Optical graders

Sizing onions or potatoes optically

How does optical grading function?

1. the product is aligned
2. the aligned product is placed on cups
3. each unit is photographed under different angles with different light of different wavelengths

The computer creates a virtual image of each unit with, for instance, the following information (depending on the level of sophistication of the installation):

1. Size
2. Color
3. Shape
4. Spots, discoloration
5. Possible rot etc.

This way the computer knows everything there is to know of each unit. The cups with the units travel along the grader and are dumped into the corresponding grader outlet.

This way of grading, for instance onions, makes it possible to grade onions by their size, physical form, with or without spots, by their color etc. The possibilities are infinite and only depends on how sophisticated the computer, photographic equipment is and how many different outlets the system has.

Here the images are created from different angles and with light of different wavelength. The computer creates a virtual image of each onion on each dish.

The dishes with the onions travel along the grader and are dumped in the corresponding outlet. The outlets are located between gray bars.

Look how many outputs this grader has! Each output represents a different kind of onion, depending on their size, color, stained or otherwise. The possibilities are endless.