Title: A linkage chewing machine for food texture analysis

Authors: Cheng Sun, John Bronlund, W.L. Xu, Loulin Huang, Marco P Morgenstern

Addresses: School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Private Bag 102 904, North Shore Mail Centre, Auckland, New Zealand. ' School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand. ' School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Private Bag 102 904, North Shore Mail Centre, Auckland, New Zealand. ' School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Private Box 756, Wellington, New Zealand. ' Food Structure and Engineering, Plant and Food Research Lincoln, Private Bag 4704, Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract: A chewing machine is required to provide objective measurements of food texture. To do this it must closely simulate human chewing behaviour in terms of kinematics and force application to the food. A linkage chewing machine is developed to reproduce human chewing trajectory in 2D space. This research aims at enhancing this chewing machine so it is suitable for food texture analysis. An ATI force sensor is installed to measure 3D force dynamically. A spring-mass system is developed for feed forward force control. A SimMechanics simulation model including linkage mechanism, velocity control system, spring-mass system and food resistance model is created. The model validates the design of spring-mass system, provides the dynamic force profile on teeth and will benefit the design of feedback force control to implement human occlusal force profiles in the chewing machine. The chewing device will be a useful tool to quantify texture in foods.

Keywords: chewing machines; human chewing; chewing simulation; food evaluation; food texture analysis; kinematics; force; linkage mechanisms; velocity control; spring-mass system; food resistance modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISTA.2010.030207

International Journal of Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications, 2010 Vol.8 No.1/2/3/4, pp.303 - 318

Published online: 11 Dec 2009 *

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