• Key Technology Inc

Whole Potato Sorting System

Key Technology has introduced its first optical sorting system for whole potatoes. Optyx® WPS for whole potatoes achieves a three-way sort using a combination of air ejectors to remove foreign material (FM) and a unique deflector system to separate potatoes for rework from good potatoes. Maximising the removal of foreign material and providing extremely gentle handling to avoid potato damage, Optyx WPS improves product quality and protects downstream equipment while reducing labor costs and increasing yields. Combining Key’s proprietary high-performance colour cameras with Raptor laser technology, Optyx WPS can sort peeled and peel-on product, differentiating peel from scab, bruise, rot, and green defects. Using cameras, it recognises colour, size, and shape to remove potatoes needing re-work based on the presence of peel, scab, or gross defects, as well as potatoes that fail to meet user-defined standards for length, width, or shape. Using a combination of Raptor laser technology with high resolution line scan cameras, the system reliably detects and removes foreign material based on the structural properties of the material, as well as visible colour. It can handle up to 100,000 lb (45 metric tonnes) of whole potatoes per hour. Featuring a modular design and proven, high-performance connectivity standards such as Camera Link™, FireWire®, and Ethernet, Optyx WPS ensures forward compatibility to maximize a food processor’s long-term return on investment.