WO2004011932A1

WO2004011932A1 - Device for measuring the quality of slaughtered animals or food items

Info

Publication number: WO2004011932A1
Application number: PCT/AT2003/000203
Authority: WO
Inventors: Herbert Ginzinger
Original assignee: Herbert Ginzinger
Priority date: 2002-07-26
Filing date: 2003-07-21
Publication date: 2004-02-05
Also published as: AU2003243809A1; ATA11382002A; AT413606B; EP1537414A1

Abstract

Device (1), especially a measuring device (2), for measuring the quality of slaughtered animals or food items, whereby a probe (3) is exchangeably connected to a housing (4) via socket connectors (5). The housing (4) is adapted to be operated single-handedly via a grip element (6). The electronic control (7), especially the measuring electronics and the evaluation electronics, and electric female connectors (8) for connection to external components, especially a computer, is integrated into the housing (4) and the housing (4) is provided with control means (9) which is preferably configured by an LCD display and keys. A printed circuit (14) of the measuring electronics, especially for a pulse impedance spectroscopy measurement, is disposed in the housing (4) in such a manner that contact pins (16) of the probe (3) are directly contacted with a contact surface or a contact spring of the printed circuit (14) of the measuring electronics.

Description

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE QUALITY OF A SLAUGHTERED ANIMAL _{IT OR FOOD}

The invention describes a device, in particular a measuring device, for measuring the quality of a slaughtered animal or of food, as described in claim 1.

Countless different types of devices for measuring meat quality are already known.

A meat classification device is known from DE 39 25 331 C2, in which a probe is connected to a housing, the housing being designed for one-hand operation with a grip element and the electronic control, in particular the measuring electronics, being integrated in the housing. A control means, which is preferably formed by an LCD display and keys, is also arranged in the housing. The disadvantage here is that only a very limited setting of the device is possible and a subsequent “revision of the data is necessary for the precise assignment of the measurement data.

Furthermore, a device for measuring the pH in meat of slaughtered animals is known from DE 38 14 634 AI. In this case, a probe is again arranged on a housing, which is now formed by a single-rod pH electrode which is pressed into the meat of the slaughtered animal. On the opposite side of the probe, the housing has a viewing window in which the user can read the measurement result and can therefore carry out a classification. The disadvantage here is that there are no input options. are available and thus when using such a device the user must keep a handwritten list of the measurement data.

From DE 100 54 295 AI a method and a device for measuring the elasticity of meat from slaughter animals and poultry is known, in which a stop plate is arranged on a housing, through which a spring-loaded blunt test body or probe is guided. With this device, the measurement of

Meat quality based on the rigor mortis principle. The test specimen is pressed onto the surface of the slaughtered animal with a certain force, in particular muscle strength, without penetrating the meat of the slaughtered animal. The route that the

Test specimens covered due to the elasticity of the meat are determined and evaluated accordingly. Another disadvantage is that there are no setting options.

WO 91/14180 AI relates to the assessment of slaughtered goods and manhole parts by image analysis. It states that the analysis of exposed characteristics of carcase parts; ^{~ "} How fat between muscles has been used to assess the quality and quantity of meat products within the slaughterhouse.

EP 0 444 675 A discloses that a meat surface can be scanned with a light beam in order to determine its reflection properties. The analysis of the data gives information, for example, with regard to being mixed with fat. The invention has for its object to provide a device, in particular a measuring device, for measuring the quality of a slaughtered animal or food, in which the operational safety and accuracy is improved when using a pulse impedance spectroscopy measurement method.

The object of the invention is achieved by the features in the characterizing part of claim 1. The advantage here is that direct contacting of the probe on the measuring electronics eliminates the line impedances and thus the measurement result becomes very precise. This is particularly important when using a pulse impedance spectroscopy measurement method, since with such a measurement method through lines, in particular the inductances occurring through the lines, the measured values are falsified, since an evaluation of a pulse, in particular an evaluation of the deformation of the pulse, is made. Another advantage is that the arrangement of the circuit board simplifies the manufacture of the measuring device, since only very few or no line connections to the circuit board have to be made.

An embodiment according to claim 2 or 3 is advantageous because it allows the size of the circuit board for the measuring electronics to be kept very small and thus enables the circuit board to be optimally positioned.

An embodiment according to claim 4 or 5 is also advantageous, since it enables several different measurement methods to be carried out with a single measuring device and thus no longer, as is known from the prior art. knows that a separate device must be used for each measuring method.

An embodiment according to claim 6 is also advantageous, since this enables simple contacting of the contact pins of the probe directly on the measuring electronics positioned behind the plug-in socket.

An embodiment according to claim 7 is also advantageous, since this enables optimal use of the housing.

An embodiment according to claim 8 or 9 is advantageous because it enables the user to easily switch between the individual measurement methods or the user only has to replace the probe, so that another measurement method with one and the same device is used for the next measurement.

