Abstract:
A method for analyzing a sample, the method comprising the steps of providing a spectral data representation (1) of the sample, where the spectral data representation is in the form an image representation of spectral data obtained from the sample, providing a data processing device (2) and a learning data architecture (3), making (200) the spectral data representation (1) available to the data processing device (2), and analyzing (300, 500, 800), by means of the learning data architecture (3) and the data processing device (2), the spectral data representation (1) made available to the data processing device (2) to determine one or more physicochemical properties of the sample.
Abstract:
Provided is a system for and a method of forming a batch (4) of a meat product. Portions of meat product from a plurality of sources (6a,b,c) having different fat contents are measured in a fat analyser (12) and by a weighing device (14) and the results of the measurements presented to a computing device (16) which is configured to construct a 'virtual' sub-batch having a target weight less than the predetermined weight and a target fat content. The computing device (16) is arranged to determine a current sub-batch fat content and to generate and output control information dependent on the determination use in regulating the supply of meat product onto the conveyor (8) upstream of the fat analyser (12) so as to achieve the target fat content.
Abstract:
An analysis instrument (2) comprises a sample receiving section (4) for receiving a number of samples provided by each of a number of users; an analysis section (6) having an analysis modality operable to receive an aliquot of each of the number of received samples, to perform an analysis of each of the received aliquots and to generate an output dependent on the performed analysis; a presentation section (8) adapted to receive the output from the analysis section (6) and to present the output in a human discernable format; and an identification section (10) adapted to autonomously generate an identifier unique to each one of the number of users and each one of the number of samples provided thereby consisting of one or more of (i) one or more graphic symbols; (ii) one or more colours and (iii) one or more numbers and to supply the identifier for presentation by the presentation section (8) in a human discernable format together with a portion of the output generated by the analysis section (6) corresponding with the samples provided by a user to which the identifier is unique.
Abstract:
An optical analyzer (2) comprising an enclosure (4) formed with a peripheral wall (4a,b,c,d) arranged to delimit an internal space (6); a spectrometer (8) located in the internal space (6); and a dehumidifier (30); wherein the dehumidifier (30) comprises a Peltier effect device (32,38) having a cooling surface (44) and a warming surface (40), the Peltier effect device (32,38) being mounted with the cooling surface (44) located in thermal communication with a gas in the internal space (6); the dehumidifier (30) further comprising a wicking element (42) extending between internal and external of the internal space (6) and having a first portion (42a) contacted with the cooling surface (44).
Abstract:
A non-intrusive method for determining an indication of wholesomeness of an unopened item of packaged aliment comprising the steps of illuminating an unopened item of packaged aliment with electromagnetic energy at a plurality of different wavelengths through a suitably transparent region of the packaging so as to interact with the packaged aliment; obtaining spectral information regarding the interaction of the plurality of different wavelengths with the packaged aliment as subsequent spectral information; interrogating the packaging to access original spectral information regarding a previous interaction of the plurality of wavelengths with the same unopened item of packaged aliment and associated with the packaging; comparing some or all of the subsequent spectral information with some or all of the original spectral information to obtain a measure of their spectral deviation; and determining an indication of wholesomeness of the unopened item of packaged aliment in dependence of the obtained measure of spectral deviation.
Abstract:
A method of determining a constituent related sample property of a multi-constituent sample comprising: subjecting the sample to a perturbation selected to induce a time dependent change in measurement data associated with a constituent related to the sample property to be determined; recording a time-series of measurement data following subjecting the sample to the perturbation; and determining the sample property from the application to the recorded time-series of measurement data of a calibration correlating the sample property with time-series of measurement data, said calibration being empirically derived from chemometric time-series modelling of time-series measurement data recorded for each of a plurality of reference samples following subjecting each reference sample to the perturbation, each reference sample having a different known values of the sample property.
Abstract:
An optical spectrometer (102) comprises an adjustable sampling space (104) having two generally opposing, relatively movable, side-walls (106,108) which are here substantially formed of optically translucent material and between which in use a sample for analysis is charged and an actuator (116) mechanically coupled, here via a worm drive (118), to one or both of the opposing side-walls (108) and operable in response to a command signal applied thereto to effect their relative movement. The spectrometer (102) further comprises an optical position sensor (110,112,114) adapted to detect interference fringes generated by optical energy traversing the distance between the side-walls (106,108) a plurality of times and to generate the command signal in dependence thereof and preferably also adapted to generate an output indexing intensity against an indication of wavelength usable in the spectrometric analysis of a sample material within the sampling space (104).
Abstract:
A sample container system (2) for use in a method for determining dietary fiber comprises a sample container (4) having a floor (8) and a rigid side-wall (10) upstanding therefrom to together delimit a sample containing space 6; a porous filter (14) forms at least a portion of the floor (8); and an integral magnetic mixer (16) having a concentrically arranged rotor (18) - stator (20) spaced apart to define an annular shear gap (22) therebetween and the rotor (18) being provided with a magnetic coupling (32).
Abstract:
A sample container (2) for use in a method for determining dietary fiber comprises a chamber (4) having a first end (6); an opposing second end (8); a rigid, non-porous side-wall (10) connecting the first end (6) to the second end (8); and a porous filter (12) located at the second end (8) through which liquid from the chamber (4) may be passed. An integral stirrer (14) is located within the chamber (4).
Abstract:
A LIBS analyzer (2) comprises a focusing lens arrangement (6); a laser (8) for propagating a laser beam (L) through the focusing lens arrangement (6) to be focused at its focal plane (F); a detector (10) for generating optical intensity data; a translation mechanism (22) for varying a location of the focal plane (F); and a controller (14) for automatically controlling the translation mechanism (22) to achieve an optimum position where the focal plane (F) and an upper surface (18) of a sample (20) are coincident, as calculated by the controller (14) from an application of a mathematical transform, correlating optical intensity with optimum position, to optical intensity data from plasma created by the laser beam (L).