Optical sorting process
Optical sorting is very important not only for consumers but also for suppliers whose products are checked very rigorously in terms of quality.
How do optical sorters work?
Process of optical sorting
Optical sorting is a process that seems to be a complicated technology for the layman. However, it turns out that many of us use optically sorted products every day. Optical sorting is used in the processing of vegetables, fruits, cereal, rice, all kinds of nuts, seeds and pulses, even coffee or tea.The process of manufacturing and packaging products is so complex that we do not aware of the individual stages and technologies that were used to produce the products we consume.When we put a vegetable seasoning to the soup, we do not wonder if there was a rock or a lump of soil with which the carrot was growing. And the groats we eat do not contain glass or plastic particles. This is what optical sorters are used for – to protect the products we eat.However, it is not about impurities that are visible to the naked eye, but mainly about particles of various foreign materials that may be found in these products.
See sorting samples
How do optical sorters work?
Products to be sorted are fed into the machine's hopper. A vibrating mechanism ensures that the products spread out uniformly on a conveyor belt or chute, preventing them from clumping together.
As the materials move through the sorter, they are illuminated by a light source. This could be visible light, infrared, ultraviolet, or a combination, depending on the types of materials being sorted. The light helps to highlight the different optical properties of the materials.
As the products pass through the sorting area, they are illuminated by a light source. High-resolution cameras or optical sensors capture images or data reflecting the color, shape, and size of each product.
he captured images are sent to a computer equipped with image processing software. This software analyzes the images to determine the color and other attributes of each product. It compares these attributes against pre-set criteria or acceptable ranges for what is considered a 'good' product.
The sorter uses a system of air jets or mechanical devices to remove the unwanted items from the production line. When an undesirable product is detected, the sorter activates the appropriate ejector, which blasts the product into a separate reject bin or conveyor, separating it from the good products.
Accepted products continue along the main conveyor to the next stage of processing or packaging, while rejected items are collected for disposal or further inspection.
How do optical sorters work?
Chute optical sorter
The raw material is fed to the buffer tank installed above the optical sorter, then it is dosed by vibrating feeders and goes to the chute. Material on the chute falls by gravity, thus it is distributed evenly to increase the distance between the individual particles. Then, in the inspection area, with the help of advanced sensors and cameras and the use of an appropriate background, it is analyzed. After analyzing by highly developed electronics and the device’s operating system signal is send to the appropriate ejector installed in the machine to open the nozzle, when the material is not properly quality requirements. A suitable Magleva® ejector hits the center of gravity of the thrown material with a compressed air beam to effectively eliminate an undesirable defect. The approved material falls directly into the good product channel.
Most machines have the option of resorting, which means sorting again the products to achieve more accurately separating and minimalize the loss of the accept product.
Belt optical sorter
The MEYER company also offers belt sorters, which the operating principle of which is very similar to that of chute sorters, with a difference in feeding and separating the sorted material. The input product is dosed by a vibrating feeder onto a belt conveyor with a selected width and working speed, where it is evenly distributed on the belt plane and fed to the detection zone. Advanced vision systems (cameras operating in the visible light spectrum and the infrared, ultraviolet and X-ray electromagnetic spectrum) detect more or less subtle defects to eliminate dangerous foreign materials and particles that do not match qualitatively. In the case of belt optical sorters, the rejection of unwanted defects takes place vertically downwards, which allows for more effective rejection of even the heaviest contaminants.
Belt sorters are used for materials with a more delicate structure, in which it is important not to damage the sorted product, as well as for very light and very heavy products that cannot be sorted using gravity separators, which operate on the principle of free fall.
Look how you can make an impact on those industries
Recycling
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Read moreFood
Look how our optical sorting technology ensures the highest quality and safety standards for your food products.
Read moreAgriculture
Meyer solutions can drastically improve your crop sorting efficiency, ensuring only the best produce reaches the market.
Read moreHow can you use optical sorting solutions?
Beans & pulses
Pulses crops are the second most important source of plant food in the world. Considering the sustainable production and increasing demand for these plants, we are improving the optical sorting technology in order to increase the efficiency, quality, and safety of the final products.With MEYER optical sorters, we get rid of various foreign bodies such as stones, glass, as well as rotten, infected, or discolored products.MEYER optical separators, by using various technologies, provide the possibility of thorough cleaning of various types of bean plants, from the smallest ones, such as lupins, through peas, to the largest varieties of beans.
Coffee
MEYER offers solutions for the sorting of roasted coffee as well as green, raw coffee beans. Optical sorters from MEYER efficiently remove various defects from coffee such as discolored, damaged by insects or immature grains as well as over and under roasted beans, and all the impurities like stones, plastic, glass, branches and other.
