Optical sorting

Optical sorting (sometimes called digital sorting) is the automated process of <a href="/facts/Sorting/olGzsItY">sorting</a> solid products using <a href="/facts/Cameras/j4uqsfJQ">cameras</a> and/or <a href="/facts/Lasers/jk6PTvvT">lasers</a>.
Depending on the types of sensors used and the software-driven intelligence of the <a href="/facts/Image_processing/zenalNCf">image processing</a> system, optical sorters can recognize an object's color, size, shape, structural properties and chemical composition. The sorter compares objects to user-defined accept/reject criteria to identify and remove defective products and foreign material (FM) from the production line, or to separate product of different grades or types of materials.
Optical sorters are in widespread use in the <a href="/facts/Food_industry/1JPhss6V">food industry</a> worldwide, with the highest adoption in processing harvested foods such as potatoes, fruits, vegetables and nuts where it achieves non-destructive, 100 percent inspection in-line at full production volumes. The technology is also used in <a href="/facts/Pharmaceutical_manufacturing/bwxFFoVC">pharmaceutical manufacturing</a> and <a href="/facts/Nutraceutical/gNc5PWYj">nutraceutical</a> manufacturing, tobacco processing, <a href="/facts/Waste_recycling/x9X7GAzz">waste recycling</a> and other industries. Compared to manual sorting, which is subjective and inconsistent, optical sorting helps improve product quality, maximize throughput and increase yields while reducing labor costs.

Optical sorting open-in-new

Optical sorting