Optical Sorting Machine for Fruit Pulp and Soft Products with Suction Rejection
When sorting soft, wet, or sticky products such as fruit pulp or diced tomatoes, maintaining product integrity and minimizing good product loss is critical. Optical sorting with suction-based rejection allows precise defect removal without damaging the product stream.
Inspect and remove defects using vision systems and vacuum suction
The AspirX optical sorter from Protec is designed for sorting soft and wet products, including tomato pulp, fruit compotes, dices, and extruded products. It combines high-resolution vision technology with a vacuum-based rejection system, enabling accurate sorting while preserving product quality.
Product is conveyed on a belt and inspected by high-speed, high-resolution cameras, detecting defects such as off-color, rot, and discoloration, including in darker product streams. The system can identify defects down to approximately 0.5 × 0.5 mm, with real-time processing handled by dedicated electronic systems.
Unlike air-jet systems, rejected product is removed via suction through rows of hollow cylinders, ensuring full belt coverage and controlled removal. This method significantly reduces the amount of good product removed вместе with defects, especially important for fragile or moist products.
Different configurations are available depending on product type:
- Small-diameter suction for pulp applications to minimize product loss
- Larger suction elements for diced products to ensure effective rejection
The system is available in multiple sizes with capacities ranging from approximately 5 to 20 tons per hour, depending on the model and application.
A touchscreen HMI with integrated monitoring software allows operators to track reject rates, air pressure, and system performance, with both automatic and manual control modes. The machine also features easy-clean design, including washable suction lines and waste tanks, supported by a liquid-ring vacuum pump for stable operation under high rejection loads.
Benefits
- — Suction-based rejection minimizes loss of good product
- — Full belt coverage with controlled suction removal
- — Designed for soft, wet, and sticky products
- — Capacity up to ~20 t/h depending on configuration
- — Detects defects down to ~0.5 mm using high-resolution cameras