Fruits & vegetables
Optical sorting technology is indispensable in the processing of fruit and vegetables, it ensures the sanitary requirements of food safety and achieves the pure final product.MEYER machines provide a variety of applications that can be used for fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as frozen, dried, or lyophilized products.The use of MEYER optical sorters in fruit and vegetable processing guarantees increased production efficiency, reduces the need for human resources, and guarantees repeatability and high quality of end product.
Nuts
MEYER offers a wide range of optical sorters for the separation and cleaning of various sizes, types, and forms of nuts: whole, halves, pieces, and in-shell nuts. Our solutions are used in the sorting of hazelnuts, peanuts, walnuts, macadamia, pecans, almonds, pistachios, cashews, and other species of nuts.The technologies used in MEYER machines allow obtaining detailed removal of shells, damaged, shrivelled and rotting products, as well as foreign materials such as sticks, grass, plastics, stones, metals, aflatoxins.MEYER offers both chutes and belt machines, therefore which we can protect the nuts from breaking during the manufacturing process.
Rice
Rice is one of the staple foods of the world. With continually improving living standards, rice quality requirements have steadily increased. Our company has been focused on rice sorting for 30 years. MEYER’s rice optical sorter can detect and remove mildewy, broken rice, and foreign materials like glass and stone and classify rice based on color, shape, and other differences.MEYER rice sorting solution provides efficient separation especially in extremely light yellow rice, rice with pin-points tips as well as diseased rice.MEYER’s dozens of customer solutions deliver great value to global customers. Also, it leads the technical innovation of the rice processing industry to make full use of each grain.
Seeds & grains
MEYER has a wide range of seeds and grains sorting solutions for various types of plants, for example: wheat, corn, rye, barley, oat, buckwheat, millet, etc. MEYER devices are used for sorting common grains, all kinds of field crops, vegetables and herbs seeds. MEYER optical sorters detect unwanted foreign bodies, discolored, infected and defective grains and seeds.
Tea
MEYER company has comprehensive knowledge, many years of experience and specialized solutions in the field of sorting various types of tea. Optical sorting machines from MEYER are able to sort all kinds of tea, the devices can classify tea leaves based on color, shape and other characteristics of the species. Sorters detect and remove unwanted foreign objects such as insects, plastic, glass, sticks or other materials, as well as defective stems and leaves of tea.
Sorting TeaCanned & bottled food
MEYER X-RAY inspection machine provides customers with intelligent, professional, and comprehensive inspection solutions in many areas of the food industry.Technologies used in X-RAY devices ensure the safety and quality of food products. MEYER offers X-RAY detectors that make it possible to detect foreign bodies in canned, bottled, or boxed food and other packages.Using MEYER X-RAY machines, various foreign bodies, such as metals, stones, glass, lumps of earth, rubber, Teflon elements, plastics, or raw bones may be recognized in products.
Fruits & vegetables
Optical sorting technology is indispensable in the processing of fruit and vegetables, it ensures the sanitary requirements of food safety and achieves the pure final product.MEYER machines provide a variety of applications that can be used for fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as frozen, dried, or lyophilized products.The use of MEYER optical sorters in fruit and vegetable processing guarantees increased production efficiency, reduces the need for human resources, and guarantees repeatability and high quality of end product.
Meat & seafood
MEYER X-RAY inspection machine provides customers with intelligent, professional, and comprehensive inspection solutions in many areas of the food industry.Technologies used in X-RAY devices ensure the safety and quality of the produced food. X-RAY provides the ability to detect foreign bodies in fish, seafood, meat, and many other products. Using MEYER X-RAY machines, we get rid of various foreign bodies such as metals, stones, glass, clods of earth, rubber and Teflon elements, plastics, and raw bones.
Sorting Meat & seafood
Nuts
MEYER offers a wide range of optical sorters for the separation and cleaning of various sizes, types, and forms of nuts: whole, halves, pieces, and in-shell nuts. Our solutions are used in the sorting of hazelnuts, peanuts, walnuts, macadamia, pecans, almonds, pistachios, cashews, and other species of nuts.The technologies used in MEYER machines allow obtaining detailed removal of shells, damaged, shrivelled and rotting products, as well as foreign materials such as sticks, grass, plastics, stones, metals, aflatoxins.MEYER offers both chutes and belt machines, therefore which we can protect the nuts from breaking during the manufacturing process.
Packed food
MEYER X-RAY inspection machine provides customers with intelligent, professional, and comprehensive inspection solutions in many areas of the food industry.Technologies used in X-RAY devices ensure the safety and quality of the produced food.MEYER offers X-RAY detectors that make the possibility to detect foreign bodies in frozen food, snacks, instant food, nutrition food, additives, and many others.Using MEYER X-RAY machines, we recognize products containing various foreign bodies, such as metals, stones, glass, lumps of earth, rubber, Teflon elements, plastics, or raw bones.
