JPH10160670A - Method for non-destructive measuring of taste characteristics of vegetable and fruit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for non-destructive measurement of taste characteristics wherein, without affected by such difference as large or small of vegetable and fruit, degree of maturity, etc., saccharinity, etc., are measured with high precision. SOLUTION: Relating to the method, absorbance of each laser light is obtained from the input signal corresponding to 3-wavelength incident light quantity incident on vegetables and fruits and the output signal corresponding to a detected light quantity measured with a detector, to measure taste characteristics of vegetable and fruit. Before the 3-wavelength (wavelengths λ1. λ2. λ3) laser light is irradiated, a laser light of wavelength λ4 wherein permeability to vegetable and fruit is equal to or better than the 3-wavelength laser light is irradiated to vegetable and fruit for obtaining absorbance, and based on the obtained abosrbance of wavelength λ4, process range of each output signal (amplification factor of the first amplifier 12-the third amplifier 32) in laser light of wavelength λ1, λ2, λ3 outputted from the detector is switched, or each laser output of wavelength λ1, λ2, λ3 in the first light source 11-the third light source 31 is adjusted, to measure taste characteristics of vegetable and fruit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to melon, watermelon,
The present invention relates to a method for measuring non-destructive taste characteristics of fruits and vegetables, which can be measured without destroying fruits and vegetables, such as sugar content and ripeness of fruits and vegetables such as pumpkins. The present invention relates to an improvement of a non-destructive taste characteristic measuring method capable of measuring its taste characteristics with high accuracy without being affected by differences in the taste.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of measuring the sugar content of fruits and vegetables without destroying the fruits, fruits or vegetables are irradiated with near-infrared light or infrared light, and light absorption by sugar is measured from reflected light or transmitted light. A known method is known (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
JP-A-16265, JP-A-1-235850, JP-A-2-147940, JP-A-4-104401
JP, JP-A-4-208842, JP-A-5-3
4281, JP-A-5-172549 and JP-A-6-15236).

However, since all of these methods use a halogen lamp as a light source, it is difficult to measure the sugar content due to insufficient light intensity for fruits and vegetables having a thick skin such as melon. there were.

Therefore, as a method for solving this drawback, the present inventors have applied three wavelengths of laser light in the range of 860 nm to 960 nm, and sequentially irradiate each laser light to the same part of fruits and vegetables such as melon and watermelon. Sweetness of fruits and vegetables,
A method for measuring the taste characteristics such as ripeness has already been proposed.

[0005] Hereinafter, this method of measuring the sugar content as a taste characteristic will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 11, a laser beam having a wavelength λ is incident on a fruit or vegetable M such as melon from the lower side thereof. A detector (not shown) disposed on the lower side detects a laser beam having a wavelength λ emitted from the fruit or vegetable M. In FIG. 11, Pin (λ) indicates the incident light amount of the laser light, and Pout (λ) indicates the detected light amount of the laser light.

[0006] The sugar content of the fruits and vegetables M (Brix)
Is an input signal Pin corresponding to the incident light amount Pin (λ).
(λ) ′ and an output signal Pout corresponding to the detected light amount Pout (λ)
It can be obtained from each data of (λ) ′ based on the following equation (3).

That is, the sugar content Y (Brix) is given by T (λ) = Pout (λ) / Pin (λ) = (e2 / e1) Pout (λ) ′ / Pin ( λ) ′ Absorbance X which is the natural logarithm of the transmittance T (λ) defined by (1)
(λ) X (λ) = logT (λ) (2) is obtained by substituting into equation (3).

Y = AX (λ 1) + BX (λ 2) + CX (λ 3) + D (3) Here, A, B, and C are the sugar content Y obtained by using a refractometer for many fruits and vegetables (samples), This is a constant determined by, for example, the least square method so that the correlation between the absorbances X (λ1), X (λ2), and X (λ3) obtained by optical measurement becomes highest.

The distance between the incident light quantity Pin (λ) and the corresponding input signal Pin (λ) ′ is Pin (λ) = e1 · Pi.
n (λ) ′, and between the detected light amount Pout (λ) and the corresponding output signal Pout (λ) ′, Pout (λ) = e
2 · Pout (λ) ′. Also, the coefficient e1
And e2 are required when the measuring device is manufactured.

Then, the electric signal values Pin (λ) ′ and Pout
The sugar content Y (Brix) is determined from (λ) ′ as described above.

The measurement method will be described more specifically.
As shown in FIG. 12, two tray-side light passages g are provided at the bottom.
h, a vegetable M such as a melon is placed and transported on the tray d having the h, and the two measurement-side optical paths arranged in the transport path and aligned with the tray-side optical paths g, h of the tray d. In each of the measuring sections k1 to k3 having i and j, a laser beam having an incident light amount Pin (λ) is made incident on the fruit and vegetable M via the measuring-side light path section i and the tray-side light path section g, and emitted from the fruit and vegetable M. The emitted laser light is incident on each of the detectors (not shown) via the tray-side light path portion h and the measurement-side light path portion j, and an output signal Pout corresponding to the detected light amount Pout (λ).
(λ) ′ are measured, and these output signals Pout (λ) ′ and each input signal Pin (λ) ′ corresponding to the incident light amount Pin (λ) are measured.
Was used to measure taste characteristics such as sugar content.

FIG. 13 shows an example of an apparatus embodying this measuring method, wherein p1 to p3 are light sources for outputting laser beams of wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3, and w is light sources p1 to p.
3 shows optical fibers for guiding the laser light from No. 3 to the measuring units k1 to k3, respectively.

By the way, the size of fruits and vegetables such as melons and watermelons to be measured changes greatly as compared with small fruits such as tangerines and peaches. The larger the size, the more difficult it is for the laser light to pass, so that the size of the size causes a large change in the transmitted light amount (detected light amount). Also, when the fruits and vegetables are not ripe, the laser beam is difficult to transmit, and the amount of transmitted light varies depending on the ripeness.
Furthermore, the same melon and watermelon have different phenomena in how they are transmitted depending on the variety. Therefore, the transmitted light amount (detected light amount) finally detected by the detector sometimes varies within a range of three digits or four digits depending on the size, ripeness, variety, and the like of the fruits and vegetables.

In the measuring apparatus illustrated in FIG. 13, for example, when the output signals of the laser beams having wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 output from the respective detectors are measured in a state where the processing range is fixed, the amount of transmitted light If the (detected light amount) changes within the range of three digits or four digits as described above, it becomes difficult to measure taste characteristics such as sugar content with high accuracy.

