Articles
Critical Success Factors For Optimizing Electronic Inspection
May 14, 2009
•White Paper: Critical Success Factors For Optimizing Electronic Inspection
By Tim Reardon, Key Technology, Inc.
As technology advances and capabilities grow, electronic sorters are accomplishing things that were not even dreamed of 30 years ago. For many food processors, these optical inspection systems have become invaluable tools for optimizing product quality and assuring food safety by automating the removal of defects and foreign material (FM). But getting the most from this sophisticated equipment – superior performance and the maximum return on investment – requires planning and attention.
The ideal environment for a sorter is steam-free and dust-free. It may sound obvious but it's sometimes ignored – if visibility is obscured, it challenges the sorter, which relies on cameras and/or lasers getting a good view of the product. If a steam or dust problem exists, consider placing an exhaust system near the dust- or steam-generating device or even building a controlled atmosphere or purged enclosure for the sorter.
Likewise, factory lighting can make a difference in sorter performance. Relying on ambient lighting in the plant can be a problem since the quality of the light changes depending on the time of day, time of year and weather conditions. Ideally, plant lighting will be constant, with no direct sunlight or even reflected sunlight hitting the sorter and interfering with the cameras and/or lasers viewing product.
Click Here To Download:•White Paper: Critical Success Factors For Optimizing Electronic Inspection
