With the opening of the May 8-14 Interpack at the Messe Düsseldorf only about a month away, this is the first of a series of food processing and packaging systems preview stories and other trade show information and news that FrozenFoodBiz.com will feature before the exhibition kicks off. Held biennially, the event has evolved into much more than a just a packaging show over the years. The 2014 running is expected to feature more than 2,700 exhibitors from over 60 countries.
Among them will be Key Technology, which will showcase its Python laser sorter and Impulse® electromagnetic conveyor at Stand C11 in Hall 02. The Walla Walla, Washington, USA-headquartered company, which has branches in Beusichem, Holland, and Hasselt, Belgium, will hold forth with a team of engineering and installation experts as well as sales, marketing and service personnel.
Key will feature its complete line of digital sorters, which feature advanced laser, camera, and field-proven BioPrint™ hyperspectral imaging with intelligent software designed to satisfy numerous applications on a variety of belt- and chute-fed sorting platforms. These sorters complement the company’s specialized conveying and processing systems.
Key Technology’s Python is a highly efficient laser sorter.Python is positioned as a smart laser sorter that removes foreign material, extraneous vegetative matter, and defects based on size, shape, color and structure to improve product quality while increasing yield. The equipment combines laser sorter features with complex shape recognition via its transparent, backlit chute. This design, combined with the latest image processing technologies and intelligent software and algorithms, allows for rapid analysis of complex contours as well as any combination of length, width, ratio, and area to fine-tune product quality.
Python’s backlit chute embodies all features of Key’s proprietary Chycane® chute, which feeds product in a monolayer with a consistent trajectory to the laser optics and ejection valves. This optimized product control maximizes sorting and ejection efficiency, which increases overall yield.
The chute-fed Python sorter offers a small footprint, low maintenance with no moving parts, a sanitary design, full stainless steel/IP65, and an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI). It is promoted as ideal for frozen fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, confections and other food products.
The Impulse vibratory conveyor has no slicing or rotating parts.Key’s Smart Shaker® family of vibratory conveyors includes the Impulse line of electromagnetic conveyors that will be on exhibit at Interpack. Impulse is a reliable vibratory conveyor that is ideal for feeding multihead weighers and packaging lines. Easily adjustable conveying speeds and accurate feeding control for precise metering make it an efficient process tool.
Impulse features no sliding or rotating parts to wear and no belts or bearings to fail. Its energy-efficient, low maintenance electromagnetic drives have no moving parts. Oil-free operation helps ensure food safety and product quality, particularly when installed above open product zones.
