Method and apparatus for determination of a quality property of a piece of meat
US6118542A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 8, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 8, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/359
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for determination of a quality property of a piece of meat. A light reflection measurement probe is inserted into a muscle of the piece of meat, while the muscle is undergoing the conversion process from living tissue in a newly slaughtered animal to cooled edible meat. The light reflectivity of the muscle is measured by means of a probe in several, different wavelengths or wavelength bands. The probe remains in the muscle for a period of time after this measurement series, while the conversion process in the muscle is proceeding. The light reflectivity of the muscle is measured again in the same wavelengths. The measurement data, possibly after processing, are inserted in an algorithm which expresses the quality property on the basis of changes between the data of the measurement series, and the quality property is automatically calculated in a calculation unit. The probe is removed from the muscle. By means of the present method it has proved possible to predict drip loss in loin muscles within 45 minutes after bleeding of the carcass.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.