Key Technology introduces the VERYX® family of digital sorters for green beans. These chute- and belt-fed sorters identify and remove extraneous vegetable matter (EVM), including stalks, calyx, stems and several other types of unwanted vegetable materials often found with harvested green beans, as well as beans with blemishes and foreign material (FM) such as sticks, wood, glass and more. With optional three-way sorting, VERYX separates beans for rework while rejecting waste product and FM and passing good beans. Through improved sort accuracy, VERYX increases the removal of EVM, FM and defects to enhance product quality while virtually eliminating false rejects to maximize yield.
Ideal for many product varietals, VERYX can be tailored to sort whole or cut green beans, fresh or frozen, for fresh pack, frozen and canned product applications. These modular sorters are configured with the optimal sensor types, sensor positions, lighting, ejection system, product handling and software to meet the specific needs of each green bean processor. For multi-product lines that also process other vegetables such as cut corn, peas, carrots, beets and more, VERYX maximizes production flexibility with fast and accurate recipe-driven changeovers that ensure repeatable results.
With chute- and belt-fed sorters available in a variety of widths for low- to high-capacity processing lines, VERYX can sort green beans before or after blanching and after freezing prior to packaging, depending on the products being produced and the processor’s objectives. Thanks to inspection zones that are wider than other sorters with a similar footprint, VERYX enables processors to increase their throughputs by up to 15 percent while conserving floorspace. Depending on the VERYX model size, system capacities range from up to 5.5 metric tons (12,000 lb.) of green beans per hour for VERYX B70 to up to 19 metric tons (42,000 lb.) of green beans per hour for VERYX B210, the largest sorter in the VERYX product family. Capacities are dependent on incoming defect levels and actual varieties.
VERYX features next-generation 4-channel cameras and laser scanners that offer twice the resolution of previous generation sensors. Leveraging Key’s unique multi-sensor Pixel Fusion™ detection technology and object-based recognition with advanced shape sorting algorithms, VERYX significantly improves detection accuracy. An innovative mechanical architecture, specialized product handling systems and new ejection system accurately separate EVM, FM and defects while virtually eliminating false rejects.
VERYX sorters offer in-air inspection and the ability to view all sides of the product, achieving complete surface inspection with no blind spots for superior detection and removal of green beans with surface blemishes. All-sided inspection is sustained throughout the production cycle without requiring manual cleaning, because VERYX’s architecture strategically positions sensor windows, light sources and sensor backgrounds away from product splatter and contamination zones.
“At Key, we have a long history and deep expertise sorting green beans, so we’re in a great position to leverage our knowledge to improve the process, taking advantage of the newest detection technologies. We combine the most advanced green bean optical sorting with our mechanical grading and sizing systems and conveying solutions to help processors elevate their product quality and maximize yield,” said Marco Azzaretti, Advanced Inspection Systems Product Manager at Key Technology. “VERYX is an extremely versatile sorter. We customize each system to the exact needs the processor, considering the nuances of specific green bean varietals and regional differences in customer needs.”
Key manufactures VERYX sorters in both the U.S. and Europe, and supports customers worldwide through its global sales and service network.
Contact:
Anita Funk
Key Technology, Inc.
Tel: +1 509 529 2161
Karel Van Velthoven
Key Technology, Inc.
Tel: +32 (0) 11 24 91 91