APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE QUALITY OF MEAT.

摘要

The apparatus is a puncturing gun comprising a lancet-shaped probe (12) with a head (18) for measuring the light reflectiveness of the layers it penetrates. The probe (12) is rigidly connected to the apparatus's housing (10); a depth reference piston (20) is mounted on two parallel rod holders (22-24) that are integral with a carriage (76) slidingly mounted on the rod (16) of the probe (12) within the housing (10). The carriage (76) rotates, by means of a belt (78), a torque motor (94) and a rotation optical sensor. The torque motor current is related to a reference value. The measuring head (18) and the rotation sensor are of a high resolution type. Electronic circuitry mounted on boards (97-99) combines the unprocessed signals so supplied in order to calculate the muscle percentage of a carcass assigned a number reference. Application in the automized measurement of meat quality in industrial abattoirs.