Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A penetrometer (100) comprising:
a dial indicator (102) configured to display a firmness of fruits and/or vegetables under a test;
a plunger (104) attached to the dial indicator (102), wherein the plunger (104) is adapted to be inserted into the fruits and/or the vegetables under the test to determine the firmness; and
a cutter blade (106) attached to a proximal end (104a) of the plunger (104), and adapted to peel off skin of the fruits and/or the vegetables under the test, wherein the cutter blade (106) facilitates to peel off the skin when a vertically downward force with respect to a vertical axis of the penetrometer (100) is applied.
2. The penetrometer (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dial indicator (102) is configured to display the firmness in Megapascals (MPa).
3. The penetrometer (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plunger (104) has a distal end (104b) such that the distal end (104b) of the plunger (104) is attached to the dial indicator (102) through a connector (108).
4. The penetrometer (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plunger (104) is of a cylindrical shape.
5. The penetrometer (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutter blade (106) is made up of stainless steel 304.
6. The penetrometer (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutter blade (106) facilitates to peel off the skin of the fruits and/or the vegetables in a circular shape.
7. A method for measuring a firmness of a fruit and/or a vegetable using a penetrometer (100), the method comprising steps of:
pushing the penetrometer (100) into the fruit and/or the vegetable to a first position by applying a vertically downward force with respect to a vertical axis VX of the penetrometer (100);
peeling, by a cutter blade (106) of the penetrometer (100), skin of the fruit and/or the vegetable in a circular shape;
pushing the penetrometer (100) into the fruit and/or the vegetable to a second position by further applying the vertically downward force with respect to the vertical axis VX of the penetrometer (100); and
displaying, by a dial indicator (102) of the penetrometer (100), a reading indicative of the firmness of the fruit and/or the vegetable under a test.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the penetrometer (100) is pushed by using a plunger (104) such that a distal end (104b) of the plunger (104) is attached to the dial indicator (102) through a connector (108).
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plunger (104) is of a cylindrical shape.
10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cutter blade (106) is made up of a stainless steel 304.

Date: 09 Nov, 2021
Place: Noida

Dr. Keerti Gupta
Agent for the Applicant
(IN/PA-1529)
, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&

THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10, and rule 13)

PENETROMETER
APPLICANT(S)
NAME: SR University
NATIONALITY: INDIAN
ADDRESS: S R University Ananthasagar, Warangal, Telangana, India

