Non-destructive weight measurement by using a vibration model

A method for weighing fruits without separating them from stem is proposed. The base of stem is fixed and a fruit or a cluster of fruits is forced to vibrate. The approximated vibration model is constructed by the use of Transfer Matrix Method. The natural frequency (w) in this model can be represented as a function of weight elements, and the length and stiffness of branch elements of stem. With this function, only w is possible to measure. However, several small weights whose weights are known are attached to weight elements in various combinations. From these equations, unknown parameters are determined so that the weight of each fruit can be obtained by a non-destructive method.