Scanning measurement, quality control system

This observation has become an important contributor to the development of rapid, automatic scanning of outer tissues of grains (primarily bran tissues) which contribute both strong color and taste characteristics to grain products such as wheat flour. The ability to measure both the concentration and distribution of such components is paramount to quality control in bakeries, and to definition of raw materials. An example of the systems necessary for routine analysis is included in a following section. 

While the experimental details involved in implementing NSOM can be found elsewhere [7,8], it is instructive to briefly discuss the two main obstacles that must be overcome in order to conduct NSOM measurements. These revolve around aperture formation and implementing a feedback system for tip-sample distance control. For the former, as in all scanning probe techniques, the quality of the measurements is in large part dictated by the quality of the probe. For the latter, as the schematic in Fig. 1 suggests, high resolution requires that the NSOM probe be maintained within nanometers of the sample surface. 

The precision and accuracy of instrumental color measurements and the associated color tolerance can provide a system of control that equals that of an experienced color matcher. But to achieve this performance, the product standard and production test specimens must be of the highest quality. As was pointed out, more than two decades ago, the weak link in instrumental color control is the specimen. The human visual system can scan a specimen marred by many inconsistencies and the human mind will ignore those features that are not relevant to the job at hand. A analog or digital colorimeter cannot ignore those defects. A spectrocolorimeter is a tool for the color matcher but it is not a hammer. It needs to be treated like the precision instrument it is. A mold-maker would never use his or her tools in a dirty... 

---