[0015] Hereinafter, if the transmitted light amount (detected light amount) varies within a range of 3 digits or 4 digits due to differences in the size, ripeness, variety, etc. of fruits and vegetables, it is impossible to measure taste characteristics such as sugar content with high accuracy. That is, the relationship between the transmitted light amount (detected light amount) and the reading accuracy of the sugar content will be described.

First, when the output signal corresponding to the detected light amount becomes small, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the signal and the noise. Also,
If the output signal becomes too large, an amplifier for amplifying the output signal from each of the measuring units k1 to k3 shown in FIG. 13 and an analog / digital converter (AD) connected to this amplifier
C) is a problem. In addition, the AD described below
Limitations due to the minimum resolution of C, problems in the guaranteed range of linearity of the amplifier and ADC, and the like also occur. In addition, when there is a reading error of 1% for the above signal, about 1 degree (Brix: BRI
There is an empirical rule that a sugar content reading error of X) occurs.

In order for the measuring apparatus to which this nondestructive taste characteristic measuring method is applied to be practical, the measured sugar content error is 0.5 degrees (Brix) or less. 0.5% or less is required. However, since there are a plurality of error factors, a guideline is that the sugar content error is 0.1 degrees (Brix) or less (the signal reading error is 0.1% or less) for each factor.

(1) Minimum Resolution of ADC Normally, an ADC is used by designating its full range in advance. For example, assume that the full range is set to 10 V and used. The accuracy of a normal ADC is about 16 bits. 1 bit
Assuming that the reading can be accurately performed up to the unit, the minimum unit is 2 ⁻¹⁶ = 1/65536 of the full range of 10 V, that is, the reading can be performed only in the unit of 0.15 mV at most. However, since an error of about 2 bits is inherent in actuality, only 14 bits are actually accurate. Therefore, the minimum unit described above can be read only 2 ² = 4 times 0.15 mV, that is, about 0.6 mV.

Here, as described above, unless the sugar content reading accuracy is set to 0.1 degrees (Brix) or less, a practical device is unlikely to be obtained. Therefore, the input to the ADC is 0.6 / 0.
001 = 600 mV or more (that is, signal reading error is required to be 0.1% or less as described above).

Therefore, from the reading capability of ADC, ADC
Input range (output range from the amplifier for amplifying the detection signal) needs to be set to 0.6V to 10V.

(2) Linearity of ADC The range in which linearity is guaranteed even when used in the 0 to 10 V range is about 80% to 90%. That is, the signal strength is 8 to
It is required to be 9V or less.

(3) Linearity of Amplifier It is necessary that the linearity be guaranteed with an error of 0.1% or less. This guaranteed area differs depending on the type of amplifier and the amplification factor.

(4) Adjustment of output of laser light source In a measuring apparatus to which the nondestructive taste characteristic measuring method is applied, since a small signal is amplified, it is important to distinguish between noise and signal intensity. Therefore, it is important to reduce the background noise. However, even if this is done, the accuracy may not be improved even if the amplification rate of the small signal is increased because the amplifier itself has some noise. For this reason, it may be necessary not only to adjust the amplification factor of the small signal but also to increase the signal intensity by increasing the output intensity of the laser light source.

[0024]

As described above, there are a plurality of factors that reduce the measurement accuracy when measuring the taste characteristics such as sugar content, and therefore, the wavelengths λ1, λ2, and λ3 output from the detector in the measuring section of the measuring device are measured. It is necessary to improve the reading accuracy by setting the processing range of each output signal of the laser light to an appropriate range, for example.

Then, in order to set the above-mentioned processing range to an appropriate range, optical information is obtained from the fruits and vegetables which are the objects to be measured, and then the output of the laser light source is adjusted to an appropriate value, or the output from the detector is obtained. It is necessary to adjust the magnification of the amplifier for amplifying each output signal, or to change the full range value to change the minimum value readable by the ADC.

However, in the case of a measuring device set to measure fruits and vegetables placed on the tray at a high speed without stopping, the optical information of the fruits and vegetables can be obtained only after the measurement. After that, it was impossible to switch the magnification and the like of the amplifier appropriately. That is, in a non-destructive measuring device which uses laser beams of wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 and measures taste characteristics such as sugar content at three measuring units, the range is switched when the above optical information is obtained. This is because the tray passes through the measuring section even if the user tries to do so.

In the measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 13, provisional irradiation of laser beams of wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 is performed in each of the measuring units k1 to k3, and the output signals thereof are fed back to each of the laser light sources p1 to p3. While adjusting the output of p3,
Although the main irradiation is performed in each of the measuring units k1 to k3 by the laser beams of the wavelengths λ1, λ2, and λ3 after the output adjustment, the output is adjusted to the area inside the fruit and vegetable that is temporarily irradiated in each of the measuring units k1 to k3. The output is different from the area inside the fruits and vegetables after the main irradiation (since the tray on which the fruits and vegetables are placed cannot be transmitted through the same area inside the fruits and vegetables during the preliminary irradiation and the main irradiation because the tray on which the fruits and vegetables are placed is being transported). There is no guarantee that the amount of incident laser light of the adjusted wavelengths λ1, λ2, and λ3 is always an appropriate value.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and the subject thereof is affected by the size of fruits and vegetables to be measured, the degree of ripeness of fruits and vegetables, the difference in variety of fruits and vegetables, and the like. To provide a non-destructive taste characteristic measurement method that can measure its taste characteristics with high accuracy without any problems, and to provide a non-destructive measurement method of ripeness in fruits and vegetables with good correlation with the ripeness determined by the pulp hardness meter It is in.

[0029]

That is, the present invention according to claim 1 provides a single fruit or a plurality of laser light sources that output laser light of three wavelengths in the range of 860 nm to 960 nm to produce fruits and vegetables at wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ2. irradiate the laser beam of λ3, and measure the amount of each laser beam emitted from the fruits and vegetables with the detector, and the input signal corresponding to the incident light amount incident on the fruits and vegetables and the detected light amount measured by the detector Obtain the absorbance of each laser beam from the output signal corresponding to the, non-destructive taste characteristics measurement method of fruits and vegetables to measure the taste characteristics of the fruits and vegetables from each obtained absorbance, wavelength λ1,
Before irradiating the laser beams of λ2 and λ3, the fruits and vegetables are irradiated with the laser beam of the wavelength λ4 having the same or better transmittance as the above-mentioned three wavelengths of the laser beam for the fruits and vegetables, and the absorbance thereof is obtained and obtained. Wavelengths λ1, λ output from the detector based on the absorbance of the laser beam having the wavelength λ4
The processing range of each output signal in the laser light of 2 and λ3 is switched and / or the wavelengths λ1, λ
It is characterized by measuring the taste characteristics of fruits and vegetables by adjusting each laser output of 2 and λ3.

