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AN ACCURATE, LOW COST FIRMNESS MEASURING INSTRUMENT *
Author(s) -
DIENER R. G.,
SOBOTKA F. E.,
WATADA A. E.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
journal of texture studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.593
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1745-4603
pISSN - 0022-4901
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-4603.1971.tb01013.x
Subject(s) - metre , mathematics , mechanical engineering , engineering , engineering drawing , physics , astronomy
A low‐cost, automatic firmness measuring instrument was developed using commercially available components such as: dial gage, dashpot lowering mechanism, weight sets and probe tips. The details of the assembly and the names of parts manufacturers are given. The instrument is an automated modification of the original P‐L Meter developed by Parker and Levin at Michigan State University. The application of the instrument to firmness measurements on cherries and tomatoes is summarized and illustrated with typical results. Tomato studies covered the relationship between firmness and variables such as: fruit size, cultivar type, changes in protopectin content, polygalactu‐ronase and cellulase activity. The readings compared favorably with those obtained with the Instron Universal Testing machine.