JPS63241338A - Rice taste measuring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a measured taste value accurately, by analyzing a component affecting taste of rice based on the quantity of reflected and transmission light from a sample when irradiated with near infrared rays to add a taste decision factor to the results. CONSTITUTION:Rice is crushed into fine particles passing through rollers 20-23 and a sample in a sample container 33 is irradiated with near infrared rays from a reflection mirror 5 after irradiation light from a light source 4 passes through a filter 6. The quantity of transmission light is detected with a quantity of transmission light detector 9C which the quantity of light reflected on an integrating sphere 7 from the sample is detected with quantity of reflected light detectors 9A and 9B and detection values thereof are fed to a controller 59. At the same time, the filter 6 is turned sequentially with the operation of a motor 10 to obtain characteristic of a near infrared ray wavelength area in a wavelength range of 1,200nm-2,400nm. The temperature of a sample within a sample container 33 is detected with a temperature detector 65 to be fed to the controller 59. An arithmetic unit 60 of the controller 59 determines content of magnesium or potassium as main component affecting taste of rice from the detection values to compute a measured taste value from a component analysis factor, a temperature correction value and a taste decision factor.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field This application measures the content of the main components that affect the taste of rice, and calculates the measured value and the taste determination coefficient value.
This invention relates to a device for displaying rice taste measurement values.

Conventional technology and its problems The taste of rice depends on the selection of variety, production area, and cultivation method.

There are a wide variety of factors, including those determined at the production stage such as the harvesting method, those determined at the post-harvest processing stage such as drying, storage, and rice milling, and those affected during the rice cooking process. , the production stage is the most affected, followed by the processing stage.

Generally speaking, according to Japanese people's sense of taste when it comes to rice, it needs to have appropriate hardness, stickiness, elasticity, and adhesion, and the brands that are popular among prisoners as having good taste are: The main factors that make Koshihikari and Sasanishiki taste so good are that they contain more magnesium, which is thought to be involved in the bonding of starch molecules, than other common brands of rice, and that they have a lower potassium content. Less is more. Of course, the same brand does not necessarily have the same content of each component, and may vary depending on the conditions of the region where it was grown (soil quality, water quality) and weather conditions (temperature, hours of sunlight per day, rainfall, etc.). Since the content of ingredients changes, even if the taste rating of the previous year was high, there is no guarantee that the taste of the rice harvested this year will be the same as the previous year, as it will be affected by the weather conditions mentioned above. Therefore, relying on taste data from past surveys to determine rice purchasing or blending cannot necessarily be considered rational rice management.

Therefore, rather than focusing only on specific famous brands, we chemically analyze the ingredients of rice to determine its taste, find high-quality rice from general brands, and find ways to improve the taste of rice that ranks low in taste evaluation. The theme of how to improve is born. Normally, it is difficult for rice milling factories to secure only a single brand of rice, and the rice is milled by blending several brands of rice, with a moderate mix of rice ranked high and low ranked in taste evaluation. Polished rice with a stable taste is on the market, but the reality is that the processing of this type of rice relies on intuition based on the combination of brand and production area, and because there is no chemical evidence to support it, the taste may vary. The situation was not uniform, and complaints were frequently raised by consumers.

Conventionally, methods for determining the taste of cooked rice include the sensory test method, in which the taste is evaluated by actually eating the rice, or the method of determining viscosity and hardness through physicochemical measurements. There are meters etc. However, both methods require considerable skill in measurement, have large variations, and have problems in that measurement takes a long time.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention measures the content of the main components that affect the taste of rice, sets a taste determination coefficient value for the component separately based on experimental values, and compares the measured value of the component with the taste determination coefficient value. It calculates numerical values and evaluates the taste of rice based on the calculated values.The measured values can be used to economically mix several varieties of rice to stabilize the taste, or to manage rice purchasing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a rice taste measuring device that can accurately measure the taste of rice for use in applications such as the following.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a method for determining the amount of reflected light or the amount of transmitted light, or the amount of reflected light and the amount of transmitted light obtained by irradiating a sample with near-infrared rays that have passed through a filter of the irradiated light from a light source. A light-receiving element is provided to detect the content of magnesium or potassium, or the content of each of magnesium and potassium, which is a part of the components of rice depending on the combination, and the light-receiving element is equipped with a signal processing device, a storage device, an arithmetic device, etc. A conversion coefficient value is electrically connected to a control device and is used to convert the detected value of the light receiving element into a measured value of each of the magnesium or potassium contents, and the taste is determined from the first measurement of the magnesium or potassium content. A specific coefficient value for determining taste or a specific coefficient value for determining taste from a combination of the respective content measurement values is set in the storage device, and the content measurement value for each of the magnesium or potassium content or the respective content measurement value is A display device that displays the taste value calculated by calculating the combination of the measured content values and the specific coefficient value is electrically connected to the control device, thereby providing a means for solving the problem.

Effect: Fill a sample container with the rice sample whose taste is to be measured and install it in the measuring section. A detection signal from the preceding detector that detects the amount of reflected light, the amount of transmitted light, or both obtained from a sample irradiated with near-infrared light from a light source through a filter is communicated to a control device. In the control device,
A component analysis value is calculated by calculating a preset component analysis coefficient value and the detected value, and a taste measurement value is further calculated by calculating a taste determination coefficient value and component analysis property set in the control device. Ru. The higher the displayed numerical value of the calculated taste measurement value, the better the taste is evaluated.

Example Embodiments of the present application will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

(See Figures 1 and 2)
A light source 4 and a reflecting mirror 5 are arranged in relation to each other on the upper part of the analyzer 3, and a plurality of filters 6 for specific wavelengths are provided on the control surface of the polygonal reflecting mirror 5. 5, filters 6 are connected to an electric motor 10 and are pivoted to rotate and tilt freely, and a window 8 is provided at the top of the integrating sphere 7 to take in near-infrared rays of a specific wavelength. Reflected light quantity detectors 9A and 9B are provided at symmetrical positions inside the lower part of the integrating sphere 7, the bottom of the integrating sphere 7 is opened to form a measuring section 11, a transparent plate 12 is provided in the measuring section 11, and a transmission target is provided below. Group detector 9
c is arranged. A sample supply device 13 is disposed on the side of the near-infrared component analyzer 3 inside the cabinet 2 . The sample supply device 13 opens the upper wall-side part 14 of the cabinet 2, attaches the supply hopper 15, provides a slidable shutter 17 for opening and closing the opening 16 of the hopper 15, and connects an electromagnet 18 to the shutter 17. A level meter 19 is attached to the side wall. A pair of rollers 20.21 having a large number of sharp protrusions are rotatably mounted on the lower part of the hopper 15, and a pair of fine powder rollers 22.23 with smooth surfaces are mounted below the rollers 20.21 to rotate oppositely. Cleaning devices 25A to 25D are freely mounted on the shaft and are provided facing the rollers 20, 21, 22, 23 inside the grinding chamber 24 and consisting of an injection nozzle equipped with an electromagnetic valve and an elastic material in contact with the rollers. .

A pulverized particle sorting device 26 is disposed in the lower part of the pulverizing chamber 24, and the sorting device 26 supports a vibrating frame 28 with a coarse particle discharge port 27 fixedly installed on the negative side by a plate spring 29, and vibrates. A perforated wall plate 30 is removably provided on the frame 28, and an electromagnet 32 is fixedly provided adjacent to a side surface 31 of the vibrating frame 28.