Finally, an embodiment according to claim 10 is also advantageous, since it enables two probes to be used simultaneously.

The invention is subsequently described in more detail in the form of an exemplary embodiment.

Show it:

1 shows a side view of a device according to the invention, in particular a measuring device, in a simplified, schematic representation; 2 shows a diagrammatic representation of the device according to the invention, in particular the measuring device with the measuring electronics positioned therein, in a simplified, schematic representation; In the introduction it is stated that the same parts of the individual exemplary embodiments are provided with the same reference symbols. The position information given in the individual design examples is to be transferred to the new position in the event of a change in position.

1 and 2 show a device 1, in particular measuring device 2, for measuring the quality of a slaughtered animal or of food. Basically, it should be mentioned that the measuring device 2 uses a measuring method which is part of the prior art for determining the meat quality, so that this is no longer discussed in more detail.

The pulse impedance spectroscopy measurement method is used to determine the conductivity. Many practical applications of other measuring methods are countered by the expensive measuring equipment and the long time it takes to record a conductivity spectrum.

Both disadvantages do not occur in pulse impedance spectroscopy, which has so far not been widely used. The impedance is a complex resistance. This method, which works in the time domain, uses the information from the object-dependent deformation of an applied broadband signal, e.g. a rectangular pulse in order to characterize the object electrically. With pulse impedance spectroscopy, it is thus possible to calculate the locus from a deformed rectangular pulse. For the electronic structure of the measuring method, one from the

State-of-the-art circuit arrangement used, so that this will not be discussed in more detail.

In the device 1 or the measuring device 2, a probe 3 is exchangeably connected to a housing 4 via a plug-in socket 5, the housing 4 for one-hand operation is formed with a grip element 6. The electronic control 7 is arranged in the housing 4. In addition, at least one electrical connection socket 8, in particular an interface, for connection to an external component, in particular for a computer, is arranged on the housing 4. Furthermore, the measuring device 2 has a control means 9, which is preferably formed by an LCD display and buttons, not shown. The individual components can be arranged directly on a printed circuit board or can be divided into several printed circuit boards which are connected to one another via lines 10, as indicated schematically.

In the device 1 or in the measuring device 2, the connector 5 for the probe 3 for food measurement is designed such that a plurality of different probes 3, in particular for measuring the ph value, the py value, the conductivity value, the temperature , can be used and operated. In this case, a plurality of contact elements, not shown, are arranged in the plug-in socket 5, via which a wide variety of probes 3 can be contacted. The contact elements of the plug-in socket 5 are connected via lines 11 to the controller 7, in particular measuring electronics, so that depending on the probe 3 used, a corresponding measuring method can be carried out, that is to say that different probing methods can also be carried out on the basis of the probes 3 which can be used differently, for this purpose The corresponding measuring electronics are arranged on a circuit board or on several circuit boards. When a probe 3 is exchanged for another measuring system, in particular a measurement of the ph value or the py value or the conductivity value, manual switching of the measuring electronics can take place via the control means 9, in particular a push button, or is also possible, that the measuring electronics have an automatic switchover device, so that the correct measuring electronics are activated for the probe 3 used. Furthermore, it is possible that a further connection socket 12 for a temperature probe is arranged on the housing 4, in particular in the handle element 6, which is connected to the

Measuring electronics or control is connected so that several probes 3 can be used simultaneously. The measuring device 2 is preferably designed such that only one temperature measurement is carried out via the connection socket 12.

In the measuring device 2 according to the invention, the electronic control is formed by at least one printed circuit board 14 for the measuring electronics and one printed circuit board 15 for the evaluation electronics. Of course, it is possible for several printed circuit boards 14 with the corresponding measuring electronics to be arranged for different measuring methods, which are connected to the evaluation electronics 15 and optionally to an input and / or display electronics for the control means 9. It is essential in such a measuring device 2 that the printed circuit board 14 of the measuring electronics, in particular for a pulse impedance spectroscopy measurement, is arranged in the housing 4 in such a way that connecting pins 16 of the probe 3 directly with a contact surface or a contact spring are not shown Printed circuit board 14 of the measuring electronics come into contact, ie there is no electrical line connection between the probe 3 and the measuring electronics 14, in particular the printed circuit board 14 of the measuring electronics, but the probe 3 directly with the printed circuit board 14

Measuring electronics is connected. This ensures that there are no inductive influences on the measurement result and thus there is no falsification of the measurement result. This is very important in the case of the pulse impedance spectroscopy measuring method used, since in this method the evaluation of the distortion or deformation of a pulse, in particular a rectangular im- pulses takes place, as is known from the prior art and is therefore no longer discussed in more detail on the measuring electronics 14 or the measuring method.