According to the method for measuring nondestructive taste characteristics according to the first aspect of the present invention, the wavelengths λ1, λ2
And a method of measuring the taste characteristics using three wavelengths of laser light of λ3, and adding a laser light of wavelength λ4, which has the same or better transparency as the above three wavelengths of laser light, and Before irradiating the laser light having the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3, the fruits and vegetables are irradiated with the laser light having the wavelength λ4 to determine the absorbance, and the light is output from the detector based on the obtained absorbance in the laser light having the wavelength λ4. Wavelength λ1,
The processing range of each output signal in the laser light of λ2 and λ3 is switched and / or the wavelength λ1,
Since the taste characteristics of fruits and vegetables are measured by adjusting each laser output of λ2 and λ3, the size of the fruits and vegetables to be measured,
Even if it is difficult to transmit each laser beam to the fruits and vegetables due to the degree of ripeness of the fruits and vegetables or the difference in the variety of the fruits and vegetables, the taste characteristics can be measured with high accuracy.

Further, in this measuring method, since the laser output of each of the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 of the laser light source is adjusted based on the absorbance of the added laser beam of wavelength λ4, the laser beam of wavelength λ4 Irradiation and irradiation with laser beams of wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 can be transmitted through substantially the same area inside the fruit and vegetable, so that each laser output is adjusted based on provisional irradiation with laser beams of wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 The adjustment value becomes a more appropriate value as compared with the conventional method, and the measurement accuracy can be dramatically improved.

In the present invention, the object to be adjusted based on the absorbance of the laser light of wavelength λ4 is the processing range of each output signal in the laser light of wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 output from the detector and / or the laser light source. These are the laser outputs at the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3. And
When adjusting the processing range, a full range for adjusting an amplification factor of an amplifier for amplifying an output signal output from a detector of the measurement unit, or changing a minimum readable value of an ADC connected to the amplifier. Adjustment such as switching of values is exemplified.

Here, the reason why the taste characteristics can be measured with high accuracy by switching the processing range of each output signal or adjusting each laser output of wavelengths λ1, λ2, and λ3 based on the absorbance of the laser light of wavelength λ4. This is because it is possible to predict the difficulty of transmission of each of the laser beams of wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 based on the absorbance of the laser beam of wavelength λ4. That is, the same tendency is observed for the other three wavelengths (λ1, λ2, and λ3) for fruits and vegetables that are easy to transmit the laser beam of wavelength λ4, and for other fruits and vegetables that are difficult to transmit the laser beam of wavelength λ4. This is because there is a similar tendency for the wavelengths (λ1, λ2 and λ3). However, the tendency is slightly different depending on the wavelength. For example, the short-wavelength side laser light has a high transmittance to fruits and vegetables, and the difficulty of transmission does not change much depending on the state of the fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, the transmittance of the laser light on the long wavelength side is low, and the difficulty in transmission tends to greatly change depending on the state of the fruits and vegetables. However, irrespective of the difference between the short wavelength side and the long wavelength side, a change corresponding to the change in the absorbance of the laser light of wavelength λ4 appears at the other three wavelengths (λ1, λ2 and λ3). By monitoring the absorbance, it is possible to predict the amount of light at the other three wavelengths (λ1, λ2 and λ3). Based on this prediction, the processing range of each output signal can be switched or the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ
By adjusting each laser output of 3, the problems of the prior art can be avoided.

The wavelength λ4 of the additional laser light is most preferably 700 nm to 900 nm, which allows light to pass easily.
Because the laser light in this region has a small absorbance for fruits and vegetables and is easy to pass through, a low-power laser may be used, and the change depending on the state of the fruits and vegetables (size, ripeness, etc.) is small, so that any state of fruits and vegetables can be used. This is because the measurement can be performed within the processing range in which the initially set high accuracy can be expected. Further, it is not preferable that the light has a wavelength that causes a large change in the amount of light itself when measuring the laser light having the wavelength λ4. That is, it is preferable that the wavelength of the laser is in a range where the change of the absorption coefficient due to water is small. Where wavelength λ
Since the laser light of No. 4 is used as light for monitoring, it is not necessary to accurately measure the light quantity, that is, the transmittance, unless the linearity is broken but it is completely saturated. Since it is possible to confirm the difficulty of transmission of the laser beam having the wavelength λ4 to fruits and vegetables, the other three wavelengths (λ1,
It is possible to determine what processing range should be used for λ2 and λ3). Therefore, the wavelength λ of the additional laser light
4 may have a slightly longer wavelength. However, it is necessary to check the performance of the nonlinear region in advance. From this viewpoint, the wavelength .lambda.4 of the laser light to be added can be applied from about 600 nm to about 940 nm. The invention according to claim 2 is made for such a technical reason.

That is, the invention according to claim 2 is based on the method for measuring nondestructive taste characteristics according to the invention according to claim 1, and the respective wavelengths λ1, λ2, λ3 and λ4 of the laser light.
Satisfy the following condition: 860 nm ≦ wavelength λ1 ≦ 890 nm 900 nm ≦ wavelength λ2 ≦ 920 nm 920 nm <wavelength λ3 ≦ 960 nm 600 nm ≦ wavelength λ4 ≦ 940 nm.

Next, the invention according to claims 3 to 5 relates to a method for measuring the ripeness, which is the taste characteristic of fruits and vegetables, by a non-destructive method.

That is, in the conventional non-destructive taste characteristic measuring method, the method of measuring the maturity can also be obtained by the above-mentioned equation (3).

Hereinafter, the above equation (3) is rewritten into an equation specified for the degree of maturity and is expressed by the following equation (4).

Y ′ = A′X (λ1) + B′X (λ2) + C′X (λ3) + D ′ (4) Here, A ′, B ′, and C ′ are for many fruits and vegetables (samples). And the absorbance X (λ1), X (λ2), X (λ3) obtained by optical measurement are determined by, for example, the least squares method so that the correlation is highest. Is a constant.

However, the definition of ripeness as compared with sugar content has not yet been determined (for example, the degree of color of the fruit and vegetable hulls is defined as the ripeness, the hardness of the pulp is defined as the ripeness, and it is generated from fruits and vegetables. The definition, such as maturity, which is determined by the amount of ethylene, has not been determined.), The above-mentioned destruction methods differ depending on the definition method, the numerical values of A ', B', and C 'also differ, and the correlation between the destruction method and the non-destruction method Was still not enough.

Under such technical background, when the present inventors completed the invention according to claims 1 and 2, the definition of the ripeness was determined to be the flesh hardness and the laser light having a wavelength of λ4 was determined. When the absorbance was applied to the measurement of ripeness in combination with the absorbances of the other three wavelengths (in this case, the destruction method used a pulp hardness meter), it was confirmed that the correlation was dramatically improved.