Sample container 33 filled with crushed samples below the sorting device 26
will be established. The sample container 33 has a bottom wall made of a transparent material (see FIGS. 1 and 3), and can be freely inserted into and removed from a guide groove 36 provided in a container holder 35 mounted on a sample container moving body 34. As a moving mechanism for the sample container 33, a sample container moving body 34 with a rack 37 fixed to the negative side is used as a hollow shaft, and an orbital shaft 38 having a round cross section is inserted into the moving body 34, and one side of the orbital shaft 38 39
The other side 41 is mounted on a rotating handle 40 and the other side 41 is mounted on a bearing stand 42, a fulcrum stand 44 is attached to a support stand 43 fixed to the bottom wall of the cabinet 2, and a motor 45 is attached to the rack 37 of the sample container moving body 34. A gear 46 is attached to the shaft, and one motor 47
The end of the motor 45 attached to the sample container moving body 3
4, and an electromagnet 48, which extends and retracts, is rotatably connected to one motor 47 and a fulcrum 44. 49 is a rotating roller serving as a sample filling device for compressing and filling the crushed sample on the sample container 33 and removing the sent sample; 50 is a filling part position for setting the position of the sample container 33 in the filling part; A sensor 51 is a measuring part position sensor for setting the position of the sample container 33 in the measuring part,
The sensor 51 and the transmitted light amount detector 9C are each mounted on a support rod fixed to the motor 45. 63 is an electric motor that rotationally drives the rollers 20, 21, 22, 23 and the rotating roller 49. Reference numeral 52 denotes an injection nozzle for removing the sample from the inside of the sample container 33 with a blast of air and cleaning it, 53 a receiving box for receiving an unnecessary sample, and 54 A G for the sample container moving body 34 for cleaning by bringing it into contact with and separating from the transparent plate 12. This is a fixed cleaning device, and 54B is a cleaning device that cleans the surface of the transmitted light m detector 9C. A thermistor for detecting the sample temperature is embedded in the side wall of the concave portion of the sample container 33, and a temperature detector 65 is installed.
and connect the terminal 66 connected to the temperature detector 65 to the sample container 3.
A crimp portion 67 for a terminal 66 of a temperature sensor 65 is provided on the outside of the integrating sphere 7 and protrudes from the outer wall of the integrating sphere 7.
7 is electrically connected to a control device 59 which will be described later.

At the front of the cabinet 2, there is a display device 55. made up of displays 55A to 55D. Operation buttons 56...1 are provided with a manual operation button 56A, an automatic operation button 56B, a transmission tip measurement selection button 56C, and a reflection/transmission combination selection button 56D.

58 is a printer, and 59 is a control device, which stores the component analysis coefficient value 1 which calculates the analysis value of magnesium and potassium, which affect the taste of rice, the taste judgment coefficient value, temperature correction value, rice price by brand, etc. A device 61, an arithmetic device 6o,
It is equipped with a signal processing device 62 and the like. In Figure 4, 5
Reference numeral 7 denotes an external sample supply section provided at the front opening of the cabinet 2.

Next, the configuration of the control device 59 will be explained with reference to FIG. Arithmetic device 60. Storage device 61. On the input side of the control device 59, which includes a signal processing device 62, etc., there is a reflected light amount detector 9A.
, 9B, transmitted light amount detector 9C, level meter 192 position sensor 50° 51, automatic operation button 56B1 reflection/transmission combination selection button 56D, temperature detector 65. keyboard 64
are connected to each other, and a display device 55. is connected to the output side of the control device 59. A printer 58 is connected, and a light source 4. Electric motor 10, 63. Electromagnet 18.32.48. motor 45
．． Each of the cleaning devices 25A to 25D and the injection nozzle 52 is connected to a control device 59 via a drive device 68 to 76, respectively.
It is connected to the output side of.

In addition, a component analysis coefficient value is set in a control device attached to the near-infrared component analyzer 3, and a component analysis value that affects the taste of rice is calculated, and a rice taste determination coefficient value is set in a separately provided control device. In some cases, both control devices are connected to calculate and display the taste measurement value of the rice.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained below using FIGS. 1 to 5 and the operation flow diagram of FIG. 6.

A device that controls the component analysis coefficient value (2) which calculates each of the main components (magnesium and potassium) that affect the taste of rice into component analysis values from the keyboard 64, the taste judgment coefficient value (2), the temperature correction value, and the rice price road by rice brand (2) grade. 59 storage devices 61
(Step S+).

