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US3916670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Analysis of comminuted meat products
Assignee: Hobart Corp
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Filing: 1973-10-18
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1993-10-18
Abstract
Abstract Rapid, accurate and almost automatic determination of fat in comminuted meat products, such as beef and the like, is obtained by exposing a preweighed sample to microwave energy for a period of time sufficient to achieve a relatively constant chemical analysis in the residue. During heating, a substantial portion of the fat is melted, leaves the sample and is collected, while a substantial portion of the moisture is vaporized and released directly as vapor. The sample, its residue after heating, less released fat and moisture, and the collected fat are all weighed and the weight is recorded. By cooking the sample using microwave energy to the point short of decomposition of appreciable protein, fat, etc., some fat, moisture and protein remain in the residue. Accurate determination of these components is then calculated automatically because the residue is at a constant chemical analysis relative to the original composition which is directly related to the amount of fat and moisture rendered from the sample.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth E Davis
- 👤 William M Watson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:22
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N5/00; G01N5/04; G01N33/00; G01N33/02; G01N33/12; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for controlling the duration of dielectric heating energy applied to a sample of food material containing components which are heat releasable in both vapor and liquid form to obtain uniForm repeatable processing of said sample, said method comprising the steps of: locating said sample on the platform of a weighing scale during the application of heating energy, collecting the components rendered as liquid separately from the sample, monitoring the weight of said sample during the application of heating energy at least from the time said sample begins to lose weight, due to release of vaporized components, terminating the application of heating energy to said sample when the rate of change of weight of said sample decreases to a predetermined percentage per unit time of the original weight thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for controlling the duration of dielectric heating energy applied to a sample of food material containing components which are heat releasable in both vapor and liquid form to obtain uniForm repeatable processing of said sample, said method comprising the steps of: locating said sample on the platform of a weighing scale during the application of heating energy, collecting the components rendered as liquid separately from the sample, monitoring the weight of said sample during the application of heating energy at least from the time said sample begins to lose weight, due to release of vaporized components, terminating the application of heating energy to said sample when the rate of change of weight of said sample decreases to a predetermined percentage per unit time of the original weight thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of selecting said sample to have a predetermined weight prior to the application of said heating energy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said heating energy is derived from a microwave frequency electromagnetic field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of terminating the application of heating energy is accomplished after the rate of change of weight of said sample has increased to a first predetermined percentage per unit time of the original weight thereof and then decreases to a second predetermined percentage per unit time of the original weight thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said first and second predetermined percentages of the original weight are equal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said mass of organic material has a predetermined weight prior to the application of said heating energy, said heating energy is microwave frequency electromagnetic energy, and said step of terminating the application of heating energy is accomplished after the rate of change of weight of said organic material has increased to a first predetermined unit of weight per unit of time and then decreased to a second predetermined unit of weight per unit of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring the weight of said sample includes determining the weight of said sample a plurality of times and mathematically deriving a representative value from said determinations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of determining if the initial weight of said sample before heating is within a predetermined range of weight and inhibiting the heating of said sample if said material is outside of said predetermined range of weight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of monitoring the weight and terminating the application of heating are controlled by an electronic computer apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said sample is a mass of comminuted meat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
187 words
In an apparatus for determining the amount of moisture and/or fat and/or protein in a meat product sample which includes a sample holder assembly including means for collecting and holding rendered fat separate from the sample, dielectric heating means including an enclosure for receiving said sample and sample holder for rendering and holding fat from the sample and also releasing moisture as vapor which is dispersed from the sample, scale means having sample holder receiving means located in said enclosure for determining the weight of the sample before, during and after heating and the weight of rendered fat and providing weight output signals indicative of said weights, the improvement comprising: computing and display means connected to receive said weight output signals and to record said signals from said scale means indicating loss of moisture from said sample, control means connected with said heating means and said computing and display means for terminating the application of heat to said sample in response to a predetermined decline in the rate of change in said weight signal indicative that a predetermined amount of moisture has been vaporized from the sample.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
187 words
In an apparatus for determining the amount of moisture and/or fat and/or protein in a meat product sample which includes a sample holder assembly including means for collecting and holding rendered fat separate from the sample, dielectric heating means including an enclosure for receiving said sample and sample holder for rendering and holding fat from the sample and also releasing moisture as vapor which is dispersed from the sample, scale means having sample holder receiving means located in said enclosure for determining the weight of the sample before, during and after heating and the weight of rendered fat and providing weight output signals indicative of said weights, the improvement comprising: computing and display means connected to receive said weight output signals and to record said signals from said scale means indicating loss of moisture from said sample, control means connected with said heating means and said computing and display means for terminating the application of heat to said sample in response to a predetermined decline in the rate of change in said weight signal indicative that a predetermined amount of moisture has been vaporized from the sample.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said computing and display means includes sensing means responsive to a first rate of change of said weight output signal and responsivE to a second rate of change of said weight output signal and means connected with said sensing means for supplying a heat terminating signal to said control means following the sequence of said rate of change attaining a first predetermined value followed by a second predetermined value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said computing and display means includes means for computing the composition of said meat product sample in response to the weight of moisture and fat extracted therefrom during heating by said heating means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |