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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Kearneysville, West Virginia » Appalachian Fruit Research Laboratory » Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #148654
Title: QUALITY EVALUATION OF APPLE BASED ON SURFACE DEFECTS; DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUTOMATIED INSPECTION SYSTEM

Author
item THROOP, J. - CORNELL UNIV
item ANESHANSLEY, D. - CORNELL UNIV
item Anger, William
item Peterson, Donald

Submitted to: Postharvest Biology and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2005
Publication Date: 6/1/2005
Citation: Throop, J.A., Aneshansley, D.J., Anger, W.C., Peterson, D.L. 2005. Quality evaluation of apple based on surface defects; development of an automatied inspection system. Postharvest Biology and Technology. Elsevier B.V. Postharvest Biology and Technology 36 (2005) 281-290.

Interpretive Summary: An automated apple defect detection/sorting system would reduce packing labor costs, improve labor productivity, and provide the consumer with consistent high quality fruit. Conveying systems were developed that position apples in the desired orientation for an experimental automated sorting system that detects defects. Tests showed that nearly 98% of apples from fourteen cultivars were oriented properly. An orienting conveying system is a necessary key component in the development of an automated sorting system for apple defects.

Technical Abstract: Two orienting conveyors, one for capturing x-ray images for internal defects and a second for capturing images of surfaces defects on apples, were developed and tested. Both systems oriented individual apples with the stem/calyx axis in a vertical position. The system for surface defects then pivoted the apples 45° and rotated them to present the apple to an imaging system. Tests on fourteen cultivars demonstrated that nearly 98% of all apples were oriented properly. Running the non-oriented apples a second time increased orientation to over 99%.