Next, when the selection button 56D for combined measurement of reflected and transmitted light and the automatic operation button 56B are pressed, the near-infrared component analyzer 3 is energized and the light source 4 is ONL.
At the same time, the timer T1 is activated (step S3), the electric motor 63 is turned on, and the T low 5-20, 21, 2
2° 23 and rotating roller 49 (
Step S4), then the electromagnet 32 is energized to vibrate the vibration frame 28 (step Ss). Sample container 33
When the filling part position sensor 50 detects that the sample is located at the sample filling position (step S6), it is next determined whether the sample is being supplied to the supply hopper 15 and whether the preheating time of the near-infrared component analyzer 3 has been determined. The control device 59 checks whether the time has elapsed, the level meter 19 detects the presence of the sample, and by inputting a signal indicating that the predetermined time set by the timer T1 has elapsed (step Sy, a), ? The magnet 18 is turned on and the shutter 17 is opened to allow the sample to flow out (step S9). The fine powder rollers 22 and 23 roughen the pulverized sample by passing between the rollers 20 and 21.
The pulverized sample flows down onto the vibrating porous wall plate 30 and undergoes a particle sorting action (step 8+1>. The particles passing through the holes in the porous wall plate 3o flows down onto the sample container 33, and the sample container 3
3, the excess sample flows down into the receiving box 53, and the coarse particles remaining on the porous wall plate 30 are discharged through the coarse particle outlet 27.
It flows out to the receiving box 53 via (step 512).

In response to a signal from the level meter 19 that detects that the sample supplied into the supply hopper 15 has been completely discharged (step S 13 ), the motor 45 is activated to move the sample container moving body 34 . During the moving process, the rotating roller 49 compresses and fills the sample that has risen in the sample container 33 into the sample container 33, and the upper surface is made flat to allow excess sample to flow out into the receiving box 53. When the measuring part position sensor 51 detects that the measuring part position sensor 51 has reached a predetermined position below the motor 45, the operation of the motor 45 is stopped (step 514), and the near-infrared component analyzer 3 starts measurement in response to the stop signal.

First, near infrared rays are irradiated from the reflector 5 from the light source 4 through the filter 6 onto the sample in the sample container 33, and the detection signal of the transmitted light amount detector 9C which detects the amount of transmitted light transmitted through the sample is controlled. The amount of reflected light reflected from the sample to the integrating sphere 7 is detected by the reflected light amount detectors 9A and 9B, and the detected value is communicated to the control device 59 (step S15.16). Each detector 9A, 9B.

When the detection signal of 9C is communicated, the electric motor 10 is activated to rotate the filters 6 sequentially, and the wavelength is 1200 nm.
, ~2400 nm, the amount of transmitted light and the amount of reflected light obtained from the characteristics of each near-infrared wavelength region of the filter are detected and communicated to the control device 59 (step ST
7. +8). Note that the filters 6... are each provided with a tolerance range of ±10 nllll in the above-mentioned near-infrared wavelength range. It is checked whether the detection by each filter 6 has been completed, and if it is not a predetermined number of times, detection is continued until the predetermined number of times is reached (step 519).

Next, the temperature of the sample inside the sample container 33 is detected by the temperature detector 65, and the detected value is communicated to the control device 59 via the terminal 66 and the crimping part 67 (steps 820 and 521), and the input of the detection signal is completed. Accordingly, the motor 45 and the cleaning device 2
5A to 25D, and the cleaning devices 25A to 25D clean the peripheral surfaces of the respective rollers 20.21, 22.23 by jetting high pressure air (step 522), and the motor 4
5, the sample container moving body 33 is moved toward the crushing chamber 24, and when the filling part position sensor 50 detects that the sample container 33 has reached a predetermined position, the operation of the motor 45 is stopped (step 5Z3). During the movement process of the sample container moving body 34, the cleaning device 54 touches the transparent plate 12 at the bottom of the measuring section 11.
Clean. Step S24. The operation of the cleaning devices 25A to 25D is stopped when the predetermined time of the timer T2 has elapsed.
25), the operation of the electromagnet 18 is stopped and the supply hopper 15
shutter 17 is closed (step 528). When the sample container 33 reaches a predetermined position in the filling section, the electromagnet 48 is activated to rotate the sample container moving body 34 together with the motor 45 by 90° about the orbital axis 38. At this time, the cleaner 5
4B contacts and cleans the transmitted light amount detector 9C (step 577). The injection nozzle 52 injects high-pressure air into the sample container 33 to remove the sample and clean the sample container 33 (step 528). After the injection nozzle 52 operates for a certain period of time, the operation of the injection nozzle is stopped in step S29.
．． II) The electromagnet 48 is stopped and the sample container moving body 34 is returned to its normal position in preparation for the next sample measurement (step 531). Based on the detected values of the transmitted light quenching detector 9G, reflected light amount detectors 9A and 9B, and the temperature detected value of the temperature detector 65, which are connected to the arithmetic unit 60 of the control device 59, the main components that affect the taste of rice are detected. For each of magnesium or potassium, the respective component analysis coefficient values input into the storage device 61, temperature correction values, and taste judgment coefficients are calculated, and the taste measurement values based on the calculated various components are as follows.
The component analysis values and taste measurement values are digitally displayed on the displays 55A to 55D on the front of the cabinet 2, and are automatically printed out by the printer 58 (steps 332 to 534).

