Our new electronic smart chain sizer “CP 2000” has all the necessary advantages for the producer. It’s the outmost breakthrough in the Argentinian industry, and it was conceived thanks to the merge of North American, European and Argentinian technologies.
We develop cutting-edge technology in our Company. We have both national and international agreements and work in collaboration with many other entities.
This new transportation system based on ejecting cup, allows us to process any kind of fruit or vegetable and to assess its weight accurately. The ejecting cup system, allows the fruit to be ejected laterally, laying it on a soft nylon brush, thus avoiding any possibility of impact.
The electronic classification system is made up of at least two computers: one for the user’s interphase (Windows) and another for the grading tasks (Master working station). If many cameras are needed, the system can be expanded by adding more grading computers. (Slave working station).
In Ingenieria Prodol, we are constantly updated with the latest advances and development in the camera market. Thus, we know we can offer the best cameras for our applications. The resolution, color, noise and light sensitivity are factors, which determine the measuring quality.
We are able to weight with high precision (+/- 1 gram), even at high speed (up to 15 cups per second).
The system automatically corrects the weight considering, among many things, the difference in temperature and dust or dirt accumulation on the scales during the day.
The color of the fruit states its quality and ripeness. Using the color module we can state, by means of the information we get straight from our cameras, what color is expected from the fruit such as the case of blemish percentage in an apple. This module is of outmost important in same cases for some fruit. As an alternative, many images from many cameras can be combined, using different angles so as to have a better view of the surface. This means, that the properties of the fruit can be calculated using the most information available in the system.
The size-measuring module takes dimensions using the fruit contour. The software calculates the results in each picture. Specific algorithms help us calculate the general shape of the fruit and we can make accurate measurements. In this way we are able to assess the diameter, the length, the curves and the surface as well as the combination of length and diameter. The system can also detect malformations. It is necessary to use up to 10 pictures of the same fruit to get an accurate assessment of it. Even at high speed such as 30 cups per second as is the case with cherries.
To establish certain fruit properties, the color module is not enough. The shape and the context are important to determine and differentiate the properties of the fruit.
The intelligent quality module allows us to establish all these properties. Together with the infra-red cameras combination, we are able to detect defects and bruises that lay under the fruit skin.
We have developed a module for the internal quality of the fruit, which drastically reduces the mistakes in the process of classification. The unit uses the best method for establishing internal quality in a product: transmittance
This technique provides the best results. A specially designed projector send light on the fruit. The light travels diffusing through the fruit, setting light to it, the light goes through a small hole in order to expand in all directions after going through the latter. The light keeps on expanding throughout the fruit and when it comes out, a sensor measures it. If the light detects deviations in its trajectory, the beam lights changes color. About 400 colors go through the fruit and each one is examined independently so as to establish how it changes its composition, once exposed to the light. For example, the light frequency in an onion, which is rotten inside, is different from the one that is ripe and in perfect condition.
Prodol technical staff can help customers through a remote online connection, being on standby in real time with the grading systems.