Testing and monitoring the quality of fruit by applying dynamic force and determining response

摘要

Disclosed are a method and apparatus for testing the quality of fruit by applying a dynamic force to the fruit, and detecting the mechanical response via a transducer which includes a resilient pad (11) carrying a piezoelectric film transducer (12), and a floating spring mounting (13, 14, 15, 16) for the resilient pad effective to yield when the piezoelectric film transducer (12) contacts a fruit to cause the piezoelectric film transducer (12) to engage and conform to the outer surface of the fruit. Also described are a method and apparatus for monitoring changes in the condition of fruit in a storage room by placing a sample of the fruit in a holder in the storage room, and at successive intervals remotely actuating a dynamic force applicator (3) in the storage room to output an electrical signal corresponding to the condition of the fruit sample within the storage room.