Extrasorter (Protec)

This machine is capable of sorting tomatoes according to desired color. Depending on the application, it can reject either product of incorrect color or any foreign bodies from the product stream. The range of application is very wide; from tomatoes in general to peeled tomato, and to red peppers.
This family of sorters includes both single vision systems, that inspect the product on the upper part, and double vision systems that inspect the product on both the upper and lower part.
Each vision unit is equipped with a brush cleaning system for the periodic cleaning of the optical sections.
The belt conveyor moves the product flow through the optical inspection system and to the ejecting unit.
The exclusive electro-pneumatic ejection system with "fingers" has proven to be the most effective for average dimensioned product, such as industrial tomatoes.
For products of smaller dimension, such as small tomatoes ("cherry") and red pepper, the ejection is carried out by means of an air jet.
The operator interface is easy and user-friendly and allows modifications to all parameters of the sorter.
The various equipment functions are mechanically as well as electronically changeable in order to meet all the customers' different needs.
The product capacities vary according to size of the machine; with four different widths: 20, 30, 40, and 60 channels.
Protec systems require minimal maintenance: the vision units are independent in order to increase their reliability and the systems include self-diagnostic functions that notify the operator of any possible problems.
Due to the remarkable number of systems we have installed all over the world, we have acquired a great deal of experience in order to constantly keep Protec machine up to date with the various requirements of the industrial world

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DUETT (Protec)

Using a vision system, the sorter can detect spots on various types of products.
The system consists of two conveyor belts; the first horizontal and the second tilted.
sides while in flight as it leaves the second belt. Any defective product is rejected by a powerful air blast.
The DUETT has many applications:
Fresh and pickled olives:
the system can detect black spots, foreign objects.
Diced or sliced apple, pear, peach :
the system can detect stones, pits, skin, black spots.
Baby potatoes, potatoes sticks (French fries), and chips:
the system can detect burn, skins, black spots.
Fresh or frozen Vegetables such as French beans, beans.
the system can detect foreign objects, black spots, insects, black.
Vegetables in pieces or diced, such as carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, either fresh or dehydrated : the system can detect foreign bodies, difference in color shade, insects.
Leaves such as lettuce, arugula, valerian - either fresh or dehydrated:
the system can detect foreign objects, spots, insects, black mold.
For customers who work with several kind of products, it is possible to save several setups.
Just a few seconds are needed to recall the different working conditions for each product.
The DUETT is manufactured in two sizes for low/middle capacity, with a belt approximately 1 m wide ( DUETT 100 ).
The system allows the installation of one or multiple cameras; depending on speed, resolution and colour requirements.
All the electrical components and panels are cooled by an air conditioned system to guarantee high durability and the best performance in the worst working conditions

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DixAir (Protec)

For the sorting of diced vegetables and fruit, Protec has designed the new family of DixAir sorters.
This system has turned out to be the most effective system to detect defects such as stains, spots, and colors in shades of black, green, yellow and white.
For applications on diced tomato we suggest the DixAir T system.
THE VISION AND ILLUMINATION SYSTEMS
The sorter uses a system of linear high speed, high resolution cameras which inspect the product on the conveyor belt.
The image analysis is carried out by on an electronic board which utilizes the newest technologies of integration and speed, entirely designed by Protec, to guarantee the highest performances. Combined with powerful software for image enhancement it is possible to inspect defects with a resolution of 0.25 x 0.25mm. The cameras are the latest generation: higher sensibility along the light spectrum, higher speed for data transfer and higher mechanical strength.
The illumination is done by means of a dedicated solid state illuminating system of high intensity, and exclusive of its kind. This assures an even and constant distribution of the light on the product, together with high reliability and long lasting performance.
Upon request, it is possible to supply a color illuminating and vision system.
The sorter is also equipped with an exclusive back-lighting device, placed below the belt, to illuminate the product and highlight the defects.
The product is surveyed at a high speed using a combination of powerful software, microprocessors (µP), digital signal enhancers (DSP) and programmable Gate Array (FPGA).
By using Surface Mounting Technology (SMT), it is possible to place a high number of electronic components in a limited space for greater reliability of all circuits and components

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Roll Grading & Feeding (Protec)

The Roll-Grading system is designed to dewater, clean and size the product while it is conveyed along the processing line.
The product is conveyed through the first bank of 7 rollers which allow the elimination of small sized defects out of the product stream into the first hopper.
In this way it is possible to reject leaves, grass, stems and other objects smaller than the product.
The second bank, consisting of 9 rollers, is used for the sizing of the product. Larger sized product is directed to the outlet, while the smaller sized product is collected in the second hopper.
It is possible to manually adjust both the reject dimensions of the first bank of rollers, and the sizing of the second bank. The system is available with two widths.

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AspriX (Protec)

The AspirX uses a vision system to sort a wide range of products in the field of semi-finished tomato products.
Currently, it is the only suction operated sorter, for the sorting of:
- diced products
- sauces
- pulps
- extruded products
The system has proven to be the most effective in the detection of defects such as stains, black spots, undesired shades in black, green, yellow colours.
THE VISION SYSTEM
The sorter works by means of a singular line-scan high speed high resolution camera, which inspects the product conveyed on the belt.
The image analysis is carried out by an electronic board that utilizes the newest technologies of integration and speed, and that has been designed by PROTEC to guarantee the best performances. Combined with a powerful software for image elaboration, it can detect defects as small as 1 x 1 mm.
The product is illuminated by a led (light emitting diode) illumination system, whose fundamental characteristics are high efficiency, penetration depth, product (do you mean ability to sort a wide variety of products i.e. differentiation? or diffusion - product spread out on the conveyor?) and durability

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