Further, it was also confirmed that the data of the ripeness (pulp hardness) obtained by the non-destructive method was greatly related to improvement of the measurement accuracy when the sugar content was measured by the non-destructive method. The inventions according to claims 3 to 5 have been completed from such a technical background.

That is, the third aspect of the present invention provides the
a single or a plurality of laser light sources that output laser light of three wavelengths in the range of nm to 960 nm irradiate the fruits and vegetables with laser lights of wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3, respectively;
The amount of each laser beam emitted from the fruits and vegetables is measured by the detector, and the absorbance of each laser beam is determined from the input signal corresponding to the amount of incident light incident on the fruits and vegetables and the output signal corresponding to the detected amount of light measured by the detector. Determine the non-destructive taste characteristics measurement method of fruits and vegetables to measure the ripeness of the fruits and vegetables from each of the obtained absorbance, while defining the ripeness of the fruits and vegetables with the hardness of the flesh, permeability to the fruits and vegetables Irradiate fruits and vegetables with laser light of wavelength λ1, λ2 and λ3 together with laser light of wavelength λ1, λ2 and λ3 to obtain absorbance in each of laser light of wavelengths λ1, λ2, λ3 and λ4, respectively, In addition, the ripeness of the fruits and vegetables (hardness of the flesh) is measured from each absorbance of the obtained four-wavelength laser light.

In this case, the ripeness (pulp hardness) Y 'is obtained from the following equation (5).

Y ′ = aX (λ1) + bX (λ2) + cX (λ3) + dX (λ4) + e (5) where a, b, c, and d are many fruits and vegetables (samples)
Has the highest correlation between the ripeness Y ′ determined by the pulp hardness tester and the absorbances X (λ1), X (λ2), X (λ3), and (λ4) determined by light measurement. Thus, for example, the constant is obtained by the least square method.

That is, a, b,
By substituting the absorbances X (λ1), X (λ2), X (λ3) and (λ4) obtained for the fruits and vegetables to be measured using c and d into equation (5), the value of Y ′ is obtained. The nondestructive ripeness (hardness of nondestructive pulp) required from light absorption is obtained.

According to the nondestructive taste characteristic measuring method according to the third aspect of the present invention, the wavelengths λ1, λ2
Instead of the method of measuring the ripeness using laser light of three wavelengths of λ3 and λ3, the ripeness of the fruits and vegetables is defined by the hardness of the flesh, and the permeability to the fruits and vegetables is equivalent to the laser light of the above three wavelengths or Add laser light of better wavelength λ4,
And since the said ripeness (hardness of the pulp) of the fruits and vegetables is measured from each absorbance in the obtained 4 wavelength laser light,
It is possible to dramatically improve the correlation between the ripeness determined by the flesh hardness meter and the ripeness (hardness of the non-destructive flesh) determined by the non-destructive method.

When the ripeness (pulp hardness) is measured by a non-destructive method, in order to measure the ripeness (pulp hardness) with higher accuracy, the invention according to claims 1 to 2 is required. For the same reason as described above, it is preferable to switch the processing range of each output signal or adjust the laser output based on the absorbance of the laser beam having the wavelength λ4. The invention according to claim 4 is made for such a reason.

That is, the invention according to claim 4 is based on the method for measuring nondestructive taste characteristics according to the invention according to claim 3, and irradiates laser light having wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 with the wavelength λ4. Laser light is irradiated on fruits and vegetables to determine the absorbance, and based on the obtained absorbance of the laser light of wavelength λ4, wavelengths λ1, λ output from the detector are obtained.
The processing range of each output signal in the laser light of 2 and λ3 is switched and / or the wavelengths λ1, λ
It is characterized by measuring the ripeness (pulp hardness) of fruits and vegetables by adjusting each laser output of 2 and λ3.

The wavelength λ 4 of the laser light to be added in the third and fourth aspects of the present invention is different from that of the first and second aspects in which this laser light is applied for monitoring. Since the absorbance in the above is also provided for the measurement of the ripeness (hardness of the pulp), the permissible range is defined in claims 1 to 5.
2 is slightly narrower than the invention according to 2. The invention according to claim 5 relates to the invention specified for the wavelength λ4 of the laser light to be added.

That is, the invention according to claim 5 is based on the nondestructive taste characteristic measuring method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each of the wavelengths λ1, λ2, λ3 and λ4 of the laser beam is 860 nm ≦ Wavelength λ1 ≦ 890 nm 900 nm ≦ wavelength λ2 ≦ 920 nm 920 nm <wavelength λ3 ≦ 960 nm 700 nm ≦ wavelength λ4 ≦ 930 nm.

The accuracy of the sugar content measurement of fruits and vegetables can be improved using the data of the maturity (hardness of non-destructive pulp) obtained by the non-destructive taste characteristic measuring method according to claims 3 to 5. It becomes possible. In other words, the difficulty in transmitting the laser beam to the fruits and vegetables is affected by the maturity (hardness of the pulp). Therefore, when measuring the sugar content of the fruits and vegetables by the non-destructive method according to the invention according to claims 1 and 2, claim 3 By applying a calibration curve that takes into account the ripeness (hardness of non-destructive pulp) obtained by the non-destructive method according to any one of the inventions, the accuracy of the sugar content measurement can be improved.

[0053]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show an example of a measuring apparatus to which the method for measuring nondestructive taste characteristics according to the present invention is applied. This measuring apparatus transports a tray on which fruits and vegetables M such as melon are placed. Path 5, in which a roller conveyor 50 is disposed in the length direction, and a first measuring unit 10 and a second measuring unit 2, which are arranged in the conveying path 5 at predetermined intervals.
0, the third measuring unit 30, the fourth measuring unit 40, and the laser light having the wavelengths λ1, λ2, λ3, and λ4 are output into the first to fourth measuring units 40 through the optical fiber w. The first light source 11, the second light source 21, the third light source 31, and the fourth light source 41, and the light amounts of the respective laser beams emitted from the fruits and vegetables M similarly arranged in the first to fourth measuring units 10 to 40 And a detector having the same structure (not shown)
A first amplifier 12, a second amplifier 22, a third amplifier 32, amplifying each detection signal in the laser light of wavelengths λ1, λ2, λ3 and λ4 connected to each detector and outputted from each detector. Four amplifiers 42 and these first amplifiers 1
A first ADC (analog / digital converter) 13, a second ADC 23, a third ADC 33, a fourth ADC 43, and the like, which are connected to the second to fourth amplifiers 42 and convert the analog detection signals into digital signals; Fourth ADC 43
, A first CPU 14, a second CPU 24, a third CPU 34, and a fourth CPU 44 for calculating and processing digital detection signals from the ADCs 13 to 43.
A CPU 6 which calculates the taste characteristics such as the sugar content of the fruits and vegetables M from the data inputted and connected to the PU 14 to the fourth CPU 44
And the main part is constituted.

