The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 22, 2016
Filed:
Nov. 18, 2014
Charles L. Mohr, Richland, WA (US);
Brandt Mohr, Richland, WA (US);
Anthony Cottam, Richland, WA (US);
Kevin D. Dawes, Richland, WA (US);
Preston May, Richland, WA (US);
Christopher M. Mulkey, West Richland, WA (US);
Duan D. Nguyen, Pasco, WA (US);
Marc D. Pirello, Kennewick, WA (US);
Michael D. Stordahl, Kennewick, WA (US);
James M. Van Corbach, Jr., Sunnyside, WA (US);
Erik Von Reis, Kennewick, WA (US);
Charles L. Mohr, Richland, WA (US);
Brandt Mohr, Richland, WA (US);
Anthony Cottam, Richland, WA (US);
Kevin D. Dawes, Richland, WA (US);
Preston May, Richland, WA (US);
Christopher M. Mulkey, West Richland, WA (US);
Duan D. Nguyen, Pasco, WA (US);
Marc D. Pirello, Kennewick, WA (US);
Michael D. Stordahl, Kennewick, WA (US);
James M. Van Corbach, Jr., Sunnyside, WA (US);
Erik Von Reis, Kennewick, WA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An improved fruit tester and method provides a plunger intrusion-type mechanism, a precision scale and an associated computer for control of the mechanism and for recordation, presentation and analysis of data sensed by the mechanism. An electrically powered variable speed motor carries an optical encoder to sense rotary direction and speed data, which is transmitted through circuitry to an associated computer for analysis to determine control data to maintain pre-programmed motor function. Computer software determines plunger position and resultant penetration into a fruit at either pre-determined plunger speed or constant plunger resistive pressure in fine increments over the plunger trajectory and stores this data in computer memory. The precision scale is used to determine the weight of the fruit before and after the penetration tests and the difference in weight is used to automatically calculate the Specific juice Content (SJC) of the fruit.