelength of light emitted by the light source to pass through that is suitable for measuring the content of the component to be measured in coffee beans, and creates near-infrared light that is irradiated to the measuring section. and a near-infrared spectrometer having a detector arranged in the measuring section to detect measurement light from coffee beans, and (b) a measurement target of the coffee beans set corresponding to the measurement target component. a storage device that stores a component conversion coefficient value for calculating a content rate of a component and a specific coefficient for calculating a quality evaluation value set corresponding to the component to be measured; and the component described in the storage device. a control device comprising a conversion factor, an arithmetic device that calculates the content rate and quality evaluation value of the measured component of coffee beans based on the specific coefficient and the detection signal from the detector; c. connected to the control device; a display device that visually or prints out the quality evaluation value of the coffee beans calculated by the arithmetic device; d. a sample container for providing the coffee beans to the measuring section of the near-infrared spectrometer; and e. and a sample supply device for moving and placing the sample container in the measurement section of the near-infrared spectrometer after pulverizing it into fine particles and filling it in the sample container. A coffee bean quality evaluation device that measures the content of ingredients and evaluates the quality of coffee beans based on the measured values. (8) The narrow band pass filter of the near-infrared spectrometer is suitable for measuring the content of at least proteins, lipids, chlorogenic acid, caffeine, water, and sucrose among the components that form the taste of coffee beans. The coffee bean quality evaluation device according to claim 7, wherein the coffee bean quality evaluation device has specific wavelength transmission characteristics. (9) The narrow band filter disposed between the light source and the measuring section of the near-infrared spectrometer has a variable inclination angle so that the angle of incidence of the incident optical axis with respect to the surface of the filter can be changed. Claim (7) or (8)
) The coffee bean quality evaluation device described in ). (10) The narrow band pass filter included in the near-infrared spectrometer is composed of a plurality of filters, each having a specific wavelength pass characteristic of a plurality of arbitrary wavelengths in the wavelength range of 1100 mm to 2500 mm, and the filter has a prismatic shape. The coffee bean quality evaluation device according to claim 7, wherein the coffee bean quality evaluation device is configured as follows. (11) The coffee bean quality evaluation device according to claim (7), further comprising an input device for storing information in a storage device of the quality evaluation device. (12) The coffee bean quality evaluation device according to claim (7), wherein the display device of the quality evaluation device displays the content rate of the component to be measured in addition to the quality evaluation value of the coffee beans.