TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a hand-held and portable, meat grading device, useful for determining the meat properties and tissue composition characteristics of the meat product in question .

BACKGROUND ART

For several decades, ultrasound has been applied as a measuring principle for measuring meat and fat attributes on live an imal or on carcasses. Initially applied in medical science, the use of A- or B-scanning principles have been taken to farm- and slaughterhouses, where one or several tranducer's are employed, to measure meat and fat transitions, and to establish the thickness of meat and fat tissue attributes, see e.g. US 5872314.

Recently, scanners have become inexpensive, and provides useful results when combined with the use of laptops or tablets. However, the measurement strongly depends on the know-how by the operator, and his capabilities of interpreting the image, and also on how the operator orientates the ultrasound probe relative to the object to be measured.

In the meat industry, it is often a challenge to deliver products of, or to process products to, a certain level of meat fat attribute, as measurements are obtained using many probes, or by making multiple measurements, e.g . using a robot to move the sensor around on the product, see e.g. WO 2010/083838.

Making multiple measu rements by moving the sensor around on the product, makes assessment of attributes more robust, especially on beef with large biological variation, and multiple measurements of the product from the meat side not only describe the entire product more adequately, but also its variations, better than single point measurements.

Whereas the orientation of the product at time of measurement is critical, the direction of the probe towards the meat, and the contact between the meat and probe, is important for obtaining a good measurement. However, the use of multiple sensors is expensive, especially if applied in a complex mechanical or robotic solution .

Therefore, there is a need for simpler instruments that can be used for such purposes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its first aspect, the present invention relates to a compact, hand-held, portable, meat grading device, that does not require the use of multiple sensors, robots, or expensive computers, that limits the freedom to measure a given meat product.

The device of the invention may be viewed as a small handheld tool, using IoT (Internet of Things) technologies and an ultrasound sensor built together, and being in communication with each other, for guiding the operator and grading the meat product.

The meat grading device of the invention may be characterised by comprising one or more of the following elements:

a computer module that is small enough to be integrated in a handheld instrument, configured for processing and analysing, and communicating sensor results wireless via e.g. Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or storing it on an internal memory;

a suitable transducer, e.g. like the one used for A-scanning of biological tissues; an embedded or similar device, that can drive and pick up signals from the transducer;

a way to measure the angle and the speed when moving the transducer over the meat product that is being examined, with a gyro- or acceleration tracker in the hand held instrument, relative to the position of the meat, and an x,y,z-point of reference, and/or a similar method;

a simple power supply cord or an integrated rechargeable battery to drive electronic components;

a simple LCD or similar display screen on the handheld instrument to guide the operator to hold and point the instrument in a predefined / per product type / to achieve relevant measures;

an activating button for the operator to initiate measurement once contact and orientation is set for measurement on the product, laying on a well-defined measuring table, has been achieved, thereby allowing total product thickness to be established through the x,y,z-orientation from the gyro;

a tactile sensor may also be applied to secure that optimal pressure between the ultrasound (US) probe and the product is established, unless an image analysis of the signal can tell the operator to increase pressure; and

the device may also include automated image analysis to recognise landmarks in the meat product for initiation of a measurement of the product.

Moreover, the system above may be combined with a 3D laser information on the physical volumetric measures of the product geometry, which again may be coordinated even the product was moving on a belt, if the laser was not a scanning laser. In another aspect, the invention provides a method for grading a meat using the hand-held, portable, meat grading device of the invention.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to the person skilled in the art from reading the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Any combination of two or more of the embodiments described herein is considered within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :

Fig. 1 shows the essential elements of the meat grading device (1) according to the invention : Processing means (2); Transducer/ultrasound board (5); Acceleration/velocity tracking device (6); Monitoring device (7); A means for activating measurement/switch (8); and Power supply/battery (9);

Fig. 2 shows optional elements of the meat grading device (1) according to the invention : Means for providing wireless network access (3); and Means for storing information (4); and

Fig. 3 shows an example of a handheld instrument of the invention : Transducer/ultrasound (US) board (5); Monitoring device (7A); A means for activating measurement/switch (8).

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The device of the invention

In its first aspect, the invention relates to a hand-operated, meat grading device. The meat grading device of the invention may be characterised by comprising one or more of the following elements:

a computer module/CPU that is small enough to be integrated in a handheld instrument, configured for processing and analysing, and communicating sensor results via wireless transmission, or storing it on an internal memory;

a suitable transducer, e.g. like the one used for A-scanning (also known as amplitude scan) of biological tissues;

an embedded or similar printed circuit board (PCB) ultrasound (US) board, that can drive and pick up signals from the transducer;

a way to measure the angle and the speed of moving the transducer over the meat that is being examined, with a gyro- or acceleration tracker in the hand-held instrument, relative to the position of the meat, and an x,y,z-point of reference, and/or a similar method;

a simple power supply cord or an integrated rechargeable battery to drive electronic components;

a simple LCD or similar screen on the handheld instrument to guide the operator to hold and point the instrument in a predefined / per product type / to achieve relevant measures; and

an activating button for the operator would to initiate once contact and orientation ready for measurement on the product, laying on a well-defined measuring table, has been achieved, thereby allowing total product thickness to be established through the x,y,z-orientation from the gyro.

The system of the invention may further be combined with a tactile sensor may also be applied to secure that optimal pressure between the US probe and the product is established, unless an image analysis of the signal can tell the operator to increase pressure; and

the device may also include automated image analysis to recognise landmarks in the meat product for initiation of a measurement of the product.

Moreover, the system of the invention may be combined with a 3D laser information on the physical volumetric measures of the product geometry, which again may be coordinated even the product was moving on a belt, if the laser was not a scanning laser.

Therefore, in one embodiment, the invention provides a hand-operated, meat grading device ( 1), which device comprises:

(a) a processing means (2), in communication with the transducer/ultrasound board (5), the acceleration/velocity tracking device (6), the (internal or external) monitoring device (7), and, optionally, also in communication with the means for providing network access (3), and the (external) means for storing information (4), and configured for processing and analysing the data obtained from the transducer/ultrasound board (5) and the acceleration/velocity tracking device (6), and, optionally, also configu red for transmitting the digitalised data to the means for providing network access (3) and the (external) means for storing information (4) ;

(b) a transducer/ultrasound board (5), in communication with the processing means (2), for measuring and transmitting data to the processing means (2);

(c) an acceleration/velocity tracking device (6), in communication with the processing means (2), and capable of tracking movements of the transducer relative to the meat product being examined; (d) a monitoring device (7), integrated (7A) or external (7B), in communication with the processing means (2), for guiding the operator (13) in holding and pointing the meat grading device (1) of the invention;

(e) a means for activating measurement (8), in communication with the processing means (2) and the transducer/ultrasound board (5), allowing the operator (13) to start measurement of the meat product (12) ; and

(f) a power supply (9), either via a power supply cord (9A) or from an integrated, optionally rechargeable, battery (9B) to drive the processing means (2), the transducer/ultrasound board (5), the acceleration/velocity tracking device (6), and the integrated monitoring device (7A), and, optionally, also the means for providing network access (3).

As defined herein, a transducer/ultrasound board (5) represents conventional ultrasonic transducers and ultrasonic sensors, including transmitters, receivers and transceivers.

As defined herein, an acceleration/velocity tracking device (6) includes accelerometers and gyroscopes. Accelerometers are used to sense both static (e.g. gravity) and dynamic (e.g. sudden starts/stops) acceleration. An accelerometer can also be used to sense motion. Gyroscopes measure angular velocity; i.e. how fast something is spinning about an axis. Unlike accelerometers gyros are not affected by gravity, and in that way, gyroscopes complement accelerometers.

As defined herein, a monitoring device (7) includes a conventional video screen, dimensioned to be integrated with the meat grading device of the invention (7A) or, alternative, an external monitor (7B), capable of displaying information to the operator (13).

Subsequent transmission of data to an external database may also be contemplated according to the invention, and may be relevant, e.g. for quality control or for later use by automatic processing equipment.

In another embodiment, the meat grading device of the invention further comprises:

(g) a means for providing network access (3).

As defined herein, the means for providing network access (3) includes hardware allowing the processing means (2) used according to the invention to connect to a wireless access point, e.g. a wireless local area network (WLAN).

In a third embodiment, the meat grading device of the invention further comprises:

(h) a (external) means for storing information (4).

As defined herein, a means for storing information (4) includes disk drives, servers and databases. In a fourth embodiment, the meat grading device of the invention further comprises:

(i) a tactile sensor ( 10) capable of measuring the pressure between the transducer/ultrasound board (5) and the meat product ( 12) .

The tactile sensor may be applied to secure that optimal pressure between the ultrasound probe and the product is established, unless an image analysis of the signal can tell the operator to increase pressure.

As defined herein, a tactile sensing means ( 10) i ncludes conventional devices that measures information arising from physical interaction with its environment.

In a fifth embodiment, the meat grading device of the invention further comprises:

(j) a 3D laser scanning device ( 11), capable of providing information on the physical volumetric measures of the product geometry.

Laser scanners play a key role in quality assurance. 3D digital capture of shapes and surfaces using lasers is an effortless and precise process. The industry uses laser scanners primarily for the quality control of geometries and surface.

The method of the invention

In another aspect, the i nvention provides a method for grading a meat using the hand-held, portable, meat grading device of the invention .

The method of the invention may in particular be used for a quick check, carried out at the slaughter line, for verifying that the operator ( 13) trims the meat pieces in accordance with the meat product specification in question.

The method of the invention may be characterised by comprising the subsequent steps of:

a. receiving the meat product/workpiece (12) to be examined, and placing the workpiece relative to a known reference-plane;

b. placing the hand-held device of the invention ( 1) in close contact to the workpiece ( 12), turn on the device by activating the switch (8), and moving the device over the workpiece/meat product ( 12) while the device is measuring continuously;

cl . displaying the results on the monitoring device (7A), integrated in the hand held device of the invention ( 1) for guiding the operator ( 13) ; and/or

c2. transmitting the measured data to an external monitor (7B) for guiding the operator ( 13), or to a central database (4).

The reference plane in question may e.g . be the surface of the conveying belt or similar work bench . The method may e.g. be applied for control of incoming meat products/workpieces, e.g. for determining the further distribution of the product to different process-lines, and/or for quality inspection of processed meat products.

The method of the invention may in particular be applied for determination of e.g. determining physiological parameters of a slaughtered animal body, quality control and grading, fat and meat thickness variations, measuring meat texture, measuring the relative content of intramuscular fat (IMF) in a portion of muscle tissue, etc.

List of reference signs

In the figures, identical structures, elements or parts that appear in more than one figure are generally labelled with the same numeral in all the figures in which they appear.

1. The hand-operated, meat grading device of the invention

2. Processing means/CPU

3. Means for providing wireless network access

4. Means for storing information/database

5. Transducer/ultrasound board

6. Acceleration/velocity tracking device/gyro

7. Monitoring device/display

7A. Integrated monitor/display

7B. External monitor/display

8. Means for activating measurement/switch

9. Power supply/battery

10. Tactile sensing means

11. 3D laser scanning device

12. Workpiece/meat product

13. Operator/attendant