issue_2_2017_rev2

46
analysis & control
Key Technology improves nut and dried fruit
sorting with Pixel Fusion
Nut and dried fruit processors rely on Key Technology’s Pixel Fusion to meet the most stringent
requirements for product quality and purity. By providing the clearest distinction between good
product, shell, Foreign Material (FM), defects and different colour grades, Pixel Fusion improves
the accuracy of digital sorting. This effectiveness reduces the number of sorting passes required to
make grade and virtually eliminates false rejects, which maximises productivity and yield while
consistently achieving the target product quality level.
reduced. Improving good product
recovery maximises yield,” said
Marco Azzaretti, Advanced
Inspection Systems Product
Manager at Key. “Customers
around the world with installed
systems tell us they have up to
1.5% less good product in their
reject stream since they started
using VERYX with Pixel Fusion
compared to their previous sorter.”
VERYX ® sorters equipped with
Pixel Fusion identify and remove
loose and embedded shell
fragments, membrane material,
broken nuts, product with surface
scratches or insect damage,
moisture-related defects, mouldy
product, colour-based defects and
FM including wood chips, stems,
rocks, glass and more to satisfy
consumers’ zero-tolerance for
impurities. Tailored to meet the
unique detection requirements of
each application, VERYX with Pixel
Fusion is ideal for sorting walnuts,
almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios,
peanuts, pecans, cashews and
dried fruit such as raisins, prunes,
cranberries, apricots, figs and
dates.
Pixel Fusion is an advanced
detection module that combines
pixel-level input from multiple
cameras and laser scanners
sharing the same line of sight to
create a unique, unambiguous
‘signature’ for each type of
substance in the product stream.
Compared to other detection
methods, which do not collect data
from the same pixel at the same
time, Pixel Fusion more precisely
differentiates good product, shell,
FM and defects, enabling VERYX
to recognise and eject previously
difficult-to-detect FM and subtle
product defects such as
wormholes.
Maximising yield
“Nut and dried fruit customers
using VERYX with Pixel Fusion
achieve their final quality
specifications with fewer
inspection cycles and almost no
good product in the reject stream.
By reducing the number of sorting
passes, productivity is increased
while product degradation is
Pixel Fusion combines input from
Key’s next-generation cameras
and laser sensors. The 4-channel
cameras distinguish millions of
different colours, which enable the
most accurate colour grading and
detection of colour-based defects
as well as the size and shape of
each object. The laser scanners
recognize the structural properties
of each object’s surface for
superior FM detection as well as
product texture and moisture
analysis.
Resolution
These cameras and laser sensors
offer twice the resolution of
previous generation sorters to
identify smaller shell fragments,
FM and defects. The accuracy of
the VERYX detection system is
paired with a new, high-resolution
ejection system, which features
the closest spacing between air
nozzles of any sorter in order to
better target and remove
undesirable objects. Intelligent
software manages the air nozzles’
actuation strategy to suit the size,
www.foodmagazine.eu.com issue two | 2017