NCDA: Pickle Sorter NCDA: Pickle Sorter Project ProposalProject Proposal

Project 98.09Project 98.09

Sponsored by Ed Kee ofSponsored by Ed Kee of

Keeman Produce, Lincoln, DEKeeman Produce, Lincoln, DE

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OverviewOverview

• Introduction– Description of Problem

• Method– Wants Metrics Concepts– System and Functional Benchmarking

• Schedule– Division of labor– Budget

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Project BackgroundProject Background

• Title: Pickle Sorter

• Sponsor: Ed Kee of Keeman Produce

• Problem: The pickling cucumber industry currently separates undesirable cucumbers from desirable ones manually. Mr. Kee would like a device to efficiently and reliably separate the usable cucumbers from the unusable ones.

SchematicSchematic

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StrategyStrategy

• Mission: To provide an integrated, automated system to sort out undesirable pickles on the processing line.

• Approach: Collect customer wants and develop them into metrics which can be used to evaluate benchmarks and concepts for a design solution.

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Customers and WantsCustomers and Wants

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BenchmarkingBenchmarking

• Current Method: – Manual selection and removal - No integrated,

efficient, inexpensive system currently in use.

• System:– Several integrated solutions exist, each having its

own set of problems.

• Functional:– Many of our concepts include functions that have

been independently developed for other.

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Wants Wants Metrics Metrics

• Cost– Price

• Effectiveness– % Good Removed– % Bad Removed

• Working Area– Length– Width

• Reliability– Mean Time to

Failure

• Speed– Pickles Per Minute

• Portability– Size– Weight

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Target ValuesTarget Values

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System BenchmarksSystem Benchmarks

Company Product Description Advatages

Hand Labor Undesirable pickles are manually removed as they pass thru inspection area

Reliable, effective

Bacchus Integrated imaging software and mechanical sorting

Complete system, demonstrated use in pickle industry

SRC Vision, Inc. Integrated visual imaging software/mechanical sorting system

Optical identification system coupled with air valve ejection. Designed for food, produce industry

Autoline PC Controlled integrated grading and sorting

Turnkey solution

Button Integrated harvester/inspection/sorting mechanism

Removes bad product before shipment to plant

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Functional BenchmarksFunctional Benchmarks

Company Product Description Advatages

Ensco Visual imaging system - capture and processing

Advanced software, designed for produce applications

American SensoRx Visual imaging system - capture and processing

Plug & Play, Processing speed of 30/second, Can measure shapes

Solenoid activated pneumatic piston

Hi-speed, 3 millisecond cycle time

GBI Tray tilts when activated by system to remove bad pieces

Accurate

Staalkat B.V. Trapdoor sorting system for removing rejected items from a conveyor

Adaptable to produce line

ELOP Ind. Cable conveying and sorting system

Delicate handling of product

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Concept GenerationConcept Generation

• Concepts– Brainstorming

• Identification:– Imaging

– Mechanical

• Removal:– Pneumatic

– Mechanical

– Benchmarking• Systems:

– Bacchus

– Aweta

• Functional:– Ensco

– SensoRx

– ELOP

– Staalkat B.V.

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Concepts

1 Imaging system coupled to solenoid activated pneumatic piston.

2 Imaging system with a trap door removal system.

3 Imaging system which controls a robotic removal arm.

4 Tilted conveyor belt which separates good and bad pickles based on rolling characteristics.

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Concept Evaluation

1 - Imaging/Pneumatic System: • Most Promising; Is equally good with Effectiveness

and Speed. Cost currently unknown.

2 - Imaging/Trap Door System: • Similar to system above, lags behind in Effectiveness

and Speed.

3 - Imaging/Robotic Arm System:• Cost prohibitive if Speed Target Value is to be met.

Also, more moving parts may decrease Reliability.

4 - Rolling Method: • Fails Effectiveness, Speed Metrics; Has been ruled

out.

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Division of WorkDivision of Work

Progress To Date:Progress To Date:

Schedule To Next Presentation:Schedule To Next Presentation:

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Estimated Budget

Presentation Supplies

Research

Travel

IdentificationPrototypingRemoval Prototyping

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Closing PointsClosing Points

• Metrics Derived From Wants

• Benchmarks Evaluated Using Metrics

• Initial Concepts Evaluated Using Metrics

• Progress and Looking Ahead