The arrangement relationship between the measurement-side light path in each of the measurement units 10 to 40 and the tray-side light path in the tray is shown in FIG.
This is similar to the conventional device shown in FIG. FIG.
The middle 7 is provided on both side edges of the transport path 5 and engages with reference portions (not shown) of the tray to accurately determine the positional relationship between each measurement-side light path and each tray-side light path. A guide member 8 for alignment is provided substantially at the center of the transport path 5 and has a convex groove (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the tray, which is loosely fitted to prevent light leakage between the optical paths on the measurement side. Each of them is shown in FIG.
Among them, 15 to 45 are each power source of the first light source 11 to the fourth light source 41, and 16 to 46 are the first light sources 11 to irradiate fruits and vegetables.
The tenth amplifier, the twentieth amplifier, the thirty amplifier, and the forty amplifier, which amplify a detection signal of a detector (not shown) monitoring the amount of laser light of the fourth light source 41, are shown. .

In this measuring device, each power supply 15
To 45 are respectively set to predetermined fixed values, and the ranges (that is, amplification factors) of the first to fourth amplifiers 12 to 42 are also predetermined initial values (that is, considering the minimum resolution and linearity of each of the ADCs 13 to 43). The output from each amplifier is set to, for example, about 0.6 V to 9 V).

In this measuring apparatus, when the tray on which the fruits and vegetables M are placed is carried into the fourth measuring section 40, the light source 41 irradiates the fruits and vegetables M with a laser beam having a wavelength λ4, and The laser beam of wavelength λ4 emitted from the fruit or vegetable M is detected by the detector, and an output signal corresponding to the detected light amount is input to the fourth amplifier 42.

The output signal amplified by the fourth amplifier 42 is input to a fourth ADC 43 and is converted into a digital signal, and the converted output signal is input to a fourth CPU 44 and processed. By this arithmetic processing, the absorbance X (λ4) of the laser light having the wavelength λ4 with respect to the fruits and vegetables M is obtained, and the appropriate amplification factors (that is, the processing ranges) of the first amplifier 12 to the third amplifier 32 are determined based on the absorbance X (λ4). The signal is sent from the fourth CPU 44 to each first amplifier 12.
To the third amplifier 32.

Then, each of the first to third amplifiers 12 to 3
After the processing range 2 is set to an appropriate value, the third measuring unit 3
0, the trays on which the fruits and vegetables M are placed are sequentially loaded into the second measuring section 20 and the first measuring section 10, and each of the light sources 11 to
The laser beams of wavelengths λ1, λ2, λ3 are illuminated from 1 to λ1, λ2, λ3 to be detected by the respective detectors, and the respective output signals corresponding to the detected light amounts are output to the respective first amplifiers 12. To the third amplifier 32. At this time, since the processing range of each of the first to third amplifiers 12 to 32 is set to an appropriate value based on the absorbance X (λ4), each of the output signals output from each of the first to third amplifiers 12 to 32 is set. The value is adjusted to an appropriate value in consideration of the minimum resolution and the linearity of each of the ADCs 13 to 33.

Next, the appropriate output signals converted into digital signals from the ADCs 13 to 33 are output from the first CPU 14 to the third CP.
The data respectively input to the U34 and appropriately processed by the arithmetic processing are transmitted from the first CPU14 to the third CPU34 to the CPU6.
Is input to At this time, the first CPU 14 to the third CPU
34, it is necessary to add data relating to the processing range (i.e., amplification factor) of the first amplifier 12 to the third amplifier 32. Therefore, as shown in FIG. The data of the processing range at 32 is also transmitted from the fourth CPU 44 to the first CPU 14.
To the third CPU 34 at the same time.

Then, the first CPU 14 to the fourth CPU 44
The taste characteristics such as sugar content are determined by the CPU 6 on the basis of the appropriate data from the above. Therefore, in this measuring device, the sugar content etc. can be obtained with high accuracy regardless of the size, ripeness or difference in variety of the fruits and vegetables to be measured. It has the advantage that its taste characteristics can be measured.

FIG. 3 shows a method of switching the processing range of each of the first to third amplifiers 12 to 32 based on the absorbance X (λ 4), instead of the light sources 11 to 13 of wavelengths λ 1, λ 2 and λ 3.
The power of each of the power supplies 15 to 35 with respect to
The apparatus is substantially the same as the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 except that the system is switched based on (λ4). In this apparatus, since the processing range of each of the first to third amplifiers 12 to 32 is not switched based on the absorbance X (λ4), the signal from the fourth CPU 44 is used as shown in FIG. To the third power supply 15, the second power supply 25, and the third power supply 35.
, The data of the first CPU 14 to the third CPU 34 is input to the CPU 6.

Since the laser output of the wavelengths λ1, λ2, λ3 is properly adjusted based on the absorbance X (λ4) also in this measuring device, the size of the fruits and vegetables to be measured, the degree of ripening or the variety It has the advantage that its taste characteristics such as sugar content can be measured with high accuracy irrespective of the difference between the two.

It is needless to say that an apparatus having a structure in which the measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 3 are combined may be used. That is, the processing range of each of the first to third amplifiers 12 to 32 is switched based on the absorbance X (λ4), and the first power supply 15, the second power supply 25, and the third power supply 3
5 may be a device that can simultaneously adjust the power of each of them.

[0065]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below. Prior to this embodiment, the present inventors conducted a "relationship between size and transmittance of fruits and vegetables and output voltage" and "signal strength and For confirming the relationship with the sugar content reading error ”will be described.

Confirmation Experiment of "Relationship Between Fruit Size, Transmittance and Output Voltage" Using a conventional measuring device, a small ball melon (about 11 cm in diameter)
And the transmittance T (λ) of the longest wavelength laser (wavelength = 940 nm) for watermelon (diameter about 25 cm) (however, this transmittance is measured while switching the amplification factor of the amplifier to the optimum range) and the amplifier at that time Output voltage (however, the amplification factor of the amplifier is 10 ⁷
The measurement was performed with the measurement being fixed to). In addition, the laser irradiation port (that is, the tray side light passage portion g shown in FIG. 12)
And the center-to-center distance α between the output light detection port (ie, the tray-side light passage portion h shown in FIG. 12) is 8 cm.

