Transcript NCDA: Pickle Sorter Project Proposal

NCDA: Pickle Sorter
Project Proposal
Project 98.09
Sponsored by Ed Kee of
Keeman Produce, Lincoln, DE
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Overview
• Introduction
– Description of Problem
• Method
– Wants  Metrics  Concepts
– System and Functional Benchmarking
• Schedule
– Division of labor
– Budget
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Project 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.
Schematic
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Strategy
• 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 Wants
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Benchmarking
• 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  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 Values
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System Benchmarks
Company
Product Description
Advatages
Hand Labor
Undesirable pickles are
manually removed as they
pass thru inspection area
Integrated imaging software
and mechanical sorting
Reliable, effective
Bacchus
SRC Vision, Inc. Integrated visual imaging
software/mechanical sorting
system
Autoline
Button
PC Controlled integrated
grading and sorting
Integrated
harvester/inspection/sorting
mechanism
Complete system,
demonstrated use in pickle
industry
Optical identification system
coupled with air valve ejection.
Designed for food, produce
industry
Turnkey solution
Removes bad product before
shipment to plant
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SORTING
IDENTIFICATION
Functional Benchmarks
Company
Product Description
Advatages
Ensco
Visual imaging system capture and processing
Advanced software,
designed for produce
applications
Plug & Play, Processing
speed of 30/second, Can
measure shapes
Hi-speed, 3 millisecond
cycle time
Accurate
American SensoRx Visual imaging system capture and processing
GBI
Staalkat B.V.
ELOP Ind.
Solenoid activated pneumatic
piston
Tray tilts when activated by
system to remove bad pieces
Trapdoor sorting system for
Adaptable to produce line
removing rejected items from a
conveyor
Cable conveying and sorting
Delicate handling of
system
product
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Concept 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
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Division of Work
Progress To Date:
Schedule To Next Presentation:
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Estimated Budget
Presentation Supplies
Research
Travel
Identification
Prototyping
Removal Prototyping
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Closing Points
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•
•
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Metrics Derived From Wants
Benchmarks Evaluated Using Metrics
Initial Concepts Evaluated Using Metrics
Progress and Looking Ahead