Construction design of apple sorter

¹ Lublin University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Machine Design and Mechatronics, 36 Nadbystrzycka Street, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
² University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Faculty of Production Engineering, Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Transport Machines, 28 Głęboka Street, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
³ University of Zilina, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Design and Machine Elements, 1 Univerzitna Street, 010 26 Žilina, Slovakia

^* Corresponding author: jacek.caban@up.lublin.pl

Abstract

When assessing the quality of fruit and packaging process, fruit-producing farms owners decide to evaluate fruit by people or automated sorting lines. The purchase of an automated sorting line generates high costs for the company, but it brings benefits in the form of increased work efficiency, and the better organization of fruit packaging and storage processes. The use of that machinery and equipment is common in agricultural farms as well as in fruit and vegetable processing companies. Despite the widespread use of various types of fruit sorters, the analysis of the operation of the designed device and the study of its technological parameters is still a current research problem. During operation of the devices for sorting fruit there are many technical problems affecting technological processes and quality of fruits. In order to improve the efficiency of sorting fruit, this process should be quickly and accurately. The purpose of this paper is to present the automated apple sorter line construction design, and software for quality controlling fruits. Selected elements of the sorter structure including endurance calculation using the Finite Element Method (FEM) and fruit control system using image analysis were presented.