Key Technology Herbert OCULUS optical sorter for whole potatoes

Key Technology has released its Herbert OCULUS optical sorter for whole potatoes. Suitable for fresh market potatoes or whole potatoes prior to processing, the enhanced system is designed to find and remove potatoes with defects. Its sorting capabilities help ensure product quality while reducing labour requirements and achieving consistent line capacity despite fluctuations in incoming raw product quality.

Features include new cameras that have twice the resolution of the previous generation to identify smaller, harder-to-detect defects. A more advanced 64-bit operating system replaces the previous 32-bit system to achieve a better analysis of each tuber. Longer-lasting air cylinders with better seals run at a lower pressure to minimise energy usage, reduce maintenance and lessen operating noise while maintaining high performance. Lighter reject fingers move faster to improve reject accuracy.

The sorter conveys the potatoes over a series of rollers to present a complete 360-degree view of each tuber to the digital infrared colour cameras. Compared to traditional cascade sorters, this method of sorting can provide gentler handling and 20% more surface inspection to maximise defect removal.

Available in multiple sizes for a range of capacities up to 40 metric tonnes of product per hour, the sorter recognises size, shape, colour and texture. Its detection capabilities enable it to remove a wide range of colour defects, diseases and surface abnormalities including skin discolouration, green and dark colours, bruising, mechanical damage, blackleg and silver scurf.