Electro-Optical System for Sorting, Grading & Packaging of Apples

Introduction

The system comprises of sorting, grading and storage of apples based on the color , shape and size. This is a rugged system for Feeding, Singulation, Conveying, and Orientation without damaging the fruits. Fully Automatic Machine Vision System with capability of image processing the four apples simultaneously within the wide field of view (FOV) of 600 (H) x 200mm(V) and making decision for grading based on shape, size, color and external defects based on the software and decision making. Uniform illumination has been provided throughout the FOV by multiple fiber cold light sources operated on dc power supplies. Each fiber cable has been incorporating diffuser at fiber bundle tip. The cold light source is having a provision of spare halogen source

Salient Features

• Machine having washing, drying, singulation, conveying and orientation units, and bin actuation for apples.
  
• Optical system with Illumination & Imaging systems and Image Grabbing with Camera Control and Interface.
  
• PLC based system for Machine Control.
  
• Image Processing & Decision making Algorithms with operator and user Interface screen

Engineering, electro-optical systems and Software algorithms

• Distortion free digital imaging through 3-CCD multi-spectral camera with digital camera-link output using wide angle aspheric lens at close conjugate.
  
• Low thermal noise of the camera within the illumination chamber for perfect imaging.
  
• Simplified Operator & User Interface screens.
  
• Variable high throughput from 4 to 6 apples per second with a provision of varying the speed of the belt, number of revolution per second and processing time.

Fig. Image acquired with 3CCD RGB Camera during field trial	Fig. Image acquired with 3CCD NIR Camera during field trial

Contact:

VP Giridhar,
Head, BDG and S&M Centres,
Central Scientific Instruments Organisation,
Chandigarh
E-mail: vpg_bdg_csio@yahoo.co.in