Method for Elemental Analysis of a Snack Food Product in a Dynamic Production Line
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for elemental analysis on a moving snack food material, the method comprising the steps of:
- continuously moving a material under a laser induced breakdown spectroscopy system, wherein the product comprises a heterogeneous surface;
sending a laser beam to the heterogeneous surface of the material, said laser beam generating energy of between about 1.00 to about 90.0 J/cm2, thereby producing a plasma;
transmitting emission generated by the plasma to a spectrum analyzer of the laser induced breakdown spectroscopy system to measure a wavelength corresponding to an element; and
analyzing a spectrum of the emission to determine an amount of the element on the material.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for analyzing one or more elements of targeted moving snack food surfaces uses laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to detect the presence, absence, or amount of an element on a heterogeneous surface, including seasoned and ready-to-eat snack foods. A laser is used to quantify the element concentration without destroying the targeted sample. An automated on-line system may be integrated into the method to create a closed-loop feedback control system, adjusting the concentration as desired.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for elemental analysis on a moving snack food material, the method comprising the steps of:
-
continuously moving a material under a laser induced breakdown spectroscopy system, wherein the product comprises a heterogeneous surface; sending a laser beam to the heterogeneous surface of the material, said laser beam generating energy of between about 1.00 to about 90.0 J/cm2, thereby producing a plasma; transmitting emission generated by the plasma to a spectrum analyzer of the laser induced breakdown spectroscopy system to measure a wavelength corresponding to an element; and analyzing a spectrum of the emission to determine an amount of the element on the material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An apparatus for analyzing moving snack food surfaces, said apparatus comprising:
-
a moving surface for holding a material to be analyzed, said material comprising a heterogeneous surface; and a sensing unit positioned over the moving surface, said sensing unit comprising; a laser capable of emitting a laser beam for contact to the heterogeneous surface of the materials, said laser generating energy of between about 1.00 to about 90.0 J/cm2; an optics configuration for collecting and delivering light from the laser beam contact with the heterogeneous surface to a spectrometer; and a displacement sensor in communication with the optics. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
Specification