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The Use of Electric Circuit and Sound Signal in Determining the Albumen Height of Eggs
Research Notes THE USE OF ELECTRIC CIRCUIT AND SOUND SIGNAL I N DETERMINING THE ALBUMEN HEIGHT OF EGGS J. J. PATERSON AND S. W. HINNERS Departments of Agricultural Industries and Animal Industries, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois (Received for publication August 21, 1963)
It was felt that if the time of contact could be indicated by light or by sound the operation would be much more easily and quickly done with less chance for error. The operation of electrical devices of course depends upon the electrical conThis work was supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Springfield, Illinois.
FIG. 1. Electric buzzer box attached to modified tripod micrometer and metal table top for measuring albumen height of eggs.
ductivity of albumen which is quite low. This means that too little current would be passed to energize a small lamp. However, by using a 117v. — 24v., 1 amp. transformer, enough current is available to operate a small 24 volt buzzer. With the legs of the tripod micrometer insulated with wooden or plastic "feet," and a steel extension on the center measuring rod of the indicator, the apparatus is ready for use. A steel topped table or flat bottom metal pan is also necessary. In use the primary of the transformer is attached to a HOv outlet. One lead of the secondary of the transformer is connected in series with the buzzer, switch and measuring rod of the micrometer. The other lead connects to the metal pan or table top. When the measuring rod is
265
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 7, 2015
Albumen height has been reported as an objective measure of egg quality by Heiman and Carver (1936) and Wilgus and Van Wagenen (1935). Indirectly, albumen height is used to determine egg grades and has been adapted by Haugh (1937) for scoring the interior quality of eggs which is used as the basis for many quality control programs. The height of the albumen is measured in millimeters using a tripod micrometer with direct reading dial as shown in Figure 1. This type of instrument has been used for a considerable length of time, therefore has become standardized by the egg industry. In the process, the egg is broken on a flat surface, the tripod is placed over it, and the measuring rod is adjusted downward until the rod touches the albumen. The critical point occurs just as it touches, but it is difficult to observe this juncture quickly. With several hundred of these determinations to make, the operation can become quite tedious and judgment errors are thus introduced into the data.
266
RESEARCH NOTES
sequence, determinations can be made very quickly. The device as shown in Figure 2 is simple to make, the components can be had for less than $10.00, and, when used as shown, it has many advantages over other methods. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
REFERENCES
lowered to touch the albumen the circuit is complete and the buzzer operates. The dial and measuring rod which have previously been "zeroed" with the table is then read, the indicator rod retracted and moved to another egg. When eggs are broken and laid out in a row in proper
Haugh, R. R., 1937. The Haugh unit for measuring egg quality. U. S. Egg Poultry Mag. 43: 552. Heiman, V., and J. S. Carver, 1936. The albumen index as a physical measurement of observed egg quality. Poultry Sci. 15: 144-153. Wilgus, Jr., H. S., and A. Van Wagenen. 1935. The height of the firm albumen as a measure of its condition. Poultry Sci. 15: 319-321.
IRON DISCOLORATION OF EGG SHELLS 1 A. E. ARMAS2 AND F. R. TARVER, JR. 3 University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (Received for publication August 26, 1963)
Economic losses due to soiled eggs have been reduced through the use of improved methods of cleaning egg shells. Funk (1948) and Winter el al. (1958) reported wet cleaning methods were more desirable than dry ones. However, certain minerals present in water used for washing eggs can hasten the deterioration 1
Florida Agri. Exp. Sta., Journal Series No. 1718. 2 Graduate student from Maracay, Venezuela where he is an agronomist, Agricultural Experiment Station, Ministry of Agriculture. 3 Department of Poultry Science. Present address: Department of Food Science, University of North Carolina at Raleigh, Raleigh, North Carolina.
of egg quality. Iron has been reported to hasten bacterial spoilage in experimentally inoculated eggs and eggs washed under actual farm conditions (Garibaldi and Bayne, 1960,1962a,b). Since iron imparts a brownish color to laundered goods and affects the taste of beverages it is considered an objectionable constituent in water supplies (Riddick el al., 1958). It would be reasonable to expect that iron present in egg wash water could stain the shell of eggs. The research reported herein was to determine the effects of various concentrations of iron (FeSO.r 7H 2 0) present in water on staining of the egg shell.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 7, 2015
FIG. 2. Components of electric buzzer box showing simple installations.
