A Magnetic Food Texture Sensor and Comparison of the Measurement Data of Chicken Nuggets

Abstract

Food texture is one of the important quality indicators in foodstuffs, along with appearance and flavor, contributing to taste and odor. This study proposes a novel magnetic food texture sensor that corresponds to the tactile sensory capacity of the human tooth. The sensor primarily consists of a probe, linear slider, spring, and circuit board. The probe has a cylindrical shape and includes a permanent magnet. Both sides of the spring are fixed to the probe and circuit board. The linear slider enables the smooth, single-axis motion of the probe during food compression. Two magnetoresistive elements and one inductor on the circuit board measured the probe’s motion. A measurement system then translates the measurement data collected by the magnetoresistive elements into compression force by means of a calibration equation. Fundamental experiments were performed to evaluate the range, resolution, repetitive durability of force, and differences in the frequency responses. Furthermore, the sensor was used to measure seven types of chicken nuggets with different coatings. The difference between the force and vibration measurement data is revealed on the basis of the discrimination rate of the nuggets.

Effects of sensory combination on crispness and prediction of sensory evaluation value by Gaussian process regression

“…The measurement system shown in Fig 2 was used to measure force, vibration (bone-conduction sound), and air-conduction sound during sample fracture. The measurement system mainly consists of a magnetic food texture sensor [ 33 ], a microphone (MI-1271M12, Ono Sokki Co. Ltd., Japan), a data recorder (DR-7100, Ono Sokki Co. Ltd., Japan), a motorized slider (LEY16DA, SMC Co. Ltd., Japan), a motor driver (LECPAN1, SMC Co. Ltd., Japan), and a desktop computer. The food texture sensor measures both force and vibration occurring on a probe, which is a part that presses a sample, with a sampling frequency of 10 kHz.…”

“…The maximum error is within ±5% of the range. The vibration of the sensor’s probe is measured as a change of voltage due to induced electromotive force (details written in [ 33 ]). The fast vibration of the probe induces high voltage.…”