Key Technology, a manufacturer of automation systems, has introduced new Veryx digital sorters for fresh-cut leafy greens.
Image: Key Technology has launched new Veryx digital sorters for fresh-cut leafy greens. Photo: courtesy of Key Technology.
Veryx is claimed to be the world’s only belt-fed sorter, which can inspect product completely in-air with top and bottom sensors to detect and eliminate all foreign material (FM) and product defects.
Designed to handle the challenges of sorting leafy greens, the Veryx optimizes sort accuracy to remove more FM and defects while virtually eliminating false rejects, enabling to improve food safety and increase yields simultaneously.
Key Technology advanced inspection systems product manager Marco Azzaretti said: “Leafy greens present a sorting challenge because of the way leaves can overlap or clump as they are conveyed through the sorter. The fatal flaw of other sorting systems, in addition to having less effective product handling, is that their top sensors inspect product on the belt.
“If FM is sandwiched between layers of leaves, it’s easily missed because these top sensors won’t be able to effectively see through the leaves.”
Veryx will detect color, size, shape and structural properties of every object, including the presence or absence of chlorophyll.
The new digital sorter will remove insects and animal parts, paperboard, wood, rocks, plastics and glass, as well as defects and blemishes such as leaf discoloration, tipburn and leaves that are decayed, wilted or broken.
The system can be configured to deal with a range of products such as iceberg, romaine, leafy spinach, cabbage, arugula, frisée, escarole, radicchio, Belgian endive, mache greens, watercress and various salad mixes.
To meet each customer’s specific requirements, the company is providing Veryx sorter in multiple sizes.
The highest volume system can sort up to 8.2 metric tons (18,000 lbs) of fresh-cut leafy greens per hour.
With an inspection zone that is 15% wider than similarly sized sorters, every Veryx provides 10% to 15% more capacity within a similar footprint.
Veryx has been installed with multi-sensor Pixel Fusion, which is an advanced detection capability that aggregates pixel-level input from multiple cameras and laser sensors to clearly differentiate FM and defects from good product.
Key Technology is engaged in the designing and manufacturing of automation systems such as sorters, conveyors and other processing equipment.