The authors are grateful to A. F. Meyer, School of Agriculture, for photographs taken, and J. D. White, School of Technology, for technical assistance in electrical work.
It was felt that if the time of contact could be indicated by light or by sound the operation would be much more easily and quickly done with less chance for error. The operation of electrical devices of course depends upon the electrical conThis work was supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Springfield, Illinois.
FIG. 1. Electric buzzer box attached to modified tripod micrometer and metal table top for measuring albumen height of eggs.
ductivity of albumen which is quite low. This means that too little current would be passed to energize a small lamp. However, by using a 117v. — 24v., 1 amp. transformer, enough current is available to operate a small 24 volt buzzer. With the legs of the tripod micrometer insulated with wooden or plastic "feet," and a steel extension on the center measuring rod of the indicator, the apparatus is ready for use. A steel topped table or flat bottom metal pan is also necessary. In use the primary of the transformer is attached to a HOv outlet. One lead of the secondary of the transformer is connected in series with the buzzer, switch and measuring rod of the micrometer. The other lead connects to the metal pan or table top. When the measuring rod is
265
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 7, 2015
Albumen height has been reported as an objective measure of egg quality by Heiman and Carver (1936) and Wilgus and Van Wagenen (1935). Indirectly, albumen height is used to determine egg grades and has been adapted by Haugh (1937) for scoring the interior quality of eggs which is used as the basis for many quality control programs. The height of the albumen is measured in millimeters using a tripod micrometer with direct reading dial as shown in Figure 1. This type of instrument has been used for a considerable length of time, therefore has become standardized by the egg industry. In the process, the egg is broken on a flat surface, the tripod is placed over it, and the measuring rod is adjusted downward until the rod touches the albumen. The critical point occurs just as it touches, but it is difficult to observe this juncture quickly. With several hundred of these determinations to make, the operation can become quite tedious and judgment errors are thus introduced into the data.
266
RESEARCH NOTES
sequence, determinations can be made very quickly. The device as shown in Figure 2 is simple to make, the components can be had for less than $10.00, and, when used as shown, it has many advantages over other methods. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
REFERENCES
lowered to touch the albumen the circuit is complete and the buzzer operates. The dial and measuring rod which have previously been "zeroed" with the table is then read, the indicator rod retracted and moved to another egg. When eggs are broken and laid out in a row in proper
Haugh, R. R., 1937. The Haugh unit for measuring egg quality. U. S. Egg Poultry Mag. 43: 552. Heiman, V., and J. S. Carver, 1936. The albumen index as a physical measurement of observed egg quality. Poultry Sci. 15: 144-153. Wilgus, Jr., H. S., and A. Van Wagenen. 1935. The height of the firm albumen as a measure of its condition. Poultry Sci. 15: 319-321.
IRON DISCOLORATION OF EGG SHELLS 1 A. E. ARMAS2 AND F. R. TARVER, JR. 3 University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (Received for publication August 26, 1963)
Economic losses due to soiled eggs have been reduced through the use of improved methods of cleaning egg shells. Funk (1948) and Winter el al. (1958) reported wet cleaning methods were more desirable than dry ones. However, certain minerals present in water used for washing eggs can hasten the deterioration 1
Florida Agri. Exp. Sta., Journal Series No. 1718. 2 Graduate student from Maracay, Venezuela where he is an agronomist, Agricultural Experiment Station, Ministry of Agriculture. 3 Department of Poultry Science. Present address: Department of Food Science, University of North Carolina at Raleigh, Raleigh, North Carolina.
of egg quality. Iron has been reported to hasten bacterial spoilage in experimentally inoculated eggs and eggs washed under actual farm conditions (Garibaldi and Bayne, 1960,1962a,b). Since iron imparts a brownish color to laundered goods and affects the taste of beverages it is considered an objectionable constituent in water supplies (Riddick el al., 1958). It would be reasonable to expect that iron present in egg wash water could stain the shell of eggs. The research reported herein was to determine the effects of various concentrations of iron (FeSO.r 7H 2 0) present in water on staining of the egg shell.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Serials Section, Dixson Library on June 7, 2015
FIG. 2. Components of electric buzzer box showing simple installations.
The authors are grateful to A. F. Meyer, School of Agriculture, for photographs taken, and J. D. White, School of Technology, for technical assistance in electrical work.