On-line measuring system and method
DCFirst Claim
1. A system for the on-line measurement of a parameter in processed sugar cane, the system comprising:
- (a) a scanning head mounted adjacent a continuous stream of processed cane, the scanning head comprising a remote light source and reflected light gathering and transmission apparatus;
(b) a near infrared spectrophotometer which includes a monochromator for resolving the reflected light into light of a discrete wavelength;
(c) a database containing a reference calibration equation linking absorption characteristics by wavelength and the quantified presence of the parameter of interest; and
(d) a computer for measuring the parameter by application of the calibration equation to the obtained spectrum for a sample and managing said system.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a system for the on-line measurement of a parameter in a processing stream. The system comprises a scanning head mounted adjacent a continuous stream of processed material, the scanning head comprising a remote light source and reflected light gathering and transmission apparatus; a near infrared spectrophotometer which includes a monochromator for resolving the reflected light into light of a discrete wavelength; a database containing a reference calibration equation linking absorption characteristics by wavelength and the quantified presence of the parameter of interest; and a computer for measuring the parameter by application of the calibration equation to the obtained spectrum for a sample and managing said system. The invention also comprises a method of on-line measurement of a parameter in a processing stream by NIR spectroscopy and networks comprising systems according to the invention. The system and method of the invention are particularly suited to measuring a parameter of interest in processed sugar cane.
45 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for the on-line measurement of a parameter in processed sugar cane, the system comprising:
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(a) a scanning head mounted adjacent a continuous stream of processed cane, the scanning head comprising a remote light source and reflected light gathering and transmission apparatus;
(b) a near infrared spectrophotometer which includes a monochromator for resolving the reflected light into light of a discrete wavelength;
(c) a database containing a reference calibration equation linking absorption characteristics by wavelength and the quantified presence of the parameter of interest; and
(d) a computer for measuring the parameter by application of the calibration equation to the obtained spectrum for a sample and managing said system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of on-line measurement of a parameter in processed sugar cane, the method comprising the steps of:
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(i) obtaining an infrared reflectance spectrum from a stream of said processed cane;
(ii) applying an appropriate calibration equation to the spectrum to quantify the presence of the parameter of interest; and
(iii) statistically validating the spectrum obtained as being represented by the calibration equation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification