Patent ID: 8656757
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An instrument for plant material firmness evaluation comprising: i. a screen comprising a porous element, wherein the porous element comprises an applanation face and an applanation opposite face; ii. a device for detecting an obstruction to an air flow through the porous element having an air flow introducer device coupled with a fluximeter, or similar instrument, with 1 to 5 kPa pressure entry, connected to the porous element by the applanation opposite face; and iii. a device for plant sample applanation and plant material firmness determination through pressure measurement, positioned on the applanation face side of the screen comprising the porous element, comprising a pressure chamber that is defined at least in part by a flexible membrane screen and configured to be inflated by increasing the pressure within the pressure chamber, wherein said pressure chamber is coupled to a system for regulating and measuring the pressure within the pressure chamber; and iv. wherein the flexible membrane screen comprises an external surface configured to be in contact with a bottom side of a plant sample, and wherein the flexible membrane and the plant sample are compressed against the applanation face of the porous element.