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an apparatus and a method for investigating fruits and/or vegetables, and more particularly to a penetrometer and a method of operating the same.
Description of Related Art
[002] Fruit and/or vegetable firmness is used to test maturity of the fruit and/or the vegetable. It is also used as one of most important quality variables as it is an indirect measurement of ripeness. Flesh firmness of the fruits and/or the vegetables is measured using a tester such as, a penetrometer. Such tester is perfect for the fruit and/or the vegetable growers and work by measuring a force necessary to penetrate a plunger of a known size into a pulp of the fruit and/or the vegetable.
[003] Conventionally, various penetrometers are available for testing the firmness of the fruits and/or vegetables in order to get an idea of the ripeness of the fruits and/or the vegetables. However, it is not sufficiently accurate for work such as may be done by laboratory or technical investigators, by farm advisers and the like, who require results of considerable consistency and precision.
[004] Thus, there is a need for a technical solution that overcomes the aforementioned problems of conventional penetrometers.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a penetrometer comprising: a dial indicator configured to display a firmness of fruits and/or vegetables under a test. The penetrometer further comprising a plunger attached to the dial indicator. The plunger is adapted to be inserted into the fruits and/or the vegetables under the test to determine the firmness. The penetrometer further comprising: a cutter blade attached to a proximal end of the plunger, and adapted to peel off skin of the fruits and/or the vegetables under the test. The cutter blade facilitates to peel off the skin when a vertically downward force with respect to a vertical axis of the penetrometer is applied.
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a method for measuring a firmness of a fruit and/or a vegetable using a penetrometer. The method comprising steps of: pushing the penetrometer into the fruit and/or the vegetable to a first position by applying a vertically downward force with respect to a vertical axis VX of the penetrometer; peeling, by a cutter blade of the penetrometer, skin of the fruit and/or the vegetable in a circular shape; pushing the penetrometer into the fruit and/or the vegetable to a second position by further applying the vertically downward force with respect to the vertical axis VX of the penetrometer; displaying, by a dial indicator of the penetrometer, a reading indicative of the firmness of the fruit and/or the vegetable under a test.
[007] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a penetrometer that does not require peeling of fruits and/or vegetables before measuring a firmness. Next, embodiments of the present invention may provide a penetrometer that is capable of measuring firmness of fruits and vegetables.
[008] Next, embodiments of the present invention may provide a penetrometer that facilitates a quick testing of firmness of fruits and/or vegetables. Next, embodiments of the present invention may provide a penetrometer that has a simple design and operation, as a cutter blade is provided within a plunger of the penetrometer.
[009] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0010] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a penetrometer for firmness measurement of fruits and/or vegetables, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a process for measuring the firmness of the fruits and/or the vegetables using the penetrometer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0014] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0016] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including”, "having”, and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0017] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a penetrometer 100 for firmness measurement of fruits and/or vegetables, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The penetrometer 100 may be designed to measure the firmness of the fruits and/or the vegetables. The penetrometer 100 may be used by users such as, but not limited to, researchers in research laboratories carrying fruit research, orchard owners for fruit quality testing before harvesting (to take decision on harvest), cold storage and controlled atmosphere storage operators for quality testing of the fruits and/or the vegetables during storage, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the users.
[0019] According to embodiments of the present invention, the penetrometer 100 may comprise a dial indicator 102, a plunger 104, and a cutter blade 106. The dial indicator 102 may be a dial gauge having a predefined diameter. In an embodiment of the present invention, the predefined diameter may be in a range of 3 inches to 6 inches. Further, the dial indicator 102 may be graduated in 0.1 millimeters (mm) divisions thus enabling easy reading. The dial indicator 102 may be configured to display the firmness of the fruits and/or the vegetables that may be tested in Mega Pascal (MPa). The displayed reading of the dial indicator 102 may be an indicative of a force per unit base area required to push the penetrometer 100 through a specified small increment of depth of the fruits and/or the vegetables that are tested at a standard insertion rate. In an embodiment of the present invention, the dial indicator 102 may be a digital indicator that may be configured to display the reading in a digital form. In another embodiment of the present invention, the dial indicator 102 may be an analog display that may be configured to display the reading through a rotating arm (not shown) that points to an appropriate reading based on the firmness of the fruits and/or the vegetables under a test. The dial indicator 102 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a stainless steel, a plastic, and so forth. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the material for the dial indicator 102, including known, related and later developed materials.
[0020] The plunger 104 may be removably attached to the dial indicator 102 by means of a connector 108, in an embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the plunger 104 may be fixedly attached to the dial indicator 102 by the means of the connector 108. The connector 108 may be capable of accepting the plunger 104, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the dial indicator 102 and the connector 108 may be manufactured as a single piece. In another embodiment of the present invention, the dial indicator 102 and the connector 108 may be manufactured as discrete pieces that may be assembled to form the penetrometer 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the connector 108 may comprise a first threaded portion (not shown) that may be provided to accept the plunger 104 for establishing a secure attachment of the plunger 104 with the connector 108. The plunger 104 may be a cylindrical structure that may be adapted to be inserted into the corresponding fruits and/or vegetables under the test to determine the firmness. In other words, the plunger 104 may enable an insertion of the penetrometer 100 into the fruits and/or vegetables to measure the firmness of the fruits and/or vegetables.
[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the plunger 104 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, the stainless steel, the plastic, and so forth. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the material for the plunger 104, including known, related and later developed materials. The plunger 104 may have a proximal end 104a and a distal end 104b such that the distal end 104b of the plunger 104 may be attached to the connector 108 for assembling the penetrometer 100. The distal end 104b may comprise a second threaded portion (no shown) that may be provided to be engaged with the first threaded portion of the connector 108.
[0022] The cutter blade 106 may be removably attached on the proximal end 104a of the plunger 104, in an embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the cutter blade 106 may be fixedly attached on the proximal end 104a of the plunger 104 such that the plunger 104 and the cutter blade 106 are manufactured as one single piece. The cutter blade 106 may be adapted to peel off skin of the corresponding fruits and/or the vegetables under the test when the penetrometer 100 is inserted into the fruits and/or the vegetables by applying a vertically downward force with respect to a vertical axis VX of the penetrometer 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the cutter blade 106 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, the plastic, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cutter blade 106 may be a stainless steel 304. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the material for the cutter blade 106, including known, related and later developed materials.
[0023] Further, the cutter blade 106 may have a circular shape that may facilitate the penetrometer 100 to peel off the skin of the fruits and/or the vegetables in the circular shape. In an embodiment of the present invention, the cutter blade 106 may have a shape such as, but not limited to, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, and so forth. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any shape of the cutter blade 106.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a process 200 for measuring the firmness of the fruits and/or the vegetables using the penetrometer 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0025] At step 202, the penetrometer 100 may be pushed into the corresponding fruits and/or the vegetables to a first position by applying the vertically downward force with respect to the vertical axis VX of the penetrometer 100.
[0026] At step 204, the cutter blade 106 may peel off the skin of the fruits and/or the vegetables in the circular shape.
[0027] At step 206, the penetrometer 100 may be pushed into the corresponding fruits and/or the vegetables to a second position by further applying the vertically downward force with respect to the vertical axis VX of the penetrometer 100.
[0028] At step 208, the penetrometer 100 may display the reading in terms of MPa representing the firmness of the fruits and/or the vegetables under the test.
[0029] Embodiments of the invention are described above with reference to block diagrams and schematic illustrations of methods and apparatus according to embodiments of the disclosure.
[0030] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0031] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.