It should be noted that after multiple sample measurements, the measured values of each rice taste measurement for an arbitrary taste and combination of rice grains are stored in the storage device 61, so the keyboard 64
By inputting a signal to the control device 59 from the control unit 59, it is possible to know the most economical ratio of the rice grains to be mixed.

Further, when the manual operation button 56A is turned on, the electric 1filO is operated by the operation push button 56, and the reflector 5.
The filters 6... can be rotated arbitrarily, and the electrolytic force 63 can be activated to crush the sample. When performing measurement by filling the sample container 33 with a sample from the outside, push the rotating handle 40 toward the measurement section 11, pull out the sample container 33 from the external supply section 57, and fill the sample container with the sample. After pressurizing the upper surface to a flat surface, the sample container 33
Insert the sample container 3 into the guide groove 36' of the container holder 35.
3 is installed in the measuring section 11 to perform measurements.

In order to accurately obtain measured values for each component for taste evaluation, it is necessary to crush the sample to be filled into the sample container into small particles, and the particles should be 500 microns or less, but 131
If the separately selected coarse particles are excluded, the measurement will be partial and will lead to measurement errors, so it is desirable to repeat the crushing action twice. The table below shows the true value of each component as 10
This shows the size of the particles obtained by crushing the sample and the accuracy of the measured value when the sample is set to 0%.

Relationship between particle size and measurement accuracy + The number with a decimal point in 1 Because of the difference in taste, the measurement accuracy is ±
If it is other than 0.5, the accuracy of taste judgment will be lacking. Therefore, the holes in the porous wall plate 30 used in the pulverized grain sorting device 26 must be made so that they produce particles of 500 microns or less. Furthermore, when a sample is crushed outside the taste measuring device 1 and the sample is supplied from the external supply section 57 to the measuring section 11 for measurement, the crushed particles are similarly sorted through a sieve and only particles of 500 microns or less are sampled. Filling the container 33 ensures measurement accuracy.

