Key Technology to exhibit FluoRaptor at Interpack

Key Technology will introduce FluoRaptor, their new fluorescence-sensing laser sorter, to the European market at Interpack in Dusseldorf, 24 - 29 April 2008

FluoRaptor maximizes the detection and removal of defects, extraneous vegetable matter (EVM), and foreign material (FM) based on differing levels of chlorophyll as well as colour, size, and shape.

Using the most powerful laser in the food industry, in combination with the Key proprietary colour cameras, FluoRaptor achieves superior product quality and speeds product change-over for processors of fresh cut products and a variety of fresh and frozen vegetables and potato products.

Featuring a new high-power laser and new optics, Key is extending its successful Optyx Raptor family of laser inspection systems by leveraging its ten-year expertise in camera-based fluorescence-sensing sorting.

The new Key FluoRaptor detects the presence of chlorophyll in products.

This enables an easy separation from those objects that do not contain chlorophyll, namely foreign material (FM).

Further, the improvements in fluorescence-detection technology enable differentiation of subtle differences of chlorophyll levels in objects to detect and remove EVM.

Compared to competitive fluorescence-sensing sorters, FluoRaptor dramatically speeds product changeover.

Camera-only based fluorescence-sensing sorters typically take three hours to change over from a fluorescence-sensing application to other applications because the lighting and in some cases, camera systems must be changed.

Other laser-based fluorescence-sensing sorters require changing mechanical parts.

FluoRaptor eliminates such mechanical change parts, which enables the sorter to be changed over in seconds by simply recalling the appropriate product setting on the control panel.

With the greatest laser power density in the industry, FluoRaptor improves the signal-to-noise ratio to produce a more accurate product signature, which makes detection more robust.

With the highest resolution laser scanner in the food industry, Raptor detects the smallest defects.

Like all sorters in the Key Optyx Raptor family, Optyx FluoRaptor combines laser technology with proprietary tri-chromatic cameras, which can be configured to sense a combination of visible colour and infrared (IR) light.

With its Vis/IR cameras, Optyx FluoRaptor analyses size and shape as well as millions of subtle colour differences.

With its FluoRaptor laser, the sorter reliably detects defects and foreign material based on differences in the fluorescent properties of the objects.

Detecting differing levels of chlorophyll, FluoRaptor easily differentiates peas from the same-colour pod, vine, and leaf whether product is fresh or frozen, blanched or unblanched.

Handling corn, FluoRaptor easily detects and removes husk and shank.

For carrots and potato products, inspecting chlorophyll allows the sorter to better identify subtle green tones.

For fresh cut products such as baby spinach, spring mix, and other tender leaf products, FluoRaptor removes insects and animal parts as well as cardboard, plastic, metal, and glass.

Processors of iceberg, romaine, and cabbage can also remove core using FluoRaptor.

Easy to use, the laser image is displayed in full colour, allowing an operator to make quick selections of those objects to be kept, versus those objects to be rejected.

Images and set-ups can be stored on the G6 computer hard drive, remotely, or on a USB key for quick retrieval and re-use.

FluoRaptor is available on the Key narrow-belt Optyx 3000 and its wide-belt Optyx 6000 sorters.

Ideal for lower volume applications, the 24-inch (610 mm) wide Optyx 3000 features up to three sensors located above and/or below the product stream, depending on the needs of each application, to handle up to six metric tons of product per hour.

For higher volume processing lines, the 48-inch (1220 mm) wide Optyx 6000 achieves production rates of up to 12 metric tons per hour, depending on the application.

Based on the powerful Key electro-optical platform, Optyx offers the most advanced image processing in the industry.

Featuring a modular design and proven, high-performance connectivity standards such as Camera Link, FireWire and Ethernet, Key Optyx Raptor delivers on the promise of the system flexibility to engage new sensor technology.

That same flexibility ensures forward compatibility to maximize the long-term return on investment for a food processor.

The icon-based graphical user interface (GUI) is easy to learn and use, reducing operator training and simplifying optimum operation.

The user interface integrates Raptor laser scanner information, allowing the operator to see what the laser is "seeing".

This patented feature delivers more intuitive machine feedback to the operator, which allows for more accurate adjustment of accept/reject thresholds.

Product settings can be stored and retrieved for fast product changeover.

The GUI can reside locally on the sorter and also can be accessed remotely via network or Internet, enhancing the flexibility in the operating environment and easing access for remote factory troubleshooting and application assistance.

Sophisticated real-time and on-demand diagnostics help minimise and avoid costly downtime, and detect conditions that could compromise inspection.

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