Instrumental method and equipment for the determination of the degree of maturity in fruit, particularly in pomaceous fruit

Claim 2

The method according to claim 2, wherein the fruit being tested is taken from a number of similar fruit maturing under predetermined temperature conditions, and comprising holding the fruit being tested under the same predetermined temperature conditions.

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent solution is an alkali hydroxide solution having normality and conductivity predetermined for each of the teSts in the determination of the degree of maturity of the fruit.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1, comprising preparing a diagram based on the experimental results of said tests, one of the coordinates of said diagram reading in time and the other coordinate of the diagram reading in the specific quantity of carbon dioxide absorbed by the absorbent solution.

Claim 5

Apparatus for determining the degree of maturity of fruit which develops carbon dioxide as it matures, comprising a closed measuring chamber containing an absorbent solution for carbon dioxide in one part thereof and the fruit being tested in another part thereof, an electrode immersed in the solution, an electrical unit connected to the electrode for detecting the electrical conductivity of the solution, a funnel disposed above the solution, a conduit having a first stop cock therein connecting the bottom of the funnel to said other part of the chamber, and a discharge conduit having a second stop cock therein connected to said other part of the chamber, whereby the absorbent solution can be introduced into and withdrawn from the measuring chamber without exposing the absorbent solution in the chamber to air.

Claim 6

Apparatus for determining the degree of maturity of fruit which develops carbon dioxide as it matures, comprising a closed measuring chamber containing a solution which absorbs carbon dioxide in one part thereof and the fruit being tested in another part thereof, an electrode immersed in the solution, and an electrical unit connected to the electrode for detecting the electrical conductivity of the solution, the solution being contained in the bottom of the measuring chamber, a support plate arranged in said chamber above the solution for the fruit being tested, and an electrode depending from above into the solution.