Sorting Packed foodRice
Rice is one of the staple foods of the world. With continually improving living standards, rice quality requirements have steadily increased. Our company has been focused on rice sorting for 30 years. MEYER’s rice optical sorter can detect and remove mildewy, broken rice, and foreign materials like glass and stone and classify rice based on color, shape, and other differences.MEYER rice sorting solution provides efficient separation especially in extremely light yellow rice, rice with pin-points tips as well as diseased rice.MEYER’s dozens of customer solutions deliver great value to global customers. Also, it leads the technical innovation of the rice processing industry to make full use of each grain.
Glass
The consumption of glass worldwide is constantly growing. An increasing number of countries are enacting laws that require the processing of glass materials to recover these valuable resources, benefiting the environment and reducing waste. The glass sorting process involves advanced technology that ensures efficient and precise separation of different types of glass. This separation is crucial for high-quality recycling, as it removes impurities and enhances the purity of the recovered glass. By improving the efficiency of glass sorting, the process supports sustainable practices and promotes the reuse of valuable materials.
Sorting Glass
Metal
Metal optical sorting involves the use of advanced optical technology to efficiently and accurately separate ferrous and non-ferrous metals. This process utilizes sensors and cameras to detect different metal types based on their optical properties and compositions. The precise sorting enhances the purity of recovered metals, making them more suitable for recycling and reuse. Optical sorting significantly reduces contamination, improving the overall quality of the recycled product. By optimizing metal recovery, this technology supports environmental sustainability and reduces the amount of waste deposited in landfills.
Plastic
MEYER is a leading manufacturer of optical and color sorters for the recycling industry. We care about the environment and increase the recovery of recyclable materials from waste, therefore we introduce various technological solutions to the recycling market. We offer devices for the optical separation of bottles, granules, regrinds of plastics, both in terms of color and polymer (including PET, PVC, HDPE, PP, PC, etc.). MEYER solutions allow customers to accurately separate valuable material from impurities, separate colors and polymers. We pay particular attention to the precision and speed of the process in order to achieve the maximum value from products. The solutions we offer are the highest quality color and polymer optical sorters designed by engineers and researchers from the high technology industry. The optical sorting system for plastics consists of selecting the right device and designing the entire sorting system. At MEYER, specialists and engineers with many years of experience and understanding of the optical sorting and recycling industries do this.
Sorting Plastic
What type of sorter do you need?
Chute color sorters
Color sorters are at the forefront of optical sorting technologies, designed to separate items based on hues and shades. These sorters employ high-resolution cameras or sensors to detect the color of materials as they pass through the machine. Ideal for various applications, color sorters are particularly effective in removing unwanted materials from streams of recycled plastics, metals, and paper, ensuring the purity and quality of the sorted materials.
See all chute color sorters
Belt color sorters
Polymer sorters revolutionize recycling by distinguishing between different types of plastics based on properties like density, color, and resin content. This specificity is crucial for recycling facilities to produce high-quality recyclable materials that meet industry standards. By utilizing near-infrared (NIR) technology or other sophisticated scanning techniques, polymer sorters can accurately separate complex mixes of plastics, facilitating efficient recycling and reuse.
See all belt color sorters
Bottle color sorters
Polymer sorters revolutionize recycling by distinguishing between different types of plastics based on properties like density, color, and resin content. This specificity is crucial for recycling facilities to produce high-quality recyclable materials that meet industry standards. By utilizing near-infrared (NIR) technology or other sophisticated scanning techniques, polymer sorters can accurately separate complex mixes of plastics, facilitating efficient recycling and reuse.
See all bottle color sorters
Chute polymer sorters
Polymer sorters revolutionize recycling by distinguishing between different types of plastics based on properties like density, color, and resin content. This specificity is crucial for recycling facilities to produce high-quality recyclable materials that meet industry standards. By utilizing near-infrared (NIR) technology or other sophisticated scanning techniques, polymer sorters can accurately separate complex mixes of plastics, facilitating efficient recycling and reuse.
See all chute polymer sorters
Color Sorters with InGaAs
Polymer sorters revolutionize recycling by distinguishing between different types of plastics based on properties like density, color, and resin content. This specificity is crucial for recycling facilities to produce high-quality recyclable materials that meet industry standards. By utilizing near-infrared (NIR) technology or other sophisticated scanning techniques, polymer sorters can accurately separate complex mixes of plastics, facilitating efficient recycling and reuse.
See all color sorters with InGaAs
X-Ray detectors
X-ray detectors provide a deeper level of material analysis, capable of distinguishing materials based on density and atomic composition. This technology is particularly useful in identifying and separating different metals and alloys, as well as removing contaminants from streams of recycled material. In the recycling industry, X-ray sorters are invaluable for their ability to detect and separate items that other technologies might miss, such as glass shards in metal scrap or different grades of plastic, enhancing the overall efficiency of recycling processes.
See all X-Ray detectors
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