Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining quality properties of fish on the basis of light reflection. A fish and a reflection measurement device (5) with a light emitter and a light receiver (6) are positioned in relation to each other, with the light emitter and light receiver of the device directed towards the fish's inner abdominal wall with peritoneum, so that the light emitter illuminates an area of the fish through the peritoneum and the light receiver captures the light reflected from the fish. The intensity of the reflected light is registered in three or more different wavelength bands, in the visible and near-infrared range. Measurement results registered are, after any processing, entered into an algorithm in a calculation unit, where the algorithm expresses a quality property of the fish.

Abstract: The apparatus for measuring the intra-muscular fat in carcasses or parts of carcasses or the total content of fat in minced meat has a first pair of electrodes for insertion into a carcass or part of a carcass or into minced meat. An alternating current (AC) generator is connected to these electrodes. Second and third pairs of electrodes are inserted parallel to the first pair. Both the second and third pairs have measurement circuits to measure the voltage and phase between the electrode pairs after insertion. The needle or bar shaped electrodes are tapered and insulated apart from 5-20 mm long free end sections. Electrodes are separated by 10-100 mm with each electrode 10-50 mm from the nearest of the first electrode pair. The portable unit for on-line use has a display output. The AC frequency applied to the first electrode pair may be changed in an exponential series to give different measurements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determination of a quality property of a piece of meat. A light reflection measurement probe is inserted into a muscle of the piece of meat, while the muscle is undergoing the conversion process from living tissue in a newly slaughtered animal to cooled edible meat. The light reflectivity of the muscle is measured by means of a probe in several, different wavelengths or wavelength bands. The probe remains in the muscle for a period of time after this measurement series, while the conversion process in the muscle is proceeding. The light reflectivity of the muscle is measured again in the same wavelengths. The measurement data, possibly after processing, are inserted in an algorithm which expresses the quality property on the basis of changes between the data of the measurement series, and the quality property is automatically calculated in a calculation unit. The probe is removed from the muscle.

Abstract: A reflection measuring device for determining quality properties of items comprises a measuring head with a housing which is optically open in one side. The housing is designed to be placed on the item requiring measurement of the reflection factor, with the open side turned towards the surface of the item. The device has one or more light emitters arranged to illuminate the surface of the item adjacent to the open side of the housing, and a plurality of optical fibres, one end of which leads to the interior of the housing to receive light reflected from the surface of the item and to conduct it to a detection system. The system comprises filter elements each positioned adjacent to the other end of one or more of the optical fibres, each permitting passage of near infrared light in a predetermined wavelength range. Photodetectors each positioned by a filter element are arranged so as to measure the strength of the light passing through the filter.