Dinamica Generale AgriNIR, Operator'S Manual

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Use AgriNIR™ Analyzer Rev. A11
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6.2 Correct Use of the Fodder Box for the Samples to Analyze
Before going on with the real use of the Portable AgriNIR™ Analysis System, it is important to understand
the correct use of the fodder box containing the sample to analyze.
This fodder box (provided with the AgriNIR™) is composed by :
•
an upper side with glass, to allow the optical scanning of the sample;
•
a metallic frame able to maintain the sample properly (with the right pressure!) in front of the
scanning window glass.
To fill in the fodder box with the food sample to analyze, it is very IMPORTANT to put in practice the
following simple rules:
•
make sure the fodder box GLASS IS CLEAN, without residues of other samples;
•
in case of very soft materials with long pieces, as hay, alfalfa , or grass silage , it is NECESSARY :

sampling material using a special Corer (strongly suggested!) and then cut the sample in
order to have parts with length equal to 2/3 cm;

press the sample in order to reduce its volume up to 1/2 or 1/3 of the original one;
•
the sample must be put into the fodder in order to cover completely the scanning window (glass)
without open spaces. Below you can see 2 different pictures reporting how the sample has to be
putted inside the fodder: quantity, pressure…
•
in the first picture below, you can see a sample well prepared and ready for analysis
OK!
good pressure without
air spaces.
•
in the second picture below, a sample prepared in a wrong way: sample quantity is wrong and its
pressure on the glass is too low
NO!
low pressure with air
spaces.