In the above description, for convenience of explanation, the transmitted light D detector 9C
However, when measuring a specific component, component analysis is performed using only the reflected light amount detectors 9A, 9B or the transmitted light detector 9C. This is to obtain the taste measurement value. Further, it goes without saying that the detected value of magnesium or potassium does not necessarily require 100% purity, and may be measured by supplementarily adding other components other than magnesium and potassium. In addition, a temperature detector may be installed inside or outside the cabinet to detect the air temperature, and as shown in FIG. Near-infrared rays may also be emitted. Furthermore, when the sample is irradiated with the near-infrared rays of the irradiated light from the light source, which have passed through a set of filters with different spectral characteristics that are replaceably mounted on a movable support. Furthermore, a filter may be used in which the angle at which any single filter intersects the irradiation light from the light source is variable according to the movement of the support.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the present invention, the components that influence the taste of rice are analyzed by detecting the amount of reflected or transmitted light obtained by irradiating a sample with near-infrared rays, or the amount of transmitted light, or both. Since the taste determination coefficient value determined in advance from experimental values is added to the analytical value, and the taste measurement value is calculated by the calculation, it is no longer possible to perform sensory tests and chemical analyzes that were conventionally performed by some experts. In contrast to the cumbersome measurements required by the law, the measured values are accurate and anyone can easily and quickly measure the taste of rice. Next process work can be streamlined.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 8 are illustrations of embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a front sectional view of the taste measuring device, Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the main parts, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the main parts, Fig. 4 is a front view of the device, and Fig. 5 is the configuration of the control device. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the operation flow of the control device, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the temperature correction value for correcting the measured value of amylose, and FIG. 8 is the reverse! lFI
FIG. 2 is an example diagram in which a sample is directly irradiated from a light source through a filter without providing a mirror. 1...Taste measuring device, 2...Cabinet, 3...
- Near-infrared component analyzer, 4... Light source, 5... Reflector, 6... Filter, 7... Integrating sphere, 8... Window, 9△. 9B... Reflected light amount detector, 9C... Transmitted light quasi-detector, 10... Electric motor, 11... Measuring section, 12... Transparent plate, 13... Sample supply device, 14...・-side, 1
5... Supply hopper, 16... Opening, 17...
Shutter, 18...electromagnet, 19...level meter,
20.21... Roller, 22.23... Fine powder roller, 24... Grinding chamber, 25A to 25D... Cleaning device, 26... Sorting device, 27... Coarse particle discharge port ,
28... Vibration frame, 29... Leaf spring, 30...
・Porous wall plate, 31...Side surface, 32...Electromagnet, 33
...Sample container, 34...Sample container moving body, 35...
・Container holder, 36... Guide groove, 37... Rack, 3
8... Orbital shaft, 3...-side part, 40... Rotation handle, 41... Other side part, 42... Bearing stand, 43
... pedestal, 44... fulcrum, 45... motor,
46... Gear, 47... One motor, 48... Electromagnet, 4... Rotating rollers, 50... Filling part position sensor, 51... Measuring part position sensor, 52...
Spray nozzle, 53... Receiving box, 54.54B... Cleaner, 55... Display device, 55A to 55D... Display device, 56... Operation push button, 56A... Manual operation button, 56B... automatic operation button, 56C... transmitted light amount measurement selection button, 56D... reflection/transmission combination selection button, 57... external supply section, 58... printer, 59... control Device, 60... Arithmetic device, 61...
-Storage device, 62...Signal processing device, 63...N motive, 64...Keyboard, 65...Temperature detector, 6
6... Terminal, 67... Crimp part, 68-76... Drive device.

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) Magnesium or potassium, which is part of the components of rice, is determined by the amount of reflected light, the amount of transmitted light, or the combination of the amount of reflected light and transmitted light obtained by irradiating the sample with near-infrared rays that have passed through the filter of the irradiated light from the light source. A light-receiving element is provided to detect the content of magnesium and potassium, and the light-receiving element is electrically connected to a control device equipped with a signal processing device, a storage device, an arithmetic device, etc.,
and a conversion coefficient value for converting the detected value of the light-receiving element into a measured content value of each of the magnesium or potassium, and a specific coefficient value for determining taste from the measured content value of the magnesium or potassium, or each of the above. A specific coefficient value for determining taste from a combination of measured content values of magnesium or potassium is set in the storage device, or a combination of the measured content values of each of the magnesium or potassium content and the specific coefficient value are set in the storage device. A rice taste measuring device characterized in that a display device that displays a taste value calculated by calculating a numerical value is electrically connected to the control device. (2) The rice taste measuring device according to claim (1), wherein the combination of the respective measured content values of magnesium and potassium is a ratio of the respective content measured values. (3), the filter is 1200nm to 2400nm
A plurality of types of filters each having different wavelengths in the wavelength range are provided, and the filters are sequentially arranged according to type so that the same sample is irradiated with near-infrared rays that are transmitted through the filters individually by the irradiation light from the light source. A rice taste measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, which is replaceably installed. (4), the filter has a wavelength of 1200nm to 2400nm
The near-infrared rays that the irradiated light from the light source passes through filters of multiple types of wavelengths in the remaining wavelength range excluding the wavelength range where the absorption rate is particularly remarkable for the moisture content of rice are the same. The rice taste measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the filters are installed so as to be replaceable in sequence according to type so as to irradiate the sample. (5) Claims (1) to (4) in which the allowable range of each wavelength of the plurality of types of filters is ±10 nm.
The rice taste measuring device according to any one of paragraphs. (6) Claim No. 1 in which the measurement is performed after the sample is ground into powder with particles of 500 microns or less.
The rice taste measuring device according to any one of items ) to item (5).