FIG. 4 shows the results. The sizes of the melon and watermelon were specified by weight instead of directly measuring them (because the weight and the size are in a substantially proportional relationship).
And as is clear from FIG. 4, both melon and watermelon,
It was confirmed that the transmittance and output voltage varied by about two digits as the size fluctuated.

Since the output from the amplifier depends on the performance of the amplifier and the area and arrangement of the detector, the output of the amplifier must correspond to the transmittance. In this experiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the transmittance is 1 × 10 ⁻⁷ , the output from the amplifier (when the amplification factor is 10 ⁷ ) is adjusted to be about 1V.

Confirmation Experiment of "Relationship Between Signal Intensity and Reading Error of Sugar Content" For each of 26 melons from immature to slightly overmature, each output signal output from three measuring units using a conventional measuring device was measured. The range of each amplifier for amplifying was fixed (that is, the amplification rate was fixed to 10 ⁶ ranges), and the sugar content was measured 30 times each to evaluate the sugar content variation (standard deviation). The result is shown in FIG. From this graph, it can be confirmed that the error becomes considerably large when the signal intensity is 0.1 V or less. This is because the noise level cannot be ignored. On the other hand, it is confirmed that the error becomes almost the same when the voltage exceeds 1V. Note that the reason why the sugar content slightly decreases (the error increases) when the signal intensity is close to 10 V is considered to be because the linearity of the ADC has decreased.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[First Embodiment] Using the measuring device shown in FIG. 1, melons having different ripeness (immature melon, ordinary melon,
The sugar content of the over-ripened melon was measured.

The wavelength of each applied laser beam is the wavelength λ.
4 = 840 nm, wavelength λ3 = 880 nm, wavelength λ2 = 9
10 nm, wavelength .lambda.1 = 930 nm.

[0073] The initial value of the measurement range in the fourth amplifier 42 to the first amplifier 12, the fourth amplifier 42 ... × 10 ⁵ range, the third amplifier 32 ... × 10 ⁶ range, the second amplifier 22 ... × 10 ⁶ , The first amplifier 12... × 10 ⁷ range, and all detectors for measuring the amount of light have the same structure.

Further, each of the fourth amplifiers 42 whose initial values are set
~ The fourth ADC 43 from the first amplifier 12 ~ the first ADC 1
The power of each of the fourth light source 41 to the first light source 11 is set to a predetermined value so that the output to the third light source 3 falls within the range of 0.8 V to 8 V. That is, the input value of the wavelength λ4 = 840 nm is 8
mW, input value of wavelength .lambda.3 = 880 nm is 5 mW, wavelength .lambda.
The input value of 2 = 910 nm is 20 mW, and the wavelength λ1 =
The input value of 930 nm is set to 12.5 mw, respectively.

When the input value of the laser beam at each wavelength is set to the above value and the range of each amplifier is also set to the initial value as described above, the transmittance of the laser beam of each wavelength λ4 to λ1 is set. The relationship between T (λ) and the signal intensity from each amplifier is as follows, and the wavelength corresponding to the upper limit value and the lower limit value of each signal intensity in the first to third measurement units 30 to 30. λ4 = absorbance X at 840 nm
(Λ4) is as follows. ◎ Fourth measuring unit 40 Fourth amplifier 42... If the range is set to × 10 ⁵ , the signal intensity when the transmittance is 1.25 × 10 ^-4 is 8 V When the transmittance is 1.25 × 10 ^-5 The signal intensity is 0.8 V. The third measuring unit 30 The third amplifier 32... When the range is set to × 10 ⁶ , the signal intensity is 8 V when the absorbance X (λ4) transmittance is 2 × 10 ^-5. 1.24 The signal intensity when the transmittance is 2 × 10 ⁻⁶ is 0.8 V.... 1.11 That is, the absorbance X (λ 4) of the melon measured by the fourth measurement unit 40 with respect to the laser light having the wavelength λ 4 is 1.1
When it is in the range of 1-1.24, the range of the third amplifier 32 may be the × 10 ⁶ range, but the absorbance X
When (λ4) is less than 1.11, the signal intensity of the laser beam at the wavelength λ3 increases, so that the range of the third amplifier 32 is set to the × 10 ⁵ range, and when the absorbance X (λ4) exceeds 1.24, the wavelength is increased. Since the signal intensity of the laser beam at λ3 becomes small, the range of the third amplifier 32 is increased.
It is necessary to switch to × 10 ⁷ range. ◎ When set to the second measuring unit 20 second amplifier 22 ... × 10 ⁶ range, absorbance X (.lambda.4) signal intensity at a transmittance of 5 × 10 ^-6 is 8V ......... 1.28 transmittance 5 The signal intensity at the time of × 10 ⁻⁷ is 0.8 V... 1.13 That is, the absorbance X (λ 4) of the laser light having the wavelength λ 4 with respect to the melon measured by the fourth measuring unit 40 is 1.1.
When it is within the range of 3 to 1.28, the range of the second amplifier 22 may be the × 10 ⁶ range.
When (λ4) is less than 1.13, the signal intensity of the laser beam at wavelength λ2 increases, so that the range of the second amplifier 22 is set to × 10 ⁵ range, and when the absorbance X (λ4) exceeds 1.28, the wavelength becomes Since the signal intensity of the laser beam at λ2 becomes small, the range of the second amplifier 22 is increased.
It is necessary to switch to × 10 ⁷ range. ◎ First measuring unit 10 First amplifier 12... When set in the × 10 ⁷ range, the signal intensity is 8 V when the absorbance X (λ4) transmittance is 8 × 10 ^-7. The signal intensity at the time of × 10 ⁻⁸ is 0.8 V... 1.16 That is, the absorbance X (λ 4) of the laser light of wavelength λ 4 with respect to the melon measured by the fourth measuring unit 40 is 1.1.
When it is within the range of 6 to 1.27, the range of the first amplifier 12 may be the × 10 ⁷ range, but the absorbance X
When (λ4) is less than 1.16, the signal intensity of the laser beam at wavelength λ1 becomes large, so that the range of the first amplifier 12 is set to × 10 ⁶ range, and when the absorbance X (λ4) exceeds 1.27, the wavelength becomes Since the signal intensity of the laser beam at λ1 becomes small, the range of the first amplifier 12 is changed.
It is necessary to switch to × 10 ⁸ range.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the output signal detected by the fourth measuring section 40 is output to the fourth amplifier 42,
Processed by the fourth ADC 43 and the fourth CPU 44 and the wavelength λ4
Of the first amplifier 12, the second amplifier 22, and the third amplifier 32 as shown in FIG. 6 based on the value of the absorbance X (.lambda.4). It is adjusted to switch based on
In addition, about the 4th CPU44 for processing range switching,
GPIB (Computer Peripheral Device Management Interface Standard: Abbreviation for General Purpose Interface Bus) is applied.

