Sensors are like good eyes. Detection is at the core of sorting. TOMRA’s high-tech sensors are like eagle eyes; they see more and are thus able to detect and supply more information.
TOMRA SORTING AS A PIONEER IN SENSOR TECHNOLOGY!
As the global pioneer in sensor-based sorting, TOMRA’s sorting technology continues to dynamically drive the development of increasingly better and newer sensors to further enhance our customer’s process.
SEEING THE INVISIBLE
TOMRA’s sensor technology provides the highest efficiency, precision and speed. Not even the smallest particle sizes fall through the detection grid, even though it works much faster than traditional sorting technologies.
TOMRA Sorting’s sensor technologies ensure high speed processing of information such as material, shape, size, geometry, color, defect and damage characteristics, and location of objects.
TOMRA’s sorting principle: a sorting solution tailored to your needs
To provide the right and precise sorting solution, we start working from the broad application, customize the mechanical and technological needs for your particular product, and then fine-tune the sorting machine with the needed core sorting components, including sensors, electronics, software, and ejection modules.
It’s this balance of broad technological application and customized expertise that makes TOMRA the leader in sensor-based sorting.
Core sensor technologies by TOMRA
1. Advanced Foreign Material Detector™ (AFMD)
Specifically designed for the detection of defects and foreign materials that are difficult to identify because of similar structure or color characteristics. The AFMD module sorts on product specific features.
2. Biometric Signature Identification (BSI)
Designed to identify the characteristics of good products and defects, creating new sorting opportunities for nuts, dried fruit, and other food applications. Allows examining food products using light beyond the visible spectrum, into the near-infrared region. With TOMRA’s BSI technology it is possible to identify certain chemical and molecular differences and changes on the surface and within the objects being inspected. This technology has been awarded with several awards including the ‘Innovation Award’ at the 2015 INC congress.
3. Camera
Recognizes materials based on color, biological characteristics and shape (length, width, diameter, area, and other). Their capabilities go beyond the visible spectrum and include infrared, ultraviolet and other spectra.
TOMRA has developed exclusive high resolution cameras with an adapted spectrum, ideal for optical food sorting. The cameras also include our industrial high quality lenses, with an advanced focusing system.
4. Detox™
Recognizes aflatoxin in nuts such as peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts and dried fruit such as figs. The Detox™ laser sorter utilizes a special optical design that allows aflatoxin contamination to be detected and removed. This laser technique captures the extremely low intensity of light reflected by the fungus.
5. Fluo™
Fluo™ technology is used to sort out products which do not contain chlorophyll/solanine or differ in chlorophyll/solanine level from the good products that contain chlorophyll/solanine such as potatoes, peas, green beans, spinach, and other leafy products. The objects that do not contain chlorophyll (the defects) can be stones, plastics, glass, wood, metal, rotten spots et cetera.
6. Interactance spectroscopy
Utilizes Near-InfraRed (NIR) light and penetrates far into the meat before it is measured. It has become the preferred method for accurate laboratory measurement of fat in meat.
7. Laser
TOMRA’s laser machines sort based on color, structure, and biological characteristics. Laser scanning detects contaminants even when the products and the defects have the same color.
8. Pulsed LED
Recognizes the subtlest color differences thanks to the combination of a number of different pulses inspecting objects in the RGB, IR and NIR spectrum. Benefits are numerous: calibration-free, stable, long life-time, high resolution, less heating …
9. Shortwave Infrared (SWIR)
SWIR enables sorting based on water content, by creating a contrast between water-based products and other materials. This technology is very effective for sorting fruits and vegetables.
10. Flex & Smart sort
The Smart Sort module helps the operator setting parameters by analyzing the incoming product. It automatically provides a program set up in a simple and timely manner. If necessary, the operator can adjust the program, to adapt the changing sorting criteria. By implementing the Smart Sort module, the sorting machine is used to its fullest capabilities.
11. X-ray
Detects on density, irrespective of size, moisture or pollution level.
