Tomato grading station
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Tomato grading at time of delivery
In the past, the quality evaluation of tomatoes arriving at the plant was considered optional, but today it has become a necessity. Thanks to new harvesting and production techniques, there is a wide variation in the characteristics of the raw material entering the plant, no longer homogenous as it was in the past. This has made it necessary to introduce procedures that determine correct values for the various batches. The most accurate method that can be applied today for setting batch values is based on reject determination (of either non-conforming product or foreign matter) and certain physical-chemical parameters such as Brix and pH. The efficacy of any given method, including this one, is enhanced when it can be performed in a repetitive, objective manner to safeguard the interests of both the producer and processor. Only a specially-designed system that combines and automatizes the various operations involved can meet these guidelines.
Maselli Misure is specialized in this technology with years of experience in creating integrated systems for the evaluation of in-coming product in the canning and wine-making sectors. The SV01 system represents the synthesis of their experience in this field.

The SV01 station
The SV01 station is an integrated, "prefabricated" unit in which all components of the system are already installed, connected and operational. To start it up, all that is required is to provide electrical power, water and compressed air. This prefab approach reduces installation time and costs on-site at the customer to a minimum, and facilitates transfer and relocation of the station in other areas. The standard configuration allows to perform the following operations:

1. Take directly from the truck a sample of the incoming product for evaluation.

2. Divide the product into various categories to separately determine the quantity of inert, damaged, diseased, unripe, mixed and conforming product.

3. Define the BIX and pH degree of the sample.

4. Process the detected values, by calculating the discount percentage to be applied to the batch.

5. Generate a final document (print-out) that includes the producer's data, the product's major characteristics and the grading results.

6. Store all data on disk for future processing/elaboration.

Basic features of the standard SV01 station
Sampling probe: the sampling probe extracts directly from the truck approx. 150 kg of product. Using a calibrated hole, a smaller sample of approx. 20 kg of tomatoes is extracted from this first selection. Sample probe operation precedes a manual cycle for positioning over the truck and an automatic cycle for its descent, pickup and release of the sample product into the collection box.

Inert separation unit: this unit eliminates and quantifies the "inert" material - earth, stones, etc. - before the product sample arrives at the evaluation table.

Unripe selection unit: this unit automatically selects and quantifies green tomato presence using a 36-channel optical selector.

Evaluation table:the core of the system, it consists of a self-weighing selecting table, a series of collection tubs for the selected tomatoes.

Tritator unit: self-cleaning system located next to the table itself and on whose circuit the analyzers are mounted. The operator controls the various evaluation phases from the keypad.

Computer: controls the weighing, analysis, "discount" percentage calculation and data storage phases. The printer generates a print-out of the results, including information on the producer. The dedicated software performs statistical evaluations (by production type or area) that can be useful to increase the product's yield.

Stainless steel table: equipped with manual scale (for manual evaluation), industrial titrator, refractometer and tabletop pH meter. Allows the analyses to be performed in a completely manual mode, with subsequent data entry into the computer also done manually.

Service equipment: stainless steel sink, drainers for glassware, air conditioner and other utilities. This equipment makes the station a true "laboratory" allowing personnel to operate in a well-organized working environment.