In this example, although the melons having different ripeness (immature melon, ordinary melon, and over-ripened melon) were sequentially measured by the same apparatus, the sugar content of the melon was measured with the following accuracy. We were able to.

Immature melon: 13.2 ± 0.1 (BRIX) Normal melon: 12.8 ± 0.1 (BRIX) Overripe melon: 13.5 ± 0.1 (BRIX) The first amplifier 12 To 5 in a state where the above initial value of the measurement range in the third amplifier 32 is fixed without being changed.
The sugar content was measured for 0 immature melons, ordinary melons, and overripened melons, and the standard deviation was determined. For the overripened melons, the first amplifier 12 that amplifies the output signal of the longest wavelength λ1 = 930 nm was used. It was over, and the standard deviation could not be determined because measurement was impossible.

The standard deviation of immature melon was 0.25 degrees (BRIX), and the precision was lower than that of the examples. The standard deviation of ordinary melon is 0.11.
Degrees (BRIX).

[Second Embodiment] Instead of the first embodiment, the sugar content of the Earls melon produced in Shizuoka was measured using the apparatus shown in FIG. In other words, the individual differences of the Earls melon are small and the production management is considerably advanced, so that the individual differences are not so large. For this reason, the change in the transmittance (that is, the output voltage) due to the change in the size is at most about one digit. Therefore, instead of the method of switching the processing range shown in FIG. 1, the absorbance X (λ
4) The light sources 11 to 13 of wavelengths λ1, λ2, λ3
A method of switching the power of each of the power supplies 15 to 35 with respect to 1 was adopted.

That is, after examining the ease of transmission of the laser light of the melon to be measured based on the absorbance X (λ4) of the laser light having the wavelength λ4, the third amplifier 32, the second amplifier 22, and the first amplifier 12 are checked. (Each amplification factor is × 10 ⁷
Range is fixed to the appropriate range (voltage measurement value is 1
−8 V), the sugar content was measured by switching the power of each of the power supplies 15 to 35. The sugar content could be measured with almost the same accuracy as in the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment Using the measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the ripeness of the melon (the hardness of the pulp is defined as the ripeness) was measured nondestructively. In measuring the maturity, the above-described equations (4) and (5) are applied.

The correlation between the pulp hardness determined by the nondestructive method (hardness of the nondestructive pulp) and the hardness measured by the pulp hardness meter (unit: kg / cm ² ) was confirmed.

Three wavelengths (wavelength λ 3 = 880) in the conventional example
nm, λ2 = 920 nm, λ1 = 940 nm) [determined by equation (4)], the correlation was about 0.8. However, when measured by the measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 1 to which the wavelength λ4 = 840 nm is added [determined by the equation (5)], the correlation is remarkably improved, and the result shown in FIG. 7 is obtained. Was.

A melon having a pulp hardness of 0.6 kg / cm ² or more is usually in an immature state, while
When it is less than cm ² , it is overripe. Therefore, in this apparatus, a value ten times (0 to 10) of the pulp hardness is defined as the ripeness defined by the nondestructive ripeness meter (see FIG. 7). The pulp hardness tended to be softened by about 0.05 kg / cm ² per day.

Next, a titanium: sapphire laser whose wavelength can be arbitrarily changed is used as a laser light source, and wavelengths λ 3 = 890 nm, λ 2 = 920 nm, λ 3
1 = 940 nm was selected.

Then, the wavelength of the fourth laser having the wavelength λ 4 was changed from 600 nm to 940 nm. For each of the 50 melons, the transmittance (absorption coefficient) of each wavelength is determined, the hardness of the pulp is measured by a non-destructive method, the hardness is measured by a pulp hardness meter, and the pulp hardness by the non-destructive method ( (Maturity) was examined. FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the wavelength (nm) of the fourth laser beam (λ4) and the correlation coefficient of the maturity.

FIG. 8 shows that the wavelength of the fourth laser must be set to 700 or more in order for the correlation coefficient required for the practical application of the nondestructive measuring method to be 0.8 or more.
It was confirmed that the wavelength should be set to about 930 nm.

Next, about 200 melons picked on the same day, about 30 pieces per day from the 4th day after cutting were used as shown in FIG.
The sugar content is measured in a non-destructive manner using the device described above, and
At the same time, the juice sugar content was examined by destructive inspection.

Then, when the optimum calibration curve was calculated by the least square method for the minutes measured on each day, the slope of the calibration curve hardly changed on the measurement day as shown in FIG.
Intercept (that is, the point where the Y axis and the calibration curve intersect in FIG. 9)
It has changed slowly. FIG. 10 shows the relationship between the Y-intercept and the measurement date (the number of days counted from the fruit picking date).

As the number of days after fruiting increases, the ripening progresses, the flesh becomes softer, and light is more easily transmitted. This means that it is necessary to slightly change the calibration curve depending on the progress of the ripeness, that is, the hardness of the pulp.

Then, from the graph shown in FIG.
Sections vary by -0.4 degrees (BRIX) / day. On the other hand, the pulp hardness is softened by about 0.05 kg / cm ² per day as described above.

Therefore, once a reference calibration curve is obtained for the melon having the reference pulp hardness, the reference pulp hardness is H
(Kg · cm ^-2 ), the pulp hardness determined by the non-destructive method is X
(Kg · cm ⁻² ), −0.4 (degree · day ⁻¹ ) × ｛(H−X) /0.05 (k
g · cm ^-2 · day ^-1 )｝ = -8 (degrees · kg ^-1 · cm ^-2 )
× (H−X) means that the sugar content can be measured with high accuracy by shifting the Y intercept of the calibration curve.

[0094]

According to the nondestructive taste characteristic measuring method according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the taste characteristic is conventionally measured using laser light of three wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3. In place of the above, add a laser beam having a wavelength λ4 equivalent to or better than the laser beam having the above-mentioned three wavelengths, and transmit a laser beam having a wavelength λ4 before irradiating the laser beams having wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3. Light is irradiated on fruits and vegetables to determine the absorbance, and the wavelengths λ1 and λ2 output from the detector are determined based on the obtained absorbance of the laser light of wavelength λ4.
And / or the processing range of each output signal in the laser light of λ3 is switched and / or the wavelengths λ1, λ2 of the laser light source are changed.
And the λ3 laser output are adjusted to measure the taste characteristics of fruits and vegetables, so that it is difficult to transmit each laser beam to the fruits and vegetables due to the size of the fruits and vegetables to be measured, the degree of ripeness of the fruits and vegetables, or the difference in the variety of the fruits and vegetables. , It is possible to measure the taste characteristics with high accuracy.

