The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

Richard G Leffler

Stuart O Nelson

Kurt C Lawrence

Gerald G Dull

Venkatrkrishna S Kandala

Gerald S Birth

A method for the nondestructive measurement of the moisture content of single grain kernels, seeds, nuts, or fruits which is independent of their weight, thickness, and projected area. At least two independent parameters of complex electrical impedance or admittance of a single grain kernel, seed, nut, or fruit are measured at two different frequencies and the moisture content is calculated therefrom.

Single kernel, seed, nut, or fruit dielectric moisture content

The instant invention is drawn to efficient and nondestructive measurement of soluble solids in fruits having a rind or skin, utilizing: infrared radiation source means for providing a beam or near infrared radiation of sufficient intensity to penetrate the fruit, intensity measurement means for measuring the intensity of radiation exiting the fruit, correlating means for correlating the measurements of intensities of the exiting radiation: wherein the near infrared radiation source means and the intensity measurement means are positioned such that when a fruit is positioned within the device, the distance measured along the rind or skin of the fruit between (1) where the center of the beam intersects the rind/skin, and (2) a point on the rind/skin where the center of the field of detection intersects the rind/skin is at least about 8 cm.

Growing community of inventors

Athens, GA, United States of America

Richard G Leffler