Raw material inspection: the advantages of XR BULK FREE FALL compared to Belt X-ray system

Inspecting products for contaminants is essential for food safety. Food producers must establish control programs and identify Critical Control Points (CCPs) where contamination risks are highest.

One of the main CCPs is at the raw material reception stage: early detection benefits consumer and plant safety and improves sustainability by reducing waste.

When raw material enters a plant, it passes through cleaning towers to remove residue. Then, optical sorters identify and remove unsuitable products based on appearance, diverting those with incorrect color, shape, or size.

However, this step doesn't cover all scenarios. Contaminants inside the product or resembling it in color and shape can evade detection. Thus, an effective contamination control program must inspect different aspects of the product flow.

One of the most common devices is vertical metal detectors, which are designed ideal for use in vertical systems, which are typical of this type of product. Their shortcoming is that they can identify only metal contaminants. Missing materials are very likely to be present in raw materials, such as glass, PVC, rubber, and stones.

BELT X-RAY INSPECTION SYSTEMS

X-ray systems have compensated for shortcomings of metal detector inspection technology. These devices are equipped with an X-ray generator and a collimator that creates a low-energy radiation beam that passes through the product.

Though belt X-ray systems effectively detect contaminants, handling granular products creates problems.

Designed for packaged products, they need special measures to inspect bulk items, which anyway often result unreliable. Guide rails, used to prevent items from dropping, must be positioned carefully to avoid rapid wear. Costly systems like double-chute or retractable belts may be required but can cause leakage from the line.

Bulk products leave residue on the belts, necessitating frequent cleaning or replacement, leading to dirt, clogs, and stoppages. These issues stem from the line design distortion, as a horizontal movement in a vertically oriented line requires expensive adjustments. For instance, an infeed hopper must be integrated to create a uniform product layer for inspection, but this is often frustrated by peak upstream flows. Additionally, motorized belts often cannot handle the required production speeds.

IDEAL INNOVATION FOR GRANULAR PRODUCT: XR BULK FREE FALL

A modern solution for bulk granular products must feature vertical orientation, a reduced footprint, enclosed pipes, high-speed capability, versatility for different sizes and shapes, effective contaminant detection, and low maintenance with easy sanitization.

Antares Vision Group's XR BULK FREE FALL incorporates all these features.

This innovative X-ray solution, already at work in several production units, uniquely combines vertical product handling with X-ray inspection.

The system accommodates production lines with its vertical design. Product flow enters through a steel infeed pipe at the top and exits from an outfeed pipe at the bottom.

All product is contained within the pipe and inspection chamber, adhering to hygienic design principles. Moreover, the custom sensor is sealed and protected from dust.

An innovative conveyor reconfigures the flow from cylindrical to rectangular, creating a consistent layer and ensuring effective inspection.

In conclusion, XR BULK FREE FALL offers four game-changing advantages over traditional belt X-ray systems:

1. It eliminates handling problems associated with belts.
2. It creates a consistent product flow without peaks or empty moments.
3. Its proprietary sensor detects contaminants at high speeds, rejecting only the affected portions and minimizing waste.
4. The absence of belts and motors allows the X-ray beam to pass only through the product, ensuring high sensitivity even at high speeds.

All this with an extremely small footprint and fitting perfectly into the vertical flow of product upstream and downstream.

Do you want to know more about the raw material inspection?

Download our FREE White Paper focusing on this innovative solution.