Next, according to the nondestructive taste characteristic measuring method according to the third to fifth aspects of the present invention, conventionally, the ripeness is measured using laser light of three wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3. Instead of the method, the ripeness of the fruits and vegetables is defined by the hardness of the pulp, and a laser beam having a wavelength λ4 having a permeability to the fruits and vegetables equal to or better than that of the above three wavelengths is added. Since the above-mentioned ripeness (hardness of the pulp) of the fruits and vegetables is measured from each absorbance in the laser light of the wavelength, the ripeness obtained by the flesh hardness meter and the ripeness obtained by the non-destructive method (the non-destructive Hardness) can be dramatically improved.

In particular, according to the method for measuring nondestructive taste characteristics according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the wavelengths λ1 and λ2 output from the detector are determined based on the absorbance of the laser beam having the wavelength λ4.
And / or the processing range of each output signal in the laser light of λ3 is switched and / or the wavelengths λ1, λ2 of the laser light source are changed.
And λ3, the correlation between the ripeness determined by the flesh hardness meter and the ripeness determined by the non-destructive method (hardness of the non-destructive flesh) is determined by the invention according to claim 3. It is possible to further improve.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a measuring device to which a nondestructive taste characteristic measuring method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a measuring unit of the measuring device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a measuring apparatus to which a nondestructive taste characteristic measuring method according to a modification of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between fruit weight, transmittance, and output voltage.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between a signal intensity and a sugar content reading error.

FIG. 6 is a relationship diagram showing the relationship between the value of the absorbance X (λ4) of the λ4 laser and the range switching threshold of each of the first amplifier, the second amplifier, and the third amplifier in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a correlation between maturity (hardness of non-destructive pulp) and hardness measured by a pulp hardness meter.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between a wavelength of a fourth laser beam (λ4) and a correlation coefficient of ripeness (hardness of non-destructive pulp).

FIG. 9 is a graph showing a correlation between a sugar content obtained by non-destructive measurement and a sugar content obtained by a destructive method.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of days after melon extraction and Y intercept.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the principle of the nondestructive taste characteristic method.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a main part of a measuring apparatus to which a conventional nondestructive taste characteristic method is applied.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a measuring device to which a conventional nondestructive taste characteristic method is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 First measurement part 20 Second measurement part 30 Third measurement part 40 Fourth measurement part 11 First light source 21 Second light source 31 Third light source 41 Fourth light source 12 First amplifier 22 Second amplifier 32 Third amplifier 42 First Fourth amplifier 13 First ADC 23 Second ADC 33 Third ADC 43 Fourth ADC 14 First CPU 24 Second CPU 34 Third CPU 44 Fourth CPU

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Akira Terashima 3-18-5, Chugoku-ku, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. Central Research Laboratory (72) Inventor Shuji Suzuki 3--18, Chugoku-ku, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba No. 5 Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. Central Research Laboratory

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A fruit or vegetable is irradiated with laser beams of wavelengths .lambda.1, .lambda.2 and .lambda.3 from a single or a plurality of laser light sources outputting three wavelengths of laser light in the range of 860 nm to 960 nm and emitted from the fruit or vegetable. While measuring the light amount of each laser light to be detected by the detector, the absorbance of each laser light is obtained from an input signal corresponding to the incident light amount incident on the fruits and vegetables and an output signal corresponding to the detected light amount measured by the detector,
In the nondestructive taste measurement method for fruits and vegetables, wherein the taste characteristics of the fruits and vegetables are measured from each of the obtained absorbances, before irradiating the laser lights having wavelengths of λ1, λ2 and λ3, the laser light having a transmittance for the fruits and vegetables of the above three wavelengths. The above fruits and vegetables are irradiated with a laser beam having a wavelength λ4 equivalent to or better than the above to determine the absorbance, and based on the obtained absorbance in the laser beam having a wavelength λ4, the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 output from the detector are obtained. Non-destructive taste characteristics of fruits and vegetables characterized by switching the processing range of each output signal of the laser light and / or adjusting the laser outputs of the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 of the laser light source to measure the taste characteristics of the fruits and vegetables. Measuring method. 2. The wavelength λ1, λ2, λ3, and λ4 of the laser light satisfy the condition of 860 nm ≦ wavelength λ1 ≦ 890 nm 900 nm ≦ wavelength λ2 ≦ 920 nm 920 nm <wavelength λ3 ≦ 960 nm 600 nm ≦ wavelength λ4 ≦ 940 nm. The method for measuring nondestructive taste characteristics of fruits and vegetables according to claim 1. 3. A fruit or vegetable is irradiated with laser beams of wavelengths .lambda.1, .lambda.2 and .lambda.3 from a single or a plurality of laser light sources outputting laser light of three wavelengths in the range of 860 nm to 960 nm and emitted from the fruit or vegetable. While measuring the light amount of each laser light to be detected by the detector, the absorbance of each laser light is obtained from an input signal corresponding to the incident light amount incident on the fruits and vegetables and an output signal corresponding to the detected light amount measured by the detector,
In the nondestructive taste characteristic measuring method for fruits and vegetables, wherein the ripeness of the fruits and vegetables is measured from each of the obtained absorbances, the ripeness of the fruits and vegetables is defined by the hardness of the pulp, and the laser light having a transmittance to the fruits and vegetables of the three wavelengths is defined. Irradiate fruits and vegetables with laser light of wavelength λ4 which is equal to or better than that of wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3
, .Lambda.3 and .lambda.4, respectively, and measuring the ripeness (hardness of the flesh) of the fruit or vegetable from each of the absorbances of the obtained four wavelengths of laser light. Destructive taste characteristic measurement method. 4. Before irradiating the laser light having the wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3, the fruit or vegetable is irradiated with the laser light having the wavelength λ4 to determine its absorbance. Based on the wavelength λ output from the detector
1, the processing range of each output signal in the laser light of λ2 and λ3 is switched and / or the wavelength λ in the laser light source is changed.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the laser output of each of the wavelengths .lambda.2 and .lambda.3 is adjusted to measure the ripeness of the fruits and vegetables (pulp hardness).
The method for measuring nondestructive taste characteristics of fruits and vegetables described in the above. 5. The laser beam according to claim 1, wherein each of the wavelengths λ1, λ2, λ3 and λ4 satisfies a condition of 860 nm ≦ wavelength λ1 ≦ 890 nm 900 nm ≦ wavelength λ2 ≦ 920 nm 920 nm <wavelength λ3 ≦ 960 nm 700 nm ≦ wavelength λ4 ≦ 930 nm. The method for measuring nondestructive taste characteristics of fruits and vegetables according to claim 3 or 4.