So that direct contacting is possible, the plug-in socket 5 has one or more through bores, not shown, through which the connection pins 16 of the probe 3 for the conductivity measurement project on the measuring principle of pulse impedance spectroscopy. The circuit board 14 of the measuring electronics is positioned in the housing such that the projecting connecting pins 16 come to rest directly on a contact surface of the circuit board 14, as a result of which the electrical connection to the measuring electronics is established. The positioning of the printed circuit board 14 can be carried out in a wide variety of ways, so that it is no longer discussed in detail. The circuit board 14 of the measuring electronics is connected via lines 17 to the control, in particular the circuit board 15 of the evaluation electronics.

In the diagram shown in FIG. 2, it was only indicated schematically that the circuit board 14 of the measurement electronics is arranged behind the plug-in socket 5 and that the connecting pins 16 of the probe 3 make direct contact with the circuit board 14, that is to say are connected to it. The electronic components on the printed circuit boards 14 and 15 have been omitted for the sake of clarity. Furthermore, only the printed circuit board 15 for the evaluation electronics and the control means 9 were also shown schematically.

Of course, it is possible that contact springs can be arranged on the printed circuit board 14 of the measuring electronics, which increases the reliability of the contacting, since this compensates for different connector pin lengths, in particular the manufacturing tolerances can. It is also possible to use other systems for direct contacting, such as, for example, a further printed circuit board which is offset by spring elements. It only has to be ensured that when the probe 3 is used, a reliable contact is made on the printed circuit board 14 without the use of lines or cables via which the measurement signal is inductively loaded. For the further probes 3 that can be used, a plurality of contact elements, not shown, are arranged in the plug-in socket 5, by means of which a wide variety of probes 3 can be contacted. It is possible that these contact elements are connected via lines to the circuit board 14 of the measuring electronics or other measuring electronics or the controller 7, or that these probes 3, in particular their connecting pins, are also contacted with the circuit board 14 of the measuring electronics. In the case of the measuring device 2, it is also possible for the different measuring methods used for the different probes 3 to have a plurality of printed circuit boards 14 with the corresponding measuring electronics, which are equipped with the evaluation electronics, in particular their printed circuit board 15, and optionally with the control means 9, in particular an input - And / or display electronics are connected.

In conclusion, it should be pointed out that in the exemplary embodiment described above, the individual parts or components or assemblies are shown schematically or in simplified form. Furthermore, individual parts of the combinations of features of the exemplary embodiment described above can also form independent solutions according to the invention. The relevant tasks and solutions according to the invention can be found in the detailed descriptions of these figures.

Claims

Claims:

1. Device, in particular measuring device, for measuring the quality of a slaughtered animal or food

5 tel, in which a probe is exchangeably connected to a housing via plug-in sockets, the housing being designed for one-hand operation with a handle element, in the housing the electronic control, in particular the measuring electronics and evaluation electronics, and electrical connections

10 end sockets for connection to external components, in particular with a computer, are integrated and a control means, which is preferably formed by an LCD display and keys, is arranged on the housing, characterized in that a printed circuit board (14)

15 measuring electronics, in particular for a pulse impedance spectroscopy measurement, is arranged in the housing (4) in such a way that connecting pins (16) of the probe (3) come into direct contact with a contact surface or a contact spring of the printed circuit board (14) of the measuring electronics.

20

2. Device, in particular measuring device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic control

(7) is formed by at least one printed circuit board (14) for the measuring electronics and one printed circuit board (15) for the evaluation.

3. Device, in particular measuring device, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for different measuring methods several printed circuit boards (14) with the corresponding

30 appropriate measuring electronics are arranged, which are connected to the evaluation electronics (15) and possibly to an input and / or display electronics.

4. Device, in particular measuring device, according to one or 35 more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug-in socket (5) for the probe (3) for Food measurement is designed such that a plurality of different probes (3) can be used, in particular for measuring the ph value, the py value, the conductivity value, and the temperature.

5. A device, in particular a measuring device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of contact elements are arranged in the plug-in socket (5), by means of which a wide variety of probes (3) can be contacted.

6. Device, in particular measuring device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Ansteckbuch.se (5) has a continuous bore through which the connecting pins (16) of the probe (3) for the conductivity measurement on the measuring principle protrude through impulse impedance spectroscopy.

7. The device, in particular the measuring device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the further contact elements of the plug-in socket (5) are connected to the measuring electronics via lines (11) - si-nd-. -

8. The device, in particular the measuring device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that when a probe (3) is exchanged for another measuring system, in particular a measurement of the ph value or the py value or the conductivity value, via one Control means (9), in particular a button, manual switching of the measuring electronics takes place or the measuring electronics performs an automatic switchover.

9. Device, in particular measuring device, according to one or Several of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of probes (3), in particular a probe (3) for pH value measurement or conductivity measurement or py value measurement, and a probe for temperature measurement 5 can be operated simultaneously.

10. The device, in particular measuring device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further connection socket for a temperature probe is arranged on the housing (4), in particular in the handle element (6), which is connected via lines ( 13) is connected to the measuring electronics.

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