Abstract: An apparatus for assessing the quality of cereals includes a mixing device for preparing a dough by mixing a cereal type whose quality is to be assessed and for deforming the dough by mixing so that stress arises in the dough. A device for registering the stress in the dough is also included. In addition, a calculation unit is adapted to assess the quality of the cereal type with the aid of the stress in the dough which has been registered during the relaxation of the dough subsequent to the deformation of the same. The apparatus includes a container in which both the mixing and the relaxing are carried out.

Abstract: A method for assessing the quality of cereals, comprising the steps of preparing a dough by mixing a cereal type whose quality is to be assessed, deforming the dough by mixing so that stress arises in the dough, letting the stress in the dough relax subsequent to the deformation of the dough, registering the stress in the dough during the relaxation and using the stress for assessing the quality, the mixing and the relaxing being carried out in one and the same container.

Abstract: In a method for assessing the quality of cereals, a dough containing the type of cereal which is to be assessed is deformed Subsequently the dough is let relax. During the relaxing the stress in the dough is measured. On the basis of the stress, one or more relaxing parameters are determined which are used in a predetermined calculation model for assessing the quality. In the calculation model, mixing parameters, which are determined during the deformation, can also be used. A new such parameter which correlates well with cereal quality is the build-up parameter, which is determined on the basis of the difference in the stress in the dough when it has absorbed all the liquid which is added in preparing the dough and the maximum stress in the dough during the deformation. An apparatus ,or quality assessment is also disclosed.

Abstract: Bearing device of magnet type for instruments and the like and non-contact support of one part relatively to another part by means of magnet fields wherein the one part is rotatable relatively to the other at least a part of a full turn. The novelty lies therein that the magnet devices intended to keep the rotatable part essentially centered relatively to the stationary part are off-set so that besides radially acting force components also axial force components biasing the rotatable part in an axial direction appear; and in that a connection device connecting the rotatable part with the stationary part and permitting the former to turn at least a portion of a turn is arranged along the axis of rotation so as to keep the rotatable part correctly off-set positioned.

Abstract: In a method of measuring rheological properties of a sample, an oscillation system containing the sample is caused to perform free oscillations, and the damping caused by the sample is determined, the rheological properties of the sample being possible to determine by means of the damping. By this method, rheological properties can be determined for samples of a small volume and/or low viscosity. The method is especially adapted to measure body fluids. A rheometer